LAS VEGAS — Another college coach will begin his professional career within the Rangers organization.
Grant Potulny, head coach at Northern Michigan University for the past seven seasons, will become the new head coach of the Hartford Wolfpack, the Blueshirts’ AHL affiliate, the club announced Thursday.
The decision to hire Potulny means that Steve Smith, an assistant for three years, was elevated to the interim head coaching job following Chris Knoblock’s departure to the Oilers in November, but Smith will no longer hold that position.
It’s unclear whether Smith will remain on staff.
Potulny compiled a record of 128 wins, 113 losses and 17 ties over seven seasons with the Wildcats before earning his first coaching job in the AHL.
During Potulny’s tenure, the team recorded a winning percentage of .500 or more points five times and won at least 20 games four times.
In his first season in 2017-18, Potulny led the Wildcats to a 12-win improvement over the previous season and was named WCHA Coach of the Year.
The team also reached the CCHA Finals twice in a three-year span from 2020-2023.
Former Boston College coach David Quinn began his NHL career in 2018 as head coach of the Rangers.
Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury has a Team USA connection with Potulny, who served as an assistant at the IIHF World Junior Championships in 2013, 2017, 2018 and 2022.
The U.S. team won gold medals in 2013 and 2017.
At the time, Drury and Rangers assistant general manager and Hartford general manager Ryan Martin also worked for Team USA.
A fifth-round draft pick by the Senators in 2000, Potulny never made it to the NHL but enjoyed a six-year stint in the AHL as a 6-foot-3 forward.
Potulny recorded 145 points (73 goals, 72 assists) in 297 games with the Binghamton Senators, Hershey Bears, Springfield Falcons, San Antonio Rampage and Norfolk Admirals.
Potulny takes over a Wolfpack team that was soundly defeated by the Capitals’ AHL affiliate, the Bears, in the Atlantic Division final of last season’s Calder Cup playoffs and will be looking to help the Rangers’ minor league team take the next step.
Qualifying offers must be submitted by the Monday after the draft, which is also the start of free agency.
Forward Bobby Trivigno is not expected to sign a contract extension.
Similar expectations are being placed on Matthew Robertson, who the Rangers selected 49th overall in 2019.
