The Rangers’ announcement that Alain Vigneault will become the club’s next head coach is only a matter of timing, multiple sources have told The Post.
Vigneault, who met on Friday in New York with Garden and team owner Jim Dolan after interviewing on Tuesday in La Quinta with president/general manager Glen Sather, has a firm commitment from the Rangers, though the former Vancouver coach has yet to sign a contract.
Though details remain to be finalized between the Rangers, Canucks and the 52-year-old coach, who remains under contract with Vancouver for one or two more seasons, the commitment is mutual.
Vigneault, dismissed last month by the Canucks, had a five-year offer on the table from the Stars before informing Dallas GM Jim Nill on Friday that he was withdrawing his candidacy for that job.
Finalization of the agreement between the Rangers is not expected to come before Monday.
Legendary former player Mark Messier confirmed Friday that he had spoken to Rangers GM Glen Sather about coaching the team, but the Blueshirts have apparently opted to go in a different direction.
“I told Glen I would have interest, so we’ve had discussions and that’s where it stands right now,” Messier told NHL.com Friday while in Chicago to present the Mark Messier Leadership Award to Ottawa’s Daniel Alfredsson. “Like anyone else interested in coaching, obviously the Rangers would be a dream come true.”