RENNEY FIRED

It’s always a sad day when someone loses their job. It’s even sadder anytime someone of the class and dignity that is Tom Renney loses their job. Since Glen Sather can’t fire this mess of a team that he created, Renney is paying the price for it. Let’s make one thing clear  right from the get go. Tom Renney is not a perfect coach by any means, but he’s certainly been a productive coach especially given the cards that he’s been dealt.

According to reports at Sportsnet.ca, the Rangers have been in contact with one-time Rangers coach John Tortorella as a replacement. There is also talk that Wolf Pack General Manager Jim Schoenfeld might be a possibility. Our hope is that the Rangers will be wise enough to keep a brilliant hockey mind like Renney in the organization.

Since we began doing reporting for Blueshirt Bulletin and then later here at Howlings, nobody was more helpful, more encouraging and a more positive person to deal with than Tom Renney.

It’s truly a sad day indeed…

Here’s the official release:

TOM RENNEY RELIEVED OF COACHING DUTIES

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that head coach Tom Renney has been relieved of his coaching duties.  Assistant coach Perry Pearn was also relieved of his duties.  Mike Pelino and Benoit Allaire will remain on the coaching staff.

Renney, 53, posted a record of 31-23-7 in 61 games behind the New York bench this season.   In his tenure as head coach, he led the Rangers to a 164-121-42 record.  Renney ranks fourth all-time among Rangers’ coaches in wins (164) and games coached (327).

Renney was originally named to the coaching staff as an assistant coach on July 21, 2003.  He was appointed interim head coach on February 25, 2004 after beginning the 2003-04 season as assistant coach, guiding the team for the final 20 games of the campaign.  Renney was named head coach on July 6, 2004.

In his first full season as head coach, in 2005-06, he was named a finalist for the Jack Adams award following a 44-26-12 record and a sixth place finish in the Eastern Conference.  In 2006-07, Renney led the team to a 42-30-10 record, placing sixth in the Eastern Conference.  New York defeated the Atlanta Thrashers in the Conference Quarterfinals (4-0), registering the team’s first playoff series victory since 1997 (Conference Semifinals against New Jersey) and first sweep since 1994 (Conference Quarterfinals against New York Islanders).  In 2007-08, he guided the team to a record of 42-27-13 for fifth place in the Eastern Conference and led the team to a first round series victory over the New Jersey Devils in the Conference Quarterfinals (4-1).

Renney joined the staff of the Rangers in 2000-2001 and served as the team’s Director of Player Personnel for two seasons, where he oversaw all facets of the team’s amateur scouting operations, while also assisting with the professional scouting department.  He was promoted to Vice President, Player Development on June 21, 2002, where he oversaw all facets of the team’s amateur scouting operations, while also assisting with the professional scouting process and player development within the organization.

Renney joined Hockey Canada in 1993, where as head coach of Team Canada, he captured the silver medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.  During his tenure there, he coached 10 world championship competitions, capturing three gold medals, three silver medals and two bronze medals.

Renney served as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks from June, 1996 through November, 1997.  He began his coaching career with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) where he led the team to consecutive WHL titles, along with a Memorial Cup championship as the Canadian Hockey League’s top team.

***One BIG questions remains now. Sean Avery. Sean Avery thrived under Tom Renney's gentle coaching. John Tortorella, who will be the next Rangers coach has never had a human being say that he was gentle. The potential for fireworks is there for these two brash personalities. This could affect the way the team thinks in terms of Avery going forward.