May 15, 2012, Nerw Jersey Devils-New York Rangers Game One Eastern Conference Final notebook for Metro Newspaper in NYC
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MITCHELL LAYTON/NHLI/GETTY IMAGES
Dale Hunter.
The Rangers’ 2-1 win in Game 7 Saturday night didn’t just end the
Capitals season. It also spelled the end of Dale Hunter’s abbreviated
tenure as coach of the Capitals.
Hunter announced his decision to reporters at the Capitals end-of-season
media availability session after speaking with general manager George
McPhee. Hunter replaced Bruce Boudreau after 22 games. Hunter compiled a
30-23-7 record in 60 regular season games with Washington.
The Capitals finished No. 7 in the East. They eliminated the reigning
Stanley Cup Champions Boston Bruins in seven games in the Eastern
Conference quarterfinals before losing to the Rangers in the Eastern
Conference Semifinals.
“It was the right thing to do,” Hunter said. He co-owns Ontario Hockey
League power the London Knights with his brother, Mark. “I’m going home.
I have a good thing going with the family, so I’ll stay home.”
Rangers Michael Del Zotto, Dan Girardi and Brandon Prust spent part of their junior hockey careers playing for Hunter in London.
“Very [similar], not really high risk, very tight defensively. Everybody
sacrificing their body, simple plays,” Prust said when asked to compare
the Knights’ system to the one the Capitals employed under Hunter’s
regime. “The structure [the Capitals] had was so similar to what I was
used to.”
Henrique bringing youth
One of the story arcs entering the series is the Rangers’ youth versus
the playoff-tested Devils. New Jersey is the league’s oldest team with
an average age of 29.9.
Yet one of the most important is 22-year old Calder finalist Adam
Henrique. Henrique finished the regular season with 16 goals and 51
assists in 74 games. He has played in all 12 of the Devils’ playoff
games, recording two goals and seven points, along with a plus-six
rating.
“I use the word ‘unflappable’ with him really since he first came up
early in the season. I think part of that is maturity. Part of it is his
personality. Nothing seems to rattle him. He doesn't get overwhelmed by
situations or different points of the game, and he also has the ability
to raise his game to another level at key times. So he's a pretty
special kid,” coach Peter DeBoer said in his pre-game media availability
Monday morning.
“I think all our young guys, it's a fantastic experience, to know what
it takes not just to get here but, you know, to move through this is
invaluable. Both for now and for later in their careers.
“I think our young guys have done a very good job of contributing and
finding another level. Adam Larsson is an example just to sit and come
in and give us the type of minutes he's given us. He's not alone in
that. There [are] a lot of people there.”
Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/1143089--rangers-notebook-hunter-step-away-henrique-key-to-devils
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 2:55 AM
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