It seems like everyone is losing their jobs these days. Renney has now been added to that list after a 5 year career as the Rangers head coach. The news came Monday afternoon after a awful stretch of hockey for the Blueshirts. Why did Tom Renney lose his job:
1) No offense. What Tom had to work with was a team of young grinders and older playmakers. Who are the guys that are going to put the puck in the net? Where are the natural goal scorers? Oh wait. They are playing in Siberia. (Jagr, Straka)
2) One of the worst powerplay operations in hockey history. Nothing infuriates fans and boosts opponents confidence like the debacle that is the Rangers powerplay. Renny and Perry Pearn never figured out how to adjust. (I won't even mention the 13 shorthanded goals already given up this year...)
3) New York City was calling for his head. The pressure of performing on the world's largest and greatest stage took its toll. Once you start getting booed and confidence among core fans is gone, it's almost always time to ship out. (Ask Tom Poti, Marek Malik and soon to be Michael Rozival)
As a former season-ticket holder for the NYR during the Renney years, I never had a problem with him at all. He is fourth all-time for wins as a Ranger coach. He was the most liked coach since Mike Keenan of 1994. He was laid back and played Neil Diamond for the team after wins. I met him at Casino Night 2008 briefly in passing:
"Hey Tom, section 409. You're doin a good job."
"409, I have to have a beer with you guys sometime."
"That would be nice. Good luck."
"We'll get it done."
I think Renney got the short end of the Sather stick. They shouldn't have let Jagr, Straka, Shanahan or Sean Avery out of the Big Apple and Renney paid the price.
