The upheaval in the New York Rangers organization and its
intersection with Terrier hockey took another turn today when former BU
All-American and long-time NHLer Mike Grier was hired as an advisor to the team’s
hockey operations. The move reunites the Detroit, Michigan native with new Rangers President
and General Manager Chris Drury, who had been his teammate on BU’s 1995
national championship team and the 1996 Frozen Four team, as well as playing together with the Buffalo Sabres.
Grier, whose brother Chris is the general manager of the
Miami Dolphins, played 14 seasons in the NHL (1,060 games) spending six seasons
in Edmonton, four with the Sabres, three with the San Jose Sharks, and two with
the Washington Capitals. In 1998-99, he posted a career-best 44 points (20G,24A)
for the Oilers.
Since his retirement in 2011, he has been a scout for the
Blackhawks, an assistant coach at St. Sebastian’s, his high school alma mater
where his son Jayden plays, and an assistant coach for the Devils under another
Terrier teammate, John Hynes.
Grier replaces Blueshirt legend and BC All-American Brian
Leetch in the advisory position.
Drury was elevated from associate general of the Rangers
and GM of AHL Hartford on May 5 when owner James Dolan fired team president
John Davidson and general manager Jeff Gorton in the first of several controversial
moves regarding the progress of the team’s three-year rebuilding effort. Drury
had reportedly drawn interest from other teams looking to make front office
moves. (Pittsburgh was mentioned in several reports).
Two days ago after the Rangers completed their season,
Drury announced the firing of head coach David Quinn following three seasons of
his five-year contract. Quinn, who amassed a 96-87-25 record, reportedly will
receive $2.4 million for each of the next two seasons.
Drury, as Gorton’s assistant, had lobbied for Quinn’s
hiring in 2018 and was instrumental in convincing the former BU head coach to
accept the Rangers’ job. It’s widely believed that the decision to let Quinn go
came directly from Dolan and his advisor Glen Sather.
What might be next for Quinn, a standout Terrier defenseman
in the 1980s? Hockey analyst Dave Starman offers an opinion.
In addition to his Rangers duties, Drury will serve as general manager
for Team USA in the upcoming Men’s World Championships in Riga, Latvia. The
U.S. roster includes
former Terriers Adam Clendening and Jake Oettinger. Clendening, named to the
Hockey East All-Rookie team in 2010-11 and a league first-team all-star the
next season, has played 90 games in six NHL seasons, most recently with
Columbus.
Oettinger just completed a strong rookie season with the
Dallas Stars, compiling an 11-8-7 record in 29 games with a 2.36 GAA and a .911
save percentage. In three years at BU, he had a 58-40-11 record with a 2.34 GAA
and a .923 save percentage. His 13 career shutouts are tied for program-best
with Jack Fereira and John Curry.
● NHL.com The
inredible rise of rookies Robertson and Oettinger
● Dallas Morning News Stars
can’t overlook Oettinger’s rookie performance
Looking ahead
2022 recruit Lane Hutson was named one of three top US
players in the World U18 championships in Frisco, Texas. Hutson, who played for
the U17s most of last season, moved up to the U18s when injuries sidelined
several defensemen and the small but skilled blueliner impressed.
● SI-Hockey News: Hutson
packs crazy skill into a small frame
Among BU recruits in the USHL: Quinn Hutson
(2021 or 2022), Lane’s older brother, finished with 42 points in 45 games; Brian Carrabes
(2021) had 40 points in 45 games; Braden Doyle
(2021) 24 points in 51 games; Charles-Alexis Legault (2021) five points in 23
games; Ryan
Greene (2022) 32 points in 51 games; and Michael
LaStarza (2022) 24 points in 50 games.
Two other recruits, 2021 Tyler Boucher and 2023 Shane
Lachance, were featured in NHL.com’s “Prospects on the radar.”
Tyler Boucher (6-1, 205),
RW, USA U-18 (USHL): The
son of Brian Boucher, a goalie for 13 NHL seasons, has established himself as a
power forward in the 2021 draft and is a B-rated skater on NHL Central
Scouting's players to watch list. The 18-year-old is progressing well after
sustaining a knee injury Jan. 14 and is expected to return to the ice in May.
He scored 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 12 games (0.92 points per
game) this season after scoring 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) in 43 games
for the Under-17 team in 2019-20.
"You don't get to this
level without compete and work ethic and the things that separate you, because
eventually you're going to be with just as talented or more talented players,
but what Tyler brings to the table is a lot of skill," NHL Central
Scouting's senior manager David Gregory said. "He's got very good vision
and hockey sense and can fly with the puck, but at the same time he's thinking
to make the right play, so that's a deadly combination."
Shane Lachance (6-4,
195), LW, Boston Jr. Bruins (NCDC): The 17-year-old is the son of former
NHL forward Scott Lachance and grandson of United States Hockey Hall of Famer
and former Boston University coach Jack Parker. The C-rated skater scored 15
points (six goals, nine assists), five power-play points (three goals, two
assists) and two game-winners in 25 regular-season games for the Junior Bruins
of the National Collegiate Development Conference.
"Shane is a really
interesting player; here's a guy that has really good hockey sense," Gregory
said. "He's impressive in tight situations for a big guy with nice hands
and he's gotten a lot bigger over the last couple of years. His skating has
gotten a lot better from last year to this year."
2023 recruit Ryan Fine participated at the just completed NTDP evaluation camp for next season's U17 team. A forward from Center Moriches, N.Y., Fine played for the Mid Fairfield Rangers 15 Only team and for Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey last season. Also at the camp was defenseman Gavin McCarthy, younger brother of Case McCarthy.
Women’s Team
A star BU defenseman and more recently assistant coach of
the Terriers, Tara Watchorn becomes the first head coach at Stonehill College.
