Rangers Hire Christian Hmura
The New York Rangers have made another addition to Peter Laviolette's staff with the latest hiring of skills coach Christian Hmura.
#NYR have hired Christian Hmura as a skills and performance development coach, per source. He will be on the coaching staff and around the team regularly.
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) August 7, 2023
Mark Ciaccio is still with the organization, but in a new role as a prospect development skills coach.
Hmura replaces Mark Ciaccio who will now report to Jed Ortmeyer, and he joins the team having most recently worked Chicago Mission AAA program.
Hmura also operated HHD Hockey, and here's how the newest coach described himself on the organization's official website.
Christian Hmura is a renowned skating and skills coach, as well as the owner of Hmura Hockey Development. Christian’s background and expertise extends from his current and past positions as a Hockey Director and Head Coach of many different levels and age groups. Christian has trained some of the most elite players in the world. He routinely works with players from many different NHL teams in the off season to develop diverse skating techniques and skill acquisitions. Hmura Hockey Development was founded on Christian’s core principal- being a well versed skater creates the time and space to utilize the skills that you practice day in and day out. Christian’s coaching accolades include assisting in the development of dozens of players advancing to professional & NCAA.
For starters, it is very nice to see that he's got a track record as a skating coach, as that's something many have clamored for. At one point in time the Rangers worked with Barb Underhill, and she was a very beneficial consultant who has since gone on to work with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning among others.
Additionally, it is a positive to see a new voice in terms of skills development, as there's been criticism in recent years on how highly regarded young players haven't looked as effective after joining the organization.
Overall the Rangers' coaching staff now looks pretty balanced. There wasn't a ton of excitement when Laviolette was introduced, but each assistant that's been added to the fold offers potential that can have an impact on the roster. We'll see what happens when the team hits the ice, but it is encouraging to see the organization trying to do something different.
