The New York Rangers announced the promotion of Jeff Malcolm, their long-time organizational goaltending consultant, to head goalie coach.
Malcolm, who has been with the Rangers for six years, is a logical fit for the position. Despite his young age of 35, he has extensive expertise. Malcolm’s professional hockey career is heavily anchored in the Rangers organization.
He spent four seasons in their organization, playing for both the AHL Hartford Wolf Pack and the ECHL Greenville Road Warriors. He has six years of coaching experience with the organization, the last two as Goalie Coach with the Wolf Pack.
Malcolm worked closely with the Rangers’ departed goalie coach, 60-year-old Benoit Allaire, who will now take on the position of goalie Director. Brendan Burke will leave his position as Goaltending Director for the Jr. Coyotes Youth Hockey Program and become the Wolf Pack’s new goalie coach as a result of the transfer.
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Malcolm is an excellent candidate for the position because he has extensive expertise with this group of athletes. He even played alongside Chris Kreider during the Wolf Pack’s 2013-14 season. Good chemistry will be required to ensure a smooth transition.
The long-time coach has firsthand expertise with great goalie. Despite never making the Rangers’ NHL roster, Malcolm played for the Wolf Pack alongside current Red Wings goalie and 2023-24 All-Star Cam Talbot.
Despite these advantages, it appears that he is starting from scratch. After all, he did not become the Wolf Pack’s goaltending coach until after Igor Shesterkin had established himself on Broadway. Malcolm has also never coached two-time Stanley Cup champion Jonathan Quick, which could be a fascinating dynamic given that Quick is three years older than Malcolm.
Regardless, the Rangers are hoping that adding a young (but experienced) coach to the mix would help raise their already outstanding goaltender pair for the 2024-25 season.
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