It is only a matter of timing before the Rangers introduce Alain Vigneault as their next head coach.
Multiple sources have told The Post that Vigneault and the Blueshirts have reached an agreement in principle for the former Vancouver coach to succeed John Tortorella behind the bench.
Finalization of the agreement is not expected before tomorrow, with details yet to be worked out between the Rangers and Canucks, to whom the 52-year-old Vigneault remains under contract for one or two more seasons following his dismissal last month.
The hiring team generally absorbs the cost of any remaining years of a dismissed employee’s contract, though clubs have been known to negotiate for a partial off-set.
Vigneault was formally offered the Rangers’ job on Friday after meeting in New York with Garden owner Jim Dolan. He previously had impressed president/general manager Glen Sather during a sit-down on Tuesday in La Quinta, Calif., during the club’s organizational meetings.
After meeting with Dolan, Vigneault formally withdrew his candidacy for the Dallas head coaching position. The Stars are believed to have presented Vigneault with a five-year offer. That hastened the process for the Rangers and Sather.
It is believed Mark Messier was the only other candidate to have interviewed with Sather for the job, though the Blueshirts had received permission to speak with AHL Marlies’ coach Dallas Eakins before he was snapped off the market by Edmonton, and also had gotten approval to talk with former Sabres coach Lindy Ruff and Kings assistant John Stevens.
Vigneault, though, was always at the top of the Rangers’ wish list — which would have expanded had the Penguins fired Dan Bylsma. The Canucks came within one victory of the 2011 Stanley Cup while winning consecutive President’s Trophies in 2010-11 and 2011-12 under Vigneault’s guidance.
Vancouver was strong defensively while implementing a four-line structure during Vigneault’s seven-year tenure, but the coach focused on highlighting skill forwards Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin for situational advantage.
The twins and linemate Alexandre Burrows ranked one-two-four in the NHL this season in the percentage of five-on-shifts started on offensive zone faceoffs after finishing one-two-three in that category the previous two seasons. Daniel and Henrik were one-two, respectively, over the past six seasons for which such statistics are available.
Vigneault also believes in situational assignments for defensively-inclined forwards. For instance, faceoff specialist Manny Malhotra began a league-leading 62.2 percent of his five-on-five shifts on defensive zone draws in 2011-12, the highest such number ever recorded.
Maxim Lapierre — an unrestricted free agent, by the way — was second in the league in D-zone faceoff starts the last two seasons and third in 2010-11.
That speaks to Vigneault’s approach to game management. He is the antithesis of Tortorella in temperament, though that shouldn’t be interpreted to mean he’s a soft touch.
The remainder of the Rangers coaching staff has yet to be chosen. Jim Schoenfeld, who will remain as assistant general manager is not expected to reprise his role as an assistant coach. Mike Sullivan, Tortorella’s lead assistant, is not expected to remain with the organization. Goaltending instructor/assistant coach Benoit Allaire certainly will return in those capacities.