Just one year after leading the New York Rangers to a franchise-record 55 wins and the Presidents’ Trophy in his debut season, head coach Peter Laviolette finds himself on shaky ground. The Rangers’ shocking collapse—from the NHL’s best regular-season team in 2023-24 to missing the playoffs entirely—has cast serious doubt on his job security.
Speaking to reporters Sunday at an optional practice in Fort Lauderdale, Laviolette struck a somber tone when asked about his future. “I think everything gets looked at when a year doesn’t go well like this,” he admitted. “I’m not blind to anything.”
The 60-year-old coach, hired ahead of the 2023-24 season, initially seemed like the perfect fit. Under his guidance, the Rangers dominated the regular season before falling in the Eastern Conference Final—raising expectations even higher for this year. Instead, the team faltered from the start, plagued by inconsistency, and officially saw their playoff hopes dashed with Saturday’s 7–3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Now sitting at 37-36-7 with just two games remaining, the Rangers have been out of contention for months, winning only 11 of their last 40 games against playoff-bound teams.
“It’s a year where everything went right to a year where things didn’t,” Laviolette reflected. “When that happens, I’m sure everything gets evaluated. I’m not naive.”
Despite expressing his desire to remain with the Rangers—calling New York a “great organization, great city, great family”—Laviolette acknowledged the harsh reality of his situation. With no public commitment from management, his fate hangs in the balance.
Having coached six NHL teams over his career, Laviolette knows how quickly fortunes can change. For now, all he can do is wait—and wonder if his time in New York is running out.
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