Not a done deal yet: Peter Laviolette to meet with Rangers again
NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun updated the latest regarding coaching vacancies after the hiring of Spencer Carbery with the Washington Capitals and Andrew Brunette with the Nashville Predators.
“Not confirmed, but hearing that Peter Laviolette is meeting with Rangers again today,” LeBrun tweeted on Monday.
The dismissal of John Hynes is not expected to impact the Rangers decision.
Also according to LeBrun, former Rangers bench boss Gerard Gallant will get an interview with the Calgary Flames.
Peter Laviolette to meet again with Rangers
Over the weekend, Elliotte Friedman provided this update during Sportsnet’s coverage of the Western Conference Final.
“A lot of people are beginning to lean Laviolette,” Friedman said. “If it is Laviolette, we are going to find out [this] week. That’s where I sit with the Rangers coaching job.”
Forever Blueshirts learned on Friday that Peter Laviolette was the most logical fit because of his vast experience and having a résumé that includes a Stanley Cup championship.
Today, I reached out to a league source to ask if this second meeting was a formality to complete the deal. As of this moment, that is not the case.
There’s still a possibility the Rangers may be holding out hope that Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan may be let go if they hire Kyle Dubas as the new GM. However, that seems unlikely since the veteran players hold Sullivan in high regard as does ownership.
Laviolette, 58, is the safest choice because he’s a veteran coach with a Stanley Cup ring won in 2006 (Carolina Hurricanes). He has a career coaching record of 752-503-25-150.
The Stanley Cup Final begins on Saturday and the Rangers could make an announcement between today and Friday regarding Laviolette as the 37th head coach of the franchise.
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