Rangers coach opens up on job security after failed playoff push: ‘I’m not blind to anything’
Peter Laviolette has been around the NHL long enough to know what gets coaches fired in this league. In fact, the New York Rangers coach has been fired five times himself, despite 844 wins that are seventh most in NHL history.
So, he understands that he may be canned a sixth time, sooner rather than later.
That’s because the Rangers (37-36-7) are wrapping up one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history. They were eliminated from playoff contention Saturday in Game 80 of 82 this season, with a 7-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. With that defeat, they’re the fourth team in NHL history to win the Presidents’ Trophy one year and missed the postseason the following season.
“I think everything gets looked at when a year is not good like this,” Laviolette said Sunday after an optional practice in South Florida. “I’m not blind to anything. I love being here with these guys and the New York Rangers. It’s a year where everything went right to a year where things didn’t go right. When things don’t go right, I’m sure everything gets looked at. I’m not naive.”
It’s been a rough year for Laviolette. His players bought into his systems a year ago and were, by and large, a hard-working team en-route to setting franchise records for wins (55) and points (114). This season, the Rangers appeared to tune out Laviolette, making the same egregious mistakes time and again defensively and failing to compete on a consistent basis.
To say that their lack of structure within the man-to-man defensive scheme was a disaster is an understatement. That falls quite a bit on the coach. So do no-show efforts, of which there many.
It probably doesn’t help that Laviolette sparked outrage from an overreacting fan base after a 5-1 loss to the Lightning, when he admitted to having no message for his team. Nor was it a great look for the coach or his players, when ABC’s Leah Hextall reported during the loss Saturday that Laviolette and the players were nearly silent on the bench at a time they were supposedly fighting for their playoff lives.
“It’s very quiet down here on the Rangers bench, almost church-like — Peter Laviolette, I haven’t seen him say more than, probably, two words,” she reported.
Again, that could be an overreaction or unfair characterization. Just not a great look. But then again, nothing with the Rangers this season was a good look.
Related: Mark Messier believes ‘spirit was missing’ for Rangers during this miserable season
Peter Laviolette faces decision on Rangers future when season ends
It’s hard to see a world in which Laviolette returns as the Rangers’ bench boss in 2025-26. While we don’t know what it’s been like inside the locker room, we may get a better idea on breakup day, when most of the roster talks to the media.
Based on some leaks from practice Sunday, it sounds like things could get ugly after veteran defenseman Calvin de Haan expressed frustration, after he’s been scratched for 18 straight games. He agreed to talk more in full after the conclusion of the season. Who knows what else is in store from the other players.
One of Laviolette’s flaws this season was his inability to answer for the Rangers disastrous performances, and not just recently, but all season long. Time and time again the Rangers would rescue defeat from the jaws of victory, and Laviolette had no words to explain or correct the situation. He looked lost in the post game scrums as he did on the bench at times, and his team followed suit.
“That being said, this is the place I want to be was New York City, the New York Rangers,” he said. “It’s a great organization, great city, great family. It’s just tough right now, everybody’s faced with disappointment. Everybody I just mentioned is faced with disappointment today and I get that. There’s always things that are looked at.”
The overwhelming feeling around the organization is that change is coming. From general manager Chris Drury, to Laviolette, to the players, it seems as though anything and everything is on the table. It’s hard to fathom that the best team in the regular season just one year ago which finished six wins short of a Stanley Cup championship will now not even get the chance to play for it. But that’s where they stand.
There will be some uncertainly for about a week as the Rangers wrap up their season, finally giving young players like Gabe Perreault and Brennan Othmann a chance to get some playing time in the final two games — Monday in Sunrise against the Florida Panthers and Thursday at Madison Square Garden against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Once the season ends, we should know quickly if Laviolette has a future with the Rangers or not.
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