Q&A with New York Rangers alum Matt Gilroy

Matt Gilroy and his wife Jenny Taft are thrilled to be moving back to Boston, where the former New York Rangers defenseman will be an assistant coach for the men’s hockey team at Harvard University this season. But not everyone endorses this development.

“I don’t think Jack Parker is too happy,” Gilroy told Forever Blueshirts with a chuckle.

Parker, of course, is the legendary former men’s hockey coach at Boston University, where Gilroy starred for four seasons, winning the NCAA national championship and Hobey Baker Award as the nation’s top collegiate player each in 2009.

So, understandably, the man who guided BU to much success in 40 seasons as coach is not a Harvard supporter. Though, it’s probably safe to say Parker is a fan of Gilroy’s and excited for this next chapter in the 40-year-old’s career.

An admitted late-bloomer, Gilroy signed with the Rangers as an undrafted free agent after his outstanding 2008-09 season in college. He played three seasons over two tours with the Rangers, just missing out on the 2012 Eastern Conference Final run and 2014 trip to the Stanley Cup Final.

“I guess I was a little unlucky on those two,” Gilroy joked.

Still, the Long Island native got to play 142 games for his hometown team.

“Being from there, growing up there, watching it as a kid, soaking up that atmosphere at the greatest arena in the world, I’m so grateful for my opportunity with New York and thankful for everyone there,” he said.

Gilroy played 225 NHL games with the Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers. from 2009-14. Four seasons in the KHL followed. As did the opportunity to represent the United States, serving as an alternate captain for the men’s hockey team at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

After retiring and not sure what to do next, Gilroy took up coaching, spending the past two seasons as an assistant with the United States National Team Development Program in Michigan. While there, he worked with a young defenseman named EJ Emery, who went to be the Rangers first-round pick in this year’s draft.

And now, it’s back to Boston, where he met Taft in college, just not the college he’ll be working for this season.

Related: Matt Gilroy believes ‘future is bright’ for Rangers top pick EJ Emery

Q&A with former Rangers defenseman Matt Gilroy

Is coaching something you had always planned to do?

“I never thought about coaching, even right after I retired. But I got into coaching just to get back into hockey, and I’ve really enjoyed it. I had two great years learning at the national level. I don’t know where it takes me but I think this move to Harvard is the next step. [Head coach Ted Donato’s] track record is unbelievable, the 20 years he’s coached there, the NHL players he’s produced and the way he’s built that program. To go learn under a guy like Teddy, who’s played the game, and now coached the game, at a really high level and be a part of that Harvard community is kind of a no-brainer for me, not something we were going to turn down. I’m very thankful for this opportunity.”

What do you enjoy most about coaching?

“Just being a part of their journey, like coaches were in my journey as a player. To be on that side now, to help, to mentor, give advice is probably the best part of coaching in my opinion. Being that mentor to these young kids, giving them my insight into what I did right, what I did wrong, seeing where I can help along the way. This year, seeing a bunch of our kids (from USNTDP) get drafted in Vegas like EJ Emery with the Rangers, was so special. To see that he had such a big smile and his family was so excited. Just to be a part of his journey is an incredible feeling.”

You’ve played for some legendary coaches like Jack Parker in college and John Tortorella in the NHL. How did they influence your coaching style?

“There’s a ton of guys, and you take bits and pieces that you like and dislike. I don’t know that I really have any Russian influences because I didn’t understand what they were saying half the time, but there’s definitely things you learn along the way as a player that you now try and communicate to players. Definitely lucky to play for guys like ‘Torts’ and ‘Sully’ (Mike Sullivan) and David Quinn in college and Jack Parker. Just so many good coaches along the way. I was very lucky.”

Your wife, Jenny Taft, is a well-known broadcaster and personality on Fox Sports. How do you juggle your busy careers?

“She supported my career while I played and now her career, she’s so involved in sports and she gets to do these big events, so now I get to support her. We’re so grateful for all the memories and friendships from both of us working in sports, it’s taken us all around the world with our careers. We try and make it work as best as we can. We have to sacrifice some stuff but we make it work and support each other. It’s been great to see her achieve her goals, too. We’re able to support each other and still live out our own dreams, which is kind of complicated at times, but is a lot of fun. We have a two-and-a-half year-old and Boston is a perfect city for us. We met there at BU, and now it’ll be easy for her to fly out of there to different events she covers. We have so many friends in Boston. It was already like a second home to us.”

You grew up in New York. How cool was it to play for your hometown Rangers?

“There’s nothing like it. Being from New York, watching when they win in the ’90s and being around for that. The atmosphere. My dad being from the city, my mom being from New York, to be able to call Madison Square Garden home for a few years, I wouldn’t trade that for the world, my experience in New York.”

What do you remember about your first NHL goal with the Rangers (Oct. 5, 2009)?

“Yeah, it was against Marty Brodeur, a pass from Vinny Prospal. I think Vinny Prospal was more excited than I was. I remember him coming over, he loved scoring goals. He was just so excited to come over and congratulate me. I guess to score your first goal against Brodeur, a legend like that, it’s pretty special. I think I just fanned on the shot and it went five-hole!”

You had the chance to play for the United States in the 2018 Winter Olympics. What was that experience like?

“Summer Olympics are going on right now and I get to call myself an Olympian, which is probably one of the most exciting points of my career, being an Olympian, a captain on the team. Every time you see an Olympics, you’re part of that community, a very special community to be a part of.”

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