When the Rangers introduce Alain Vigneault as their new coach, he’ll become the 34th in franchise history. The former Vancouver bench boss takes over for John Tortorella, who technically coached here twice. He also was an interim in 2000 coaching four games before Glen Sather brought in his own guy, Ron Low. Four years later, Tortorella coached the Lightning to the Stanley Cup.

By that point, Sather had already gone through three coaches over four years including himself. Ironically, it was the same general manager of Edmonton who declared that he’d win Cups every year if he had the Rangers’ money. Here we are 13 years later and it hasn’t quite worked out. Somehow, the President and GM has held his post despite only one trip past the second round. That came last year when Tortorella guided the club to their first Atlantic Division and the East’s best record since ’93-94. That last time they won. Following Henrik Lundqvist’s strong commentary that the team took a step backwards, he was out of a job.

After losing to the Devils in the Conference Finals, Sather overreacted to criticism that the Rangers were a player away. He patiently waited out former Columbus GM Scott Howson last summer before pulling the trigger on a trade that sent Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky and Tim Erixon to the Blue Jackets for Rick Nash. The Jackets also received a 2013 first round pick. The Blueshirts also got Steven Delisle and a conditional third round pick in this year’s draft. In an oddity, Delisle was included in the Marian Gaborik trade back to Columbus along with Blake Parlett in exchange for Derick Brassard, John Moore, Derek Dorsett plus a sixth round pick. In his first season, Nash ranked second in team scoring with 42 points while pacing them with 21 goals. However, he had a forgettable postseason tallying a goal and four assists in a dozen games. Two days after the Rangers 19-Year Anniversary of 1994, Nash celebrated his 29th birthday on Father’s Day. Much of their future depends on the big power forward.

The Rangers were ousted in the Conference Semifinals by the Bruins. As it turned out, they put up a better fight than the Penguins, who were swept in the next round only scoring twice. Astonishingly, the Pens retained coach Dan Bylsma while Tortorella was fired. It makes you wonder if the Ranger organization miscalculated. Regardless, once Lundqvist contradicted Tortorella a change had to be made. In a players’ world where they have too much authority, it can be detrimental to a team reaching its goal. With Lundqvist a year away from unrestricted status, the Rangers couldn’t afford to have an unhappy goalie. Sather should already be having discussions with him on a new deal.

Unfortunately, Sather isn’t hands on like Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero. A summer after locking up Sidney Crosby, he got Evgeni Malkin re-signed and now can turn his attention to Kris Letang. Instead, Sather was allowed to replace another coach who did a respectable job developing a current nucleus that features captain Ryan Callahan, Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin, Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh, Marc Staal and Mike Del Zotto. You can also make an argument that Brian Boyle, Derek Brassard, Anton Stralman and Mats Zuccarello all benefited under Tortorella. The handling of Chris Kreider and former Conn Smythe winner Brad Richards were his downfall. Nobody could’ve predicted Richards’ demise. Perhaps too much was expected of Kreider, who’d never played one regular season game. He played with more confidence at the end.

With Sather settling on the experience of Vigneault over special assistant Mark Messier, who might’ve had Brian Leetch on his staff, the GM is putting his reputation on the line. Had he run another team, he’d have been gone a long time ago. Instead, he remains a survivor thanks to Garden CEO Jim Dolan. Of Slats’ five previous coaches, Tortorella was a step up from Tom Renney, who brought the Rangers back to the playoffs. If there’s a positive, the choices have gotten better since Low, Bryan Trottier and Sather himself. Renney’s teams made the Conference Semis twice and Tortorella got to the Conference Final once. They were shorthanded against Boston minus Staal and deadline pickup Ryane Clowe. The penalty kill suffered without Darroll Powe. Once Stralman went down, they were done.

The job becomes Vigneault’s possibly as soon as tomorrow. A 52-year old veteran coach who spent his first two tenures in Canada first with Montreal and then Vancouver. He should be accustomed to pressure. He’s a reverse from Tortorella in that he’s more affable and will answer any question with the press. A players coach, he’s similar to Renney. Despite recent success with the star-laden Canucks that included The Sedins, Roberto Luongo, Ryan Kesler, pest Alex Burrows and a strong defense featuring Alex Edler and Kevin Bieksa, they only reached the Stanley Cup Final once losing to the Bruins in 2011. He didn’t do a good job handling the goalie controversy between Luongo and Cory Schneider in a second consecutive first round elimination. He was still there answering every question following their defeat to San Jose. It took the Canucks a couple of days to fire him.

Can Vigneault work in Manhattan? You can make an argument that he underachieved with his former club. Somehow, the Canucks didn’t win a championship despite immense talent. It can’t always be attributed to the coach. Players must perform. In many aspects, the Canucks’ underachievment was very similar to the Rangers. You can’t win unless you score. Vancouver didn’t muster much offense since losing the final two games to Boston. They became stale. It was time for a change. There’s the remote possibility that Tortorella could wind up taking over. Wouldn’t that be a great 2014 story line?

The Rangers are Cup or bust. They don’t boast the best roster. With Detroit coming East, it only becomes more difficult. The Bruins and Pens aren’t going anywhere. Other teams such as the Caps, Islanders, Leafs and Senators could improve. The Flyers should be better. The media scrutiny will be immense and intense. Fans expect a lot. Next year will be 20 years since Messier and Leetch teamed with Mike Richter and Adam Graves to deliver the franchise’s first Cup in 54 years. They’ve won only once in the last 72 years. One thing’s unmistakable. Vigneault better be Slats’ final move.