Per Brooks Rangers are impressed with Jim Montgomery as coaching candidate

The University of Denver’s bench boss might be coming to Broadway... or Dallas.

Jim Montgomery is certainly on Jeff Gorton’s radar as a candidate to be the next head coach of the New York Rangers. However, the head coach of the University of Denver has also been linked to the Dallas Stars. It looks like the Rangers might have found themselves in something of a bidding war for a free agent ahead of schedule.

Today Larry Brooks of the New York Post reported that two sources have told him that the Rangers have been “very impressed” by the former NHL center as a coaching candidate. One of Brooks’ sources also claimed that Montgomery has already had numerous NHL interviews.

From Brooks’ piece:

Montgomery, a Montreal native, is absent NHL experience as a coach. A proponent of up-tempo play and known as detail-oriented and as an excellent communicator, Montgomery is a believer in “The process,” as he explained in this first-person piece.

Montgomery has been the head coach at the University of Denver for the past five seasons. Before that he was the general manager and head coach of the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the USHL for three years. Montgomery turns 49 at the end of June and has a good reputation for developing and working with young players, including New Jersey Devils rookie defender Will Butcher.

The Rangers’ organizational meetings commence May 7, but Gorton has already said that he doesn’t believe that it is necessary to have a new head coach signed and present for the draft.