1 week Ago By Nestor Quixtan
NY Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette opened up about his future with the Blue Shirts, addressing the uncertainty surrounding his job security following the team’s elimination from the 2025 NHL playoffs. After the Rangers’ skate on Sunday, Laviolette talked to the media. He shed light on the situation, stating as reported by the New York Post: The NY Rangers went from being Presidents’ Trophy winners last season to missing the 2025 NHL playoffs following a roller-coaster season that included a number of off-ice issues compounding the poor on-ice product.
Laviolette went on to state: The NY Rangers’ head coach’s comments echo his desire to remain in New York. However, speculation has surfaced, suggesting the team may be heading in a different direction next season. Thus far, there has been no indication that this is the case.
But if it does come to that, Peter Laviolette has made his feelings clear about wanting to continue at the helm next season. NHL analyst Arthur Staple wrote an extensive piece in The Athletic back in February, looking at the reasons why the NY Rangers should fire Peter Laviolette. Staple’s opinion was largely based on Laviolette’s system not working with the Blue Shirts’ current player core.
Specifically, Laviolette espouses a 1-3-1 that relies on a more patient, reliable defensive system than a run-and-gun offense-first core. Unfortunately for the Rangers, the latter approach is more suited to players like Artemi Panarin , Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox, and Vincent Trocheck. Staple argued that the system worked last season as the Rangers got exceptional goaltending from Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick.
This season, however, Shesterkin came back down to earth while Quick began showing his age. As a result, the NY Ranges didn’t get the kind of goaltending that bailed them out of trouble or stole games for them last season. That is why everything came crashing down for the team this season.
In conclusion, the Rangers have no sense in keeping Laviolette if things aren’t working out. They’ll be looking for a new coach that fits more within the club’s current mold. But that’s something that team ownership will need to address this coming offseason.
Nestor Quixtan Nestor is an NHL and MLB writer at Sportskeeda with over 10 years of experience. Growing up in Toronto, he became an avid Maple Leafs and Blue Jays fan, but also admires the New York Islanders and Los Angeles Dodgers for their dominance in the 80s. Holding an Economics and Education major, Nestor’s passion for writing and sporting events led him to take up reporting about the sport professionally.
Nestor credits the Leafs’ playoff runs in the early '90s as having a lasting impact on him. His favorite players are Doug Gilmour and Mike Bossy, as he feels they were tough, talented leaders, while Pat Burns is his favorite coach of all time for always preaching a fast-paced game. Growing up in Canada, it was natural for Nestor to become interested in ice hockey and he played Minor Hockey as a teenager, which has given him a unique perspective on the sport.
Nestor has mastered the art of how to best present facts and he also has a knack for knowing which sources can be trusted, and which can't for stories. When he is not writing about Canada’s national passion, Nestor enjoys running and hiking. Wayne Gretzky’s wife Janet responds to critics questioning his loyalty to Canada, Bobby Orr's support following 4 Nations drama Quick Links.
