The New York Rangers have hired Christian Hmura from the Chicago Mission Youth Hockey organization to join the staff as a Skills and Performance Development Coach.
The New York Rangers have made many significant changes to their staff this off-season. Bringing in Christian Hmura is another example of how they're looking for some fresh voices, mixing in the old with the new.
Mollie Walker was the first to report this hire, but it has since been confirmed by the Chicago Mission, the Premier Tier I AAA Youth Hockey Club.
Hmura has his own hockey development company, HHD, where he currently works with many professional and NCAA players. According to the HHD site, Hmura's core principle is "being a well-versed skater creates the time and space to utilize the skills that you practice day in and day out."
Hmura began his coaching career at the age of 19 after concussion issues played a major role in not being able to continue his playing career. Working on skating techniques appears to be Hmura's specialty, as he is continuously looking for new and innovative ways to improve player's skating as the game is always evolving.
Skating and overall team speed were a blatant issue for the Rangers in their playoff series against the New Jersey Devils this past season. New Jersey was a much more powerful team in regard to getting up and down the ice with speed.
A negative talking point around the Rangers over the past few years is that they aren't strong in developing their prospects.
Most people around the team are aware that this is going to be a massive season for players like Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko. The additions that have been made to the staff throughout the off-season should at least give fans some hope that they are trying to bring in the right people that will get the most out of the young players.
Hmura comes from the Chicago Mission organization, the same organization that their first-round pick, Gabriel Perreault, grew up playing in. Dan Muse and Michael Peca, the Rangers' new assistant coaches, are also guys that have had plenty of experience working with younger players.
To me, it is clear that the organization is trying to head in a different direction and turn a new leaf. Hmura may or may not be the answer, but he has a strong reputation and can at least provide a new perspective when it comes to player development.