Rangers lose coaching candidate to Dallas bid

The Rangers discovered long ago it is bad policy to attempt to bribe free agents to come to New York. The same holds true for coaching candidates.

So, while the Blueshirts were very impressed after interviewing Jim Montgomery and considered him a viable candidate to replace Alain Vigneault behind the bench, The Post has learned general manager Jeff Gorton did not attempt to entice the University of Denver coach with an offer once he indicated his preference for remaining in the Midwest.

On Wednesday, five years after Vigneault chose the Rangers over the Stars, when each team sought to hire him, Montgomery agreed to become the head coach in Dallas, succeeding Ken Hitchcock.

A good coach — though one with an absence of NHL experience in any capacity behind the bench — may have gotten away, but better the Rangers hire someone who is entirely comfortable with the New York lifestyle.

Hence, the search continues. Garden executive CEO Jim Dolan has told The Post the Rangers are committed to hiring “a developmental coach.” The club does have Boston University’s David Quinn and Minnesota-Duluth’s Scott Sandelin on its list, but that requirement does not necessarily preclude hiring a veteran coach who currently may be under contract.

Experience and the ability to teach are not mutually exclusive assets.

The Rangers signed Michael Lindqvist, a 23-yearold free-agent winger from Farjestad of the Swedish Hockey League. The 5-foot-11, 176-pound Lindqvist, who recorded 20 goals and 34 points in 33 games, ranked first in the SHL in goals-per- game (0.61) among players who played in at least 20 matches. Lindqvist signed a one-year, two-way deal for $925,000/$70,000.

Lias Andersson, who has aged out of the World Junior Tournament and is thus ineligible to play in next year’s event, nevertheless was suspended for the first four games of next year’s World Juniors by the IIHF because of his actions at last year’s medal ceremony.

The Team Sweden captain removed his silver medal from around his neck and tossed it into the crowd following his club’s defeat in the final to Team Canada. Four of his teammates — including presumptive firstoverall pick Rasmus Dahlin — and three of Team Sweden’s coaches also were suspended for varying lengths for their conduct at the medal ceremony in Buffalo.