Ted Nolan interviewed by New York Rangers

Ted Nolan flew to New York last week to be interviewed for the head coach's job with New York Rangers.

The New York Times reports Rangers president and general manager Glen Sather flew Nolan in last Wednesday to discuss the position being vacated by Ron Low, whose contract is not being renewed.

"I called him when the job became open," Nolan told the Times. "He asked me my thoughts on certain things and asked me to prepare something for him. I've done that."

The 44-year-old Saultite said he wanted the position so badly he was prepared to walk all the way from the Sault to New York City for the interview.

'Doctor' Ted Nolan?

Algoma University College will announce in the near future that Nolan, a former NHL Coach of the Year, will be recognized with an honourary degree at this year's convocation.

Nolan's name has also been mentioned in media speculation about the Dallas Stars' search for a coach. New York interview raises eyebrows

Nolan hasn't worked in the NHL since he was fired by Buffalo Sabres general manager John Muckler after Nolan won the Jack Adams Trophy for being the National Hockey League's top coach in 1996-97.

Muckler, who was widely reported to have had disagreements with Nolan, was turfed by the Sabres shortly after that.

Sather's decision to interview Nolan for the Rangers job raised some eyebrows in hockey circles because Muckler coached the Rangers from February 1998 to April 2000 and is considered an old buddy of Sather's.

In 1997, Nolan refused an offer to coach Tampa Bay Lightning.

The short-list

Also reported to be on the Rangers short-list are Rangers assistant coach Walt Kyle; former Dallas Stars coach Ken Hitchcock; three-time NHL Coach of the Year Pat Burns; and John Paddock, coach of the Rangers' American Hockey League Hartford affiliate.

The most positive media buzz has focussed on Hitchcock, who recently spent six hours with Sather.

Sather is expected to announce a new head coach for the Rangers by May 15.

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