New York Rangers next head coach was just confirmed if Peter Laviolette gets fired

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Joshua Deeds
November 29, 2024 (9:59 PM)

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The New York Rangers have announcedthat they will be moving veteran players if the price is right. As a shake-up is imminent you have to wonder, is the Head Coach safe?

After a President's Trophy-winning season in 2023-2024, you'd think that an appetitive to make a huge move like this would be off the table. With a 55-23-4 record and 114 points, even Laviolette may have a target on his back.

If we look at a previous Coach like Gerard Gallant, his tenure quickly dried up during his second year on Broadway. Even with a 99-46-19 record, Gallant didn't have much of a leash under Drury.

Could Laviolette suffer the same fate?

Keep in mind that Gallant was fired, and Laviolette who wanted more of out of his players in discipline and play was hired.

It could be that Drury has his eye on another Coach who would be available at the end of 2024-2025, should he get kicked to the curb by Kyle Dubas:

And third is the fate of Penguins coach Mike Sullivan, who was Drury's first choice for coach in the 2021 offseason when he hired Gallant. If Sullivan is out of work when the 2024-25 season ends, don't be surprised if the Rangers do everything they can to bring him to New York.

While Laviolette did lead the team to a President's Trophy in 2023-2024, it seems that he's tuned out during his 2nd season anywhere he goes:

Another factor is Laviolette's coaching history. He has an amazing track record in his first season behind a new team's bench, with a 279-136-51 record (.653 points percentage) in his first seasons. But his teams have a 219-155-57 record in his second season, a .574 point percentage. There's a chance the message and method are wearing thin.

Considering the messages he's sent through the Media to his team, it seems that Laviolette's influence is waning:

«We need to be better,» Laviolette said, per The New York Post. «Everyone needs to be better inside the room. It's not good enough what we're doing. I don't think anybody is going to sit here and say it was good enough. No matter what question you want to ask, it's got to be better.»

This is a testament to the fact that GM Chris Drury is unwilling to invest in a coach long-term for the Rangers.

But could also be a fact that the team itself is unable to perform to the expectations of the leadership.

It looks as if GM Chris Drury could be looking for help in the post-season behind the bench if the situation doesn't change. While the team hasn't been built well enough to win Lord Stanley's Cup.