Ulf Samuelsson is returning to New York.
The one-time Blueshirts defenseman is joining Alain Vigneault’s staff as an assistant coach and is expected to be on the job today when the Rangers’ prospects’ camp opens.
Samuelsson, who spent the last two seasons as head coach of Modo Hockey of the Swedish Elite League following four seasons as assistant coach of the Coyotes and one year as assistant of the AHL Wolf Pack, will be responsible for overseeing the defense.
Vigneault, who met with Samuelsson the past two days, is expected to name an additional assistant who would be responsible for the power play. That could be Newell Brown, who had that responsibility on Vigneault’s staff in Vancouver.
Samuelsson, known as one of the meanest hombres around during his 16-year NHL career, spent nearly four seasons with the Rangers from 1995-96 through late 1998-99, arriving in the regrettable deal with Pittsburgh in which Sergei Zubov and Petr Nedved went to the Penguins in exchange for Samuelsson and Luc Robitaille.
* The Blueshirts added much-needed depth to the blue line by acquiring 24-year-old Justin Falk from the Wild in exchange for a sixth-round pick in next year’s draft and the rights to AHL winger Benn Ferreiro.
Falk, who is not to be confused with Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk, is a 6-foot-5, 220-pounder who is more finesse-oriented than physically inclined.
A left-hand shot, Falk is a restricted free agent who is owed a fairly healthy qualifying offer of $866,250. He recorded three points (all assists) in 36 games last year for Minnesota and has 15 career points (1-14) in 108 NHL matches.
“I’m beyond excited for this new chapter with [the Rangers],” Falk posted on his Twitter account. “Looking forward to everything that’s ahead in front of the Ranger faithful.”
Accounting for the projected signings of Ryan McDonagh, Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin, Mats Zuccarello and Falk, the Blueshirts appear to have just more than $1.5 million of space with which to work going forward into the free agency period that opens on Friday.