Veteran NHL defenceman Dennis Wideman has turned his sights to coaching as he was named the assistant coach for the Ontario Hockey League's Kitchener Rangers on Thursday. 

The Rangers say Wideman, who is from Kitchener, will be with the team for the remainder of the regular season. 

“Dennis will bring a wealth of knowledge from his NHL career that can help our players develop, especially our young defencemen,” said Rangers general manager Mike McKenzie. “As an OHL player he was once in the same spot as many of our players are now, so he understands what it takes to get to that next level they all strive to reach. We would like to welcome Dennis and his family to the Rangers organization”

The 34-year-old played with the Calgary Flames last season, scoring five goals with 13 assists over 57 games.  Wideman has 99 goals and 288 assists over 815 career games with the St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, Washington Capitals and Flames.

Wideman became a free agent on July 1 after his five-year, $26.25 million contract expired, but was unable to find a NHL club to play for.