Rangers make former prospect their new head goalie coach

On Wednesday, the New York Rangers announced the promotion of Jeff Malcolm, their long-standing organizational goaltending consultant, to the position of head goalie coach.

Malcolm, who has been part of the Rangers organization for six years, is a natural choice for the job. Despite being only 35 years old, his youth does not signify a lack of experience. Malcolm’s journey in professional hockey is deeply rooted in the Rangers organization.

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He spent four seasons playing within their system, splitting time between the AHL affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack and the ECHL Greenville Road Warriors. In six years of coaching with the organization, he’s spent the last two as Goalie Coach for the Wolf Pack.

During that time, Malcolm worked closely with the Rangers’ departing goaltending coach, 60-year-old Benoit Allaire, who will now transition to the role of Goaltending Director. Brendan Burke is leaving his post as Goaltending Director for the Jr. Coyotes Youth Hockey Program and will take over as the Wolf Pack’s new goalie coach as a result of the move.

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Malcolm is a good fit for the gig because he has plenty of experience with this group of players. He even played alongside Chris Kreider in the 2013-14 Wolf Pack season. Good chemistry will be important to create a seamless transition.

The long-time coach also has first-hand experience with elite goaltending. Despite never scratching the Rangers’ NHL roster, Malcolm competed for ice time on the Wolf Pack with current Red Wings goalie and 2023-24 All-Star Cam Talbot.

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Despite these advantages, there is also a sense he is starting from scratch. After all, he didn’t become Goaltending Coach for the Wolf Pack until after Igor Shesterkin cemented his place on Broadway. Malcolm’s also never coached two-time Stanley Cup champion Jonathan Quick, which should be an interesting dynamic considering Quick is three years Malcolm’s senior.

Regardless, the Rangers hope that injecting a young (but seasoned) coach into the mix will help elevate their already spectacular goaltending tandem for the 2024-25 season.

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