Keenan Is Expected to Be Rangers’ Coach

The New York Rangers are expected to introduce Mike Keenan as their new coach at a news conference today.

Keenan, fired as general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this season, would replace Ron Smith, who took the job on an interim basis after Roger Neilson was fired in December.

Quoting unidentified sources, the Toronto Sun said Keenan agreed to a multimillion-dollar, multiyear deal Thursday. The Rangers fell from the best regular-season record in the NHL a year ago to last place in the Patrick Division this season.

Keenan reportedly will be paid more than $700,000 a year, making him the highest-paid coach in the league. Sources told the Chicago Sun-Times that Keenan rejected a five-year, $2.5-million offer from the Philadelphia Flyers this week. The Flyers have denied that any such offer was made, and Keenan could not reached at his Chicago home.