BY PAUL BRUNO

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

"You don't motivate people; you activate something in them that already exists." -- Guy Boucher

The search by Rangers General Manager Glen Sather to replace John Tortorella as head coach has commenced in the offices of Madison Square Garden.

At this early stage several names have already surfaced for command behind the Rangers bench – former Canucks coach Alain Vigneault, released by the club after this season, has been mentioned often during the past week.

Others on the rumor ledger include former Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, and Dallas Eakins of the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies. Even legends Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky have reportedly made it known of their interest.

However, one possible candidate whose name has not yet surfaced is Guy Boucher, the former Tampa Bay Lightning coach who was dismissed by the team in late March.

The 41-year-old Boucher has displayed an impressive acumen for tactics in his career, appears to have a solid rapport with both veterans and young players, and is admired for his power play strategies.

And although his career does not span many years, Boucher has proven an ability to win at every level he’s coached.

In his first season with Tampa Bay (2010-2011), Boucher guided the team a 46-25-11 record and the Eastern Conference finals, and came within a decision of reaching the Stanley Cup final. The Lightning lost to the Bruins in seven games in that series relying mostly on older veteran Dwayne Roloson in goal.

Think of what Boucher, who was behind the bench in Tampa for two and a half seasons, could achieve with Henrik Lundqvist in the crease.

In 2008-2009 Boucher steered the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to the President’s Cup with a team-best 54 victories and a berth in the Memorial Cup.

Derick Brassard, who led the Rangers in scoring during the playoffs (12 points in 12 games) played for Boucher at Drummondville during the 2006-2007 campaign.

“Every day was a new challenge for the players, and every player was accountable to the team,” Brassard told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch in 2010 while he was still skating with the Blue Jackets. “I’ve never played for a guy like him, a guy who is capable of getting the best out of every player. He was always in your head, always keeping you energized and motivated. It was always very motivating.”

Could Boucher be that energetic, positive hockey presence that the Rangers may require at this juncture?

Boucher was a forward in college at McGill from 1991-1995 and graduated with degrees in history and agricultural engineering; and a master’s from the University of Montreal in sports psychology.

His 1-3-1 forecheck, mostly an anomaly in the NHL, has been quite successful for him on each level of hockey.

Boucher preaches aggressive pursuit of the puck, especially in the defensive end, where his strategy is to always outnumber the opposition. Sounds somewhat similar to the philosophy former Flyers coach Fred Shero preached in the 1970s, but it’s often successful.

Shero won two Stanley Cups in Philadelphia and guided the Rangers to the Finals in 1979 before they bowed to Montreal.

As for the Rangers problematic power play, Boucher’s philosophies could not produce much worse than what has transpired the past few seasons with the man-advantage.

Still, the Rangers lack a true power play quarterback or booming, accurate shooter from the point. It’s hoped that young defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Michael Del Zotto still have much potential in that regard, but that will be up to the new coach to address.

It’s not known at this point if the Rangers have even considered Boucher, or if the former Lightning coach would be interested in New York – assuming the Rangers would need permission to speak with Boucher. But it does seem he’d be a viable candidate to be seriously considered.

The question remains as to how fast Sather wants to act. Does he want to secure a new coach before the June 30 NHL Draft at the Prudential Center in Newark?

The next few weeks should be quite interesting for the Rangers.