The Case to Make Manny Malhotra the Next Rangers Head Coach
With coaching changes looming, the Rangers have a chance to break the retread cycle. Enter Manny Malhotra, a familiar face with fresh potential.
One way or another, the New York Rangers will enter the 2025-26 with a different head coach from the one they had last season in Peter Laviolette. Depending on how things go, they could have a brand new coaching staff entirely. If you read our Blueshirt Banter Roundtable, you know that we’re all expecting Chris Drury and the Rangers to go down a very familiar path with another coaching retread, quite possibly even John Tortorella for the third time. But, that all may have changed now that the Pittsburgh Penguins and Mike Sullivan have mutually parted ways.
However, in the event they take a different approach and go with a more inspired choice, they should look no further than one of their own former players in Manny Malhotra.
Now you’re likely thinking one of two things. Either "wow, that’s a blast from the past," or "perhaps you, too, see the logic behind this idea."
Long before the days of Kaapo Kakko and Lias Andersson disappointing Rangers fans by failing to live up to their draft status, the Rangers selected Manny Malhotra 7th overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. The former captain of the Guelph Storm in the OHL, Malhotra was drafted for his speed, hands, and leadership qualities. He was a player that then Rangers general manager Neil Smith thought highly of and arguably rushed into the league at just 18-years of age. Never regarded for his goal scoring abilities, scouts were high on him as a versatile, two-way center that works hard and contributes in all aspects of the game. Smith even went as far as comparing him to Adam Graves.
