After weeks of mounting speculation, the New York Rangers officially parted ways with head coach Peter Laviolette on Saturday. General Manager Chris Drury also dismissed associate coach Phil Housley as the organization begins searching for a new direction.
Laviolette, who briefly played for the Rangers during the 1988–89 season and represented Team USA in the Olympics in 1988 and 1994, took the helm just two seasons ago. After a strong start to the 2024–25 campaign, opening 12-4-1, the team stumbled dramatically—missing the playoffs just a year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy. A brutal 4-15-0 stretch during November and December highlighted the team’s collapse under Laviolette’s watch.
In his two-year stint with the Rangers, Laviolette compiled a 94-59-11 record. His exit came two days after the Rangers closed the season with a 4-0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. He had one year left on his contract.
Despite some bold decisions, including trading Jacob Trouba to Anaheim, shipping Kaapo Kakko to Seattle, and benching veteran Chris Kreider, Laviolette failed to spark a turnaround. Player effort noticeably waned during the latter half of the season and in the final weeks when a playoff spot was still within reach.
Criticism mounted when Laviolette admitted postgame during a 5-1 loss to Tampa Bay that he had “no message” for his team and did not enter the locker room—further fueling speculation that he, too, had mentally checked out. He also controversially scratched promising prospects Brennan Othmann and Gabe Perreault late in the season, despite the team being on the brink of elimination.
Acknowledging the pressure and uncertainty around his role, Laviolette previously stated, “I’m not naive… When things don’t go right, I’m sure everything gets looked at. I love being here. It’s just tough right now—everyone’s disappointed.”
Ultimately, the Rangers’ disappointing 39-36-7 finish left little to salvage. The team looked directionless at times, especially on defense, and struggled to respond to adversity.
GM Chris Drury released a statement following the move, thanking Laviolette and Housley for their service and acknowledging the need for change:
“After finishing with the best regular season record last year and a deep playoff run, expectations were high. We didn’t meet them. That starts with me. Moving forward, we need a fresh perspective to reach our goals as a franchise. The search for our next head coach begins immediately.”
