Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Entire NY Rangers coaching staff out due to COVID-19 protocols

Hours before the scheduled start of Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers, the New York Rangers confirmed that head coach David Quinn and the rest of the coaching staff are all out due to the NHL's COVID-19 protocols:

Kris Knoblauch, head coach of American Hockey League side the Hartford Wolf Pack, will serve as interim coach for the Rangers and will be joined by Wolf Pack associate head coach Gord Miller and Rangers associate general manager Chris Drury

As Emily Kaplan wrote for ESPN, the NHL removed New York leading scorer Pavel Buchnevich and top defenseman Adam Fox from the COVID-19 list. While both have cleared the coronavirus-related protocols and are eligible to play versus Philadelphia, forward Phillip Di Giuseppe remains on the COVID-19 list. 

The Rangers are currently sixth in the NHL East standings on 26 points, eight points behind the Boston Bruins for the fourth-place spot. The top four teams from each division qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Back in January, the Vegas Golden Knights temporarily needed general manager Kelly McCrimmon and coaches from AHL affiliate the Henderson Silver Knights to serve as NHL coaches because of the league's COVID-19 protocols. 

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Saints to sign veteran offensive lineman
Smother's Day: Pacers shut down Knicks in first half of Game 3
Pistons make wrong kind of history at NBA Draft lottery
Watch: Pacers C Myles Turner makes absurd three-pointer in first quarter vs. Knicks
Hawks win 2024 NBA Draft Lottery
Giants place key outfielder on injured list
Novak Djokovic thinks water bottle incident may have played role in surprising loss
Steelers agree to deal with veteran CB
Bruins captain out for Game 4 vs. Panthers
Veteran WR announces retirement from NFL
Mavericks come from behind to down Thunder, take 2-1 series lead
Stars continue road dominance with Game 3 win over Avalanche
Watch: Paul Skenes wastes no time showing why Pirates drafted him No. 1 overall
Watch: Braves were one out away from first no-hitter in 30 years
Roman Wilson hopes to become Steelers' next 'great' WR
Chargers sign veteran edge-rusher
Justin Allgaier dominates at Darlington for first win of 2024
'Great mind': One-time NBA champion endorses candidate for Lakers HC job
Celtics respond with impressive road win vs. Cavaliers in Game 3
Hurricanes' power play finally comes through with season on the line