[HT/AP]Tom Renney ((pictured, thanks Scott Levy/NHLI, Getty Images)) has been fired as coach of the New York Rangers.
General manager Glen Sather dismissed Renney and assistant Perry Pearn on Monday. No replacement has been chosen, but assistant Mike Pelino and goalie coach Benoit Allaire remain with the team.
The Rangers have won only twice in their last 12 games after leading the Atlantic Division much of the first half of the season.
The Rangers lost in overtime to Toronto on Sunday night, and are in a fifth-place tie in the Eastern Conference with 69 points -- two points ahead of ninth-place Carolina. The top eight teams make the playoffs.
TSN's Bob McKenzie is speculating that former Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella will be named successor. Tortorella is still under contract for the remainder of this season with the Tampa Bay Lightning- his former employer. The Tampa ownership would have to give their official okey-dokey to the idea, and the Rangers, according to McKenzie, are in contact with the NHL league office to expedite the deal.
The New York Post is saying/guessing/speculating themselves that former New Jersey Devils head coach Jim Schoenfeld will be Renney's replacement. Schoenfeld currently works in the Rangers front office.
And how's this for today's bout of irony...?
All four NHL teams that opened the NHL season in Europe have now fired their head coaches this season. In addition to Renney, other coaches to get the axe are the Penguins' Michel Therrien, the Lightning's Barry Melrose and the Senators' Craig Hartsburg.
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