The New York Rangers continue to struggle and are running out of options. They’ve had multiple lineup changes and call-ups and even traded their captain.
Related: 3 Reasons the Rangers Are Where They Are Right Now
It’s not all head coach Peter Laviolette’s fault – and probably not most of it – but the Rangers had Stanely Cup aspirations before the season began. Now, there’s a real chance the Blueshirts, who are currently out of a wild card position, will miss the playoffs.
The Only Reason Rangers Should Fire Laviolette
Unfortunately, there likely is no quick fix to the mess on Broadway right now. Either the group plays more consistently like they did earlier in the season, or 2024-25 will be a lost cause. Firing Laviolette might seem like one of the only options left to save the season. But is it worth it?
Given the success the 60-year-old had in his first season as head coach (winning the Presidents’ Trophy and leading the team to the Eastern Conference Final) – the potential replacement would have to be somebody with recent success at the NHL level and an elite tactician. It would almost have to scream an obvious answer.
The Rangers can’t take the risk and hire the next hot assistant with no head coaching experience at this point in the season. At least right now, it can’t be Jay Leach, who the Rangers were rumored to be interested in during their last head coach vacancy. It also shouldn’t be an interim title to someone on the current staff.
Veteran Coach Market
If you take a look at the veteran coaching market – the names couldn’t be less appealing. This includes the recently fired Drew Bannister and Gerard Gallant. Jay Woodcroft might make some sense, given his success with the Edmonton Oilers, but it’s far from a perfect answer. If Laviolette was coming off another disappointing season, then maybe, but certainly not now. Of course, there’s Joel Quenneville, but there’s almost no chance that hiring would play in New York given his alleged failure to respond to learning about claims that Kyle Beach was sexually assaulted when he was the coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. Many would fantasize about the idea of Barry Trotz, but he likely wouldn’t leave his job as the Nashville Predators general manager to save the Blueshirts.
So if none of those potential candidates are realistic…
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