Going into the off-season, most Rangers fans assumed Brad Richards being bought out was a slam dunk, but Larry Brooks at the New York Post says not so fast...

"Given the change in coaches and the absence of cost-effective available talent down the middle on the free agent market, it is beginning to seem more and more likely the Rangers won’t be asking Brad Richards to clean out his locker during the amnesty buyout period that will follow the Stanley Cup Finals."

...while the Rangers would be taking a huge risk here if Richards gets injured during the season and becomes ineligible for the buyout, I'm still not 100% against keeping him around this year as I think he still has some hockey left in him. Plus, the Rangers are in win now mode and a veteran who's "been there" is very valuable come playoff time. I know Richards' performance this past postseason didn't prove that theory, but I'm going to give him a pass due to the lockout. You guys might not agree with that, but there's no denying that he was woefully unprepared for the beginning of the season and it just spiraled out of control on him.

Welp, it looks like Alain Vigneault's flight to New York yesterday was to meet with James Dolan and I guess it was an effective meeting as apparently the former Canucks coach turned down a significant offer from the Dallas Stars after interviewing with the Rangers owner. He is now considered the hands down favorite for the position.

Here's some more on Vigneault.

...those Dolans can be persuasive. I mean look at how he's convinced us fans to spend ridiculous amounts of money on tickets and concessions. Dolan probably called the Stars before the meeting to tell them to put their money back in their pocket because Vigneault was about to become the next Rangers head coach.

...if Sather wanted the anti-Torts, then he got it. I think the players are going to be very happy with this hire as Vigneault is a stark contrast to the in your face style of Tortorella. Vigneault is known as a guy who lets the team police itself, so Callahan is really going to have to more of a vocal leader instead of one who leads by example.

...Vigneault obviously did an outstanding job of getting the most out of his star players in Vancouver, the hope in New York will be that he can do the same with Nash, Stepan and Kreider.

According to Dan Rosen at NHL.com, Mark Messier has confirmed that he's been interviewed by the Rangers for their head coach vacancy....

"Yes, of course," Messier told NHL.com when asked Friday at United Center if he has formally interviewed with Rangers president and general manager Glen Sather. "That was one thing I wanted to have happen, to go through the process like everybody else and to experience that, and to give Glen the opportunity to make a decision that he feels comfortable with."

...this obviously isn't much of a surprised as he's been considered a top candidate from Day 1, but I guess it's news that he's actually been interviewed.

...while I'm still against his candidacy, one argument that has me starting to lean the other way regarding Messier is that the Rangers have ONE Stanley Cup in the last 73 years. How much worse can he actually make it?

...and yes, I am aware today is the anniversary of 1994, but I refuse to celebrate the fact that the Rangers haven't won a Stanley Cup in 19 years.

In other interviewing news, the LA Times reports that Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi said that assistant coach John Stevens is expected to interview with the Rangers.

@SunGarrioch Coach A Vigneault of 6:30am flight to NYC. #interview?

— Tony De Marinis (@tonydmayor) June 14, 2013

According to some random guy which was re-tweeted by the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch, Alain Vigneault is on a plane today destined for NYC, presumably for a second interview with the Rangers. Job offer in the works? Stay tuned....

UPDATE: 1:40 PM: Someone else spotted Vigneault on a plane heading east today....

@jessespector Your wish is almost coming true. Just spotted Vigneault at zee airport en route to NYC. #rangers

— Bimm M. (@bimm) June 14, 2013

Airport stalkers at the airport in Vancouver? Tortorella, Ruff and now this....

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In an exclusive interview with Chuck Gormley of CSN Washington, Capitals head coach Adam Oates opened up about his first season as a head choch, including losing to the Rangers in the playoffs. And it must be said: it sounds like a bunch of finger pointing and complaining.

On the series against the Rangers...

'' I think we played pretty good hockey for six-and a-half games. I don’t think we got the best shake with the referees, especially in New York [in Game 6]. I don’t think the discrepancy of the calls [five power plays for the Rangers, none for the Caps] were fair, but what are you going to do about it, right?  [Rangers goalie Henrik] Lundqvist played fantastic. I mean, my token answer to you is that Lundqvist played absolutely fantastic and we couldn't’ get through him. I talked to a lot of the guys about finding other ways to beat a good goalie and we could’t find other ways to get opportunities.''

With almost every report out of Phoenix stating that an extension between Dave Tippett and the Coyotes is imminent, I really haven't mentioned the possibility of him being a serious candidate for the Rangers head coaching position despite being linked to the team.

However, with new Coyotes ownership group still negotiating with the City of Glendale on a lease agreement, the team's future in Phoenix is very much in doubt and questions have begun to surface regarding Tippett's comfort level in this chaos. Here's Pat Leonard of the Daily News...

"Tippett’s contract expires on July 1, and though he recently told the Arizona Republic that re-signing in Phoenix is his top choice, he has hesitated due to the tenuous ownership situation and the uncertainty surrounding the franchise."

Bettman has offered no timetable for the City of Glendale but with a city council meeting on June 25th and an NHL Board of Governors meeting on the 27th, he says "stuff's gonna happen."

Bettman added that there are several markets interested in the Coyotes should the ownership situation not be resolved. He would not name cities, however.

...in watching this head coach search play out, you've got to assume the biggest reason Sather has hesitated in offering the position to Vigneault is because of his interest in Tippett. I initially thought it would be a pipe dream, but based on Bettman's recent comments on the situation in Phoenix it might be more of a reality than I anticipated. Although, I'm still worried Vigneault might be gobbled up by the Stars while the Rangers wait to see how this plays out. And if Tippett does stay, then we're left with you know who.

...while a lot of Rangers fans are excited about the prospect of Tippett, I hope they're not expecting him to fix the power play as in the last five years his Phoenix and Dallas teams have been just as dreadful with the extra man as the Rangers:

Update, 12:16 p.m.:
Pat Leonard at the Daily News reports that the Rangers flew Sauer to New York this week to evaluate his condition.

Leonard adds that Sauer's condition is not believed to have improved significantly, but the evaluation will tell the Rangers more.

...got to assume results are just going to confirm what we already know, he's likely never playing again.

H/T to reader Melissa.

Original Post:
During a live chat over at Blueshirts United on Wednesday, host Jim Cerny responded to a question regarding Michael Sauer's (post concussion symptoms) future now that he's a RFA...

"I'd be curious to see if Michael Sauer announces his retirement or not...he wouldn't have while still under contract last year, of course, but now as a RFA he just might."

...it obviously makes sense that Sauer didn't retire before his contract was over, even if he was ready to, as I'm sure he didn't want to leave money on the table. But now that he's a free agent, who will likely not receive an offer, he must seriously be contemplating the inevitable. Especially since there hasn't been a single report since the Phaneuf hit back in December of 2011 that he's even been remotely close to returning. In fact, I can't even remember the last update that noted he was even skating.

...it's very upsetting on a personal and a hockey level to see this happen to Sauer. With everything we've learned about concussions in the aftermath of Boogaard's death, you've got to assume he's suffered through some tough times including possible bouts of depression and excruciating headaches. And I don't have to remind anyone how much he's been missed on the ice. Think about how much more fresh Girardi and McDonagh would have been in the playoffs against the Devils last season if Torts was able to roll all six defensemen with Sauer in the line-up over Bickel in the earlier rounds. Not too much of a stretch to say Sauer's absence likely cost them a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals. His presence meant that much.

Update, 2:20 p.m.:

NYR D Michael Del Zotto underwent surgery for a sports hernia today Recovery estimated at four weeks, team said

— Steve Zipay (@stevezipay) June 13, 2013

Del Zotto also had hernia surgery back in 2011.

...obviously the reoccurring hernia isn't from carrying the defense.

Original Post:

Michael Del Zotto tweeted that he had a "long morning of surgery" today.

He adds that he will be back in top shape in no time.

While the Rangers had announced surgeries for Ryan Callahan and Carl Hagelin, there have been no mentions of Del Zotto going under the knife.

...oooooohhhhhhh, no wonder he played so poorly in the playoffs. His mental gaffes obviously had to do with this injury. lol

...in all seriousness, I hope it isn't anything that'll delay his off-season training or keep him out of camp for an extended period of time. This is a huge year for Del Zotto. With his game flatlining, while Moore continues to improve, he could easily find himself on the trade market this year.

Larry Brooks at the New York Post reports that Alain Vigneault is believed to have made a favorable impression on Glen Sather during his interview on Tuesday, though an offer for the Rangers head coaching vacancy does not seem imminent, unless the Stars make a time-sensitive offer to Vigneault.

Stars GM Jim Nill says he'd like to have a decision on a new head coach by the draft, but it's not a must.

...Vigneault is considered the top candidate AND impressed during his interview, so why isn't an offer imminent? Hmmmm, I wonder what it could be? (cough) Messier (cough).

Speaking of the former Rangers captain, Brooks adds that if Messier is hired as the Rangers next head coach he is likely to ask Brian Leetch to join him as an assistant coach.

...NOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Listen, I'm all for the idea of Leetch behind the bench as an assistant, but not when the inexperienced Messier is the head coach. Is Sather purposely trying to destroy these guys' legacy? And I'd love to get Lundqvist's thoughts on Sather bringing in two coaches with zero experience to lead a team expected to contend for a Stanley Cup.

...would much rather see Vigneault as the top dog with Messier and Leetch as the two assistants.

...if this is ultimately the direction Sather goes, you have to assume a second assistant will be brought in with NHL head coaching experience. Maybe Schoenfeld?

As I posted Sunday, Glen Sather really needs to add a little pep to his step if he doesn't want another top head coaching candidate to sign elsewhere.

According to Darren Dreger at TSN, after his interview with the Rangers yesterday, Alaine Vigneault is expected to re-connect with the Dallas Stars in the next few days. The former Canucks head coach is considered a top choice of both the Rangers and Dallas.

Larry Brooks at the New York Post adds that Vigneault not only has a long personal relationship with recently hired Stars GM Jim Nill, but is not likely to take a chance on being left out by waiting on Sather who has been known to take his time with head coaching hires.

Although, Josh Rimer at Next Sport Star says that with Dan Bylsma inking a two-year extension with the Penguins to expect the Rangers to make a decision on their head coach very soon.

While Vigneault has been the only candidate interviewed at this point, Andrew Gross at the Bergen Record reports that the Rangers are also expected to speak with Lindy Ruff.

Finally, on Mark Messier's candidacy, Brooks adds he is at the Rangers organizational meetings in his capacity as a special assistant to Sather but is recusing himself from discussions with candidates. No word on whether "The Captain" has been formally interviewed.

...so basically at this point, with no one other than Vigneault being interviewed, I can't see that the next head coach will be anyone but him. Which is why if Sather doesn't make a move before Dallas does, the Rangers are back at square one.