RALEIGH – First in doesn’t mean first choice, but Ken Hitchcock not only met yesterday in New York with Glen Sather, but will continue his interview for the Ranger coaching job today.
Hitchcock, who has mounted an aggressive PR campaign in his pursuit of the post, will depart following today’s meeting for Sweden, where he will coach Canada in the World Championships.
Though the public perception is that the former Dallas coach is the favorite to succeed Ron Low, sources have told The Post that Hitchcock actually is a long shot for the job.
Meanwhile, The Post has learned that after several conversations with Pittsburgh GM Craig Patrick, Herb Brooks has decided to accept Sather’s invitation to come in for an interview, and is excited about the opportunity to return to Broadway 16 years after the close of his Act 1 behind the Ranger bench.
Sather, who would neither categorize his meeting with Hitchcock nor discuss the merits of any candidates when contacted by phone last night, would only say that, “I’m considering a long list of candidates . . . and the list gets longer every day.”