NEW YORK — Former Rangers defenceman Jeff Beukeboom has been hired by the team to coach their blue line players.

Beukeboom replaces Ulf Samuelsson, who left in May after three seasons to become the head coach of the AHL's Charlotte Checkers.

Beukeboom won a Stanley Cup with New York in 1994 after winning three with the Edmonton Oilers in a 13-season career. He has been working as an assistant with the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers' farm team.

He joins head coach Alain Vigneault, associate coach Scott Arniel, assistant coach Darryl Williams, and goaltending coach Benoit Allaire on the Rangers' staff.