“His coaching style is great — he lets you know what he wants, but he kept it positive when we were struggling,” defenseman Dan Girardi said. “There’s nothing secret or different about him behind closed doors. What you guys see, that’s what we see.”

Image Vigneault, left, instilled a more offensive mind-set, an approach he had used with Vancouver. Credit... Barton Silverman/The New York Times

When asked if fans might see a louder, more fiery coach in the playoffs, Vigneault said: “Some people might think that because you’re more vocal, you’re more into it, but I don’t necessarily agree with that. This is a time when you have to be intense; you have to play with emotion. But you’ve got to be in control.”

During Vigneault’s seven seasons in Vancouver, the Canucks reached Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup finals, and twice won the Presidents’ Trophy, for having the N.H.L.’s best regular-season record.

Rangers General Manager Glen Sather hired Vigneault as a change of direction from Tortorella. Vigneault was a more offense-minded coach who, just as important, did not alienate his players or the reporters covering the team.

“He’s certainly been everything we thought he was: well organized, very good at his job, gets along well with players and media,” Sather said Wednesday. “I like his up-tempo practices and games; I like the way we play. Yeah, he’s been terrific.”

Vigneault’s first day on the job in New York illustrated just how different things would be. He shook hands with each reporter at his introductory news conference

“When I’m dealing with the media, in theory I am speaking to our fans,” Vigneault said. “So I make sure that I conduct myself in a way the fans would appreciate. And there’s the way I deal with the players, which is in a professional, straightforward way.”