Beuk is back.
Jeff Beukeboom was hired by the Rangers on Friday as an assistant coach on Alain Vigneault’s staff. The former Blueshirts defenseman had been an assistant coach with AHL Hartford since 2012, and he takes over for Ulf Sammuelsson, who left to become the head coach of AHL Charlotte, a minor-league affiliate of the Hurricanes.
Beukeboom will take over responsibilities for the defense, which has some young players with whom he worked closely while on the Wolf Pack. That includes 22-year-old Brady Skjei and likely Dylan McIlrath, who is a restricted free agent yet to be signed.
Beukeboom, 51, played 13 seasons in the league, establishing himself a physical and tough defenseman. After being taken in the first round (15th overall) by the Oilers in 1983, Beukeboom won three Stanley Cups with Edmonton before joining the Rangers in 1991 as part of the deal that brought Mark Messier to Broadway. He skated in 520 games over eight seasons with the Rangers, and was the integral defensive partner to Brian Leetch on the 1994 Stanley Cup champion team.