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Report: Ex-Canucks asst. Brown may join Vigneault in NY

Chicago Blackhawks v Vancouver Canucks

VANCOUVER, CANADA - APRIL 22: Assistant coach Newell Brown of the Vancouver Canucks talks to Henrik Sedin #33 and Daniel Sedin #22 of the Vancouver Canucks during their NHL game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Rogers Arena April 22, 2013 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver won 3-1. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)

Jeff Vinnick

While we’re still waiting for confirmation of the actual Alain Vigneault hire, the soon-to-be new Rangers coach is already believed to be assembling his coaching staff, according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post.

One of those potential hires? Could be Vigneault’s former assistant in Vancouver, Newell Brown.

Brown, 51, had been an assistant/associate coach in Chicago, Columbus and Anaheim before joining the Canucks in 2010.

Primarily in charge of the power play, Brown initially achieved great success in Vancouver (had the NHL’s best PP in 2010-11, at 24.3 percent).

But, last season, the unit struggled mightily and finished a disappointing 22nd (15.8 percent) in the league.

Here’s more on the potential hire, from Brooks:

Brown offered an interesting observation/statistic regarding the power play in the aftermath of his dismissal by Vancouver, whicho also fired Vigneault and associate coach Rick Bowness. He told the Vancouver Sun that “77 percent of power-play goals are scored with at least two right-hand shots [on the ice].”

The Rangers currently have four right-hand shots on the roster who regularly worked (or not) on the power play — point men Dan Girardi and Anton Stralman and forwards Ryan Callahan and Derek Stepan.

The power play has been a sore spot for New York over the last few years. It finished 23rd in the NHL this season (15.7 percent), 23rd last season (15.7 percent) and 18th in 2010-11 (16.9 percent).