Marc Staal returning to Rangers as development coach after NHL retirement
NY Post
Marc Staal is coming home.
The Rangers’ 2005 first-round draft choice, who played 892 games on the blue line over 13 years while wearing the Blueshirt, is rejoining the franchise as a development coach, The Post has leaned from industry sources.
The appointment to this position coincides with Staal’s retirement at age 37 after playing last season for the Flyers following one season with Florida and two with the Red Wings after his trade to Detroit prior to the 2020-21 season.
Staal will work with defensemen in Hartford and throughout the organization in his new role. He is filling the spot vacated early last year when Paul Mara became an assistant coach with the AHL Wolf Pack. The development staff also includes director Jed Ortmeyer, assistant director Tanner Glass and Antti Miettinen.
Staal, who suffered and overcame multiple concussions while playing the last 11 seasons without vision in his right eye after being struck by a puck in 2012-13, leaves the NHL after 1,136 career games in which he recorded 53 goals and 181 assists for 234 points.
No. 18 is sixth in games played in franchise history, fourth among defensemen behind Harry Howell, Brian Leetch and Ron Greschner. Staal is fourth on the all-time franchise list for games played in the playoffs with 107, trailing Henrik Lundqvist, Chris Kreider and Dan Girardi.
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