Rangers coaching spot opens up for iconic brawler

Jeff Beukeboom Photo: Charles WenzelbergAs Rangers assistant Ulf Samuelsson works his way up the coaching ladder, a spot may have opened up for another former Blueshirts defenseman to step in.

Samuelsson accepted the job Tuesday as the head coach of the Charlotte Checkers, the AHL affiliate of the Hurricanes. Samuelsson spent the previous three seasons as the defensive assistant on Alain Vigneault’s Rangers staff as the team went to one Stanley Cup final and two conference finals.

Jeff Beukeboom is likely in the conversation to replace him. The physical blueliner from the Rangers’ 1994 Stanley Cup-winning team has spent the past five years as an assistant with AHL Hartford. Beukeboom is a…