Rangers Enhance Staff with Brassard and Quick from Blue Jackets

The New York Rangers have made significant strides in bolstering their coaching staff by hiring two former Columbus Blue Jackets players. In a move that highlights their commitment to player development, the Rangers have brought on board Derick Brassard as a player development assistant and Jonathan Quick as the director of goaltending development.

Brassard, a former first-round pick, was selected sixth overall by the Blue Jackets in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He spent his first six seasons in Columbus, from 2007-08 to 2012-13, where he made an impact with 58 goals and 111 assists over 309 games. His journey with the Blue Jackets came to an end when he was traded to the Rangers in the 2012-13 season, as part of a multi-player deal that saw Marian Gaborik head to Columbus. This familiarity with the Rangers organization could play a crucial role in his new development position.

Meanwhile, Quick’s connection to the Blue Jackets is a unique one. He briefly joined the organization during the 2022-23 season as part of a trade package that sent Vladislav Gavrikov and Joonas Korpisalo to Los Angeles. However, Quick was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights before he had the chance to play a game for Columbus. In a remarkable turn of events, he went on to win his third Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights that season before concluding his NHL career with the Rangers over the last three seasons.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.