The New York Rangers announced Saturday, April 19, that they have relieved head coach Peter Laviolette and associate head coach Phil Housley of their duties. The decision comes after the team failed to qualify for the playoffs, marking a disappointing end to Laviolette’s second season behind the bench.
Laviolette’s departure continues a pattern of short coaching tenures in New York, as he becomes the second consecutive Rangers coach dismissed after just two seasons, following Gerard Gallant’s exit in 2023. Before them, David Quinn served a slightly longer stint from 2018 to 2021.
The move comes on the heels of a season that fell well short of expectations. Just one year ago, Laviolette guided the Rangers to a historic campaign, setting franchise records for wins and points while capturing the Presidents’ Trophy. The team advanced to the Eastern Conference Final, ultimately falling just two wins short of the Stanley Cup Final in a series loss to the eventual champions, the Florida Panthers.
In a statement, general manager Chris Drury addressed the coaching change:
“Today I informed Peter Laviolette and Phil Housley that we’re making a coaching change. I want to thank them both and wish them and their families all the best going forward. Peter is first class all the way, both professionally and personally, and I am truly grateful for his passion and dedication to the Rangers in his time as head coach.”
Drury acknowledged that the bar was set high after last season’s success, and the club ultimately failed to reach those standards this year:
“After finishing with the best regular-season record in the NHL a year ago and making a trip to the Eastern Conference Final, we came into this season with high expectations for ourselves. Quite simply, we failed to meet those.”
The Rangers now turn their attention to finding a new head coach who can restore the momentum from their previous success and lead the team back into Stanley Cup contention.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
Products
