The New York Rangers are once again looking for a new head coach. The team announced on Saturday that they have fired Peter Laviolette.
Laviolette`s dismissal comes after just two seasons, with a year left on his contract. This decision was made shortly after the Rangers missed the playoffs following a challenging season that concluded on Thursday. Last season, the team reached the Eastern Conference finals.
Along with Laviolette, associate coach Phil Housley is also leaving the team.
The Rangers are now searching for their fourth head coach since 2021. Laviolette joins David Quinn and Gerard Gallant on the list of recently fired coaches.
General manager Chris Drury stated, `Today I informed Peter Laviolette and Phil Housley about the coaching change. I want to thank them both and wish them and their families the best. Peter is a class act, both professionally and personally, and I appreciate his dedication to the Rangers during his time as head coach.`
Laviolette, who previously won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, was hired at the beginning of the 2023-24 season. In his first season, he led the Rangers to 55 wins and 114 points, topping the NHL standings. They advanced to the Eastern Conference finals but lost to the Florida Panthers, who eventually won the Stanley Cup.
This season, the Rangers were expected to compete for the Stanley Cup again. They started strong with a 12-4-1 record but then struggled with consistency.
In December, the Rangers indicated they were willing to make changes. They traded captain Jacob Trouba and later traded prospect Kaapo Kakko.
In January, they acquired J.T. Miller in a trade, signaling their push for the playoffs. They continued to adjust their roster, trading Ryan Lindgren and Reilly Smith while acquiring Carson Soucy.
Despite these changes, the Rangers experienced losing streaks and struggled to secure a strong position in the Eastern Conference wild-card race.
Sources indicate that the Rangers are interested in interviewing several external candidates, including John Tortorella, Joel Quenneville, Jay Woodcroft, Jay Leach, David Carle, as well as Mike Sullivan and Rick Tocchet if they become available.
Laviolette`s firing follows the Ducks` dismissal of Greg Cronin. There are now five head coaching vacancies in the NHL, with the Bruins, Blackhawks, and Flyers having finished the season with interim coaches.
Rupert Hartwell