The Rangers will not make a head coaching selection until Glen Sather meets with his key hockey department personnel, a well-placed source yesterday told The Post.
Sather, who will host week-long organizational meetings at his Palm Springs home beginning tomorrow, will confer with assistant GM Don Maloney and director of player personnel Tom Renney, as well as with long-time aide and pro scout Gilles Leger. Garden chairman Jim Dolan is likely to be consulted as well.
Though there was a surprising move yesterday in Washington, where Ron Wilson was dismissed as Caps head coach, and one in Florida, as well, where Rick Dudley replaced Chuck Fletcher as Panthers GM, neither is expected to have impact on Sather’s search.
Indeed, Herb Brooks remains the clear frontrunner in a field that doesn’t appear to have a substantial challenger. Though unlikely, that could change if the Senators lose their conference semi-final series to the Maple Leafs and Jacques Martin is thus dismissed in Ottawa.
While Wilson, relieved after five years behind the Washington bench, is not a candidate for the Ranger post, he could become an alternative to Kevin Constantine in New Jersey. Wilson played for Lou Lamoriello at Providence College, and was the GM’s choice to coach Team USA in both the 1996 World Cup and 1998 Olympics.