Rangers fire coach Peter Laviolette a year after winning Presidents’ Trophy

SPORTIVO
Article arrow_drop_down

The New York Rangers announced Saturday that they have fired coach Peter Laviolette after the team failed to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2020-21 season.

New York entered the season with Stanley Cup aspirations following a run to the 2024 Eastern Conference final and Presidents’ Trophy win but finished with a 39-36-7 record and did not have a multi-goal comeback all season until Monday, its first game after elimination.

Advertisement

Laviolette, who won the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, ends his time with the Rangers with a 94-59-11 record. The 60-year-old, who is seventh in NHL history with 846 coaching wins, came to New York with a reputation of early-tenure success before his teams faded as the years went on. Though he battled factors outside his control this season, that ended up being the case with the Rangers.

New York’s season was defined by drama and underperformance. Every key veteran on the team regressed from their 2023-24 performance, most notably Chris Kreider, who went from 39 goals and 75 points in 82 games in 2023-24 to 22 goals and 30 points in 67 games in 2024-25. Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox, Vincent Trocheck, Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafrenière all had at least 10 fewer points than they did last season. The Rangers struggled to find defensive consistency — or consistency of any kind. They did not have a three-game win streak after November and gave up five or more goals on 23 occasions. Their goals against numbers could have been worse had the team not gotten strong goaltending from Igor Shesterkin, who finished the year sixth in the league in goals saved above expected, according to Evolving-Hockey.

The team also faced its off-ice issues, not all of which were Laviolette’s fault. General manager Chris Drury frustrated members of the locker room by putting Barclay Goodrow on waivers over the summer so the San Jose Sharks, a team on his no-trade list, could pick him up. Drury also traded captain Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks, and Trouba said the Rangers threatened to put him on waivers if he did not accept a trade to a team on his no-trade list.

The Trouba trade came on the heels of Drury sending a memo to the league’s other 31 general managers saying he was open to trading roster players. He mentioned Trouba and Kreider by name. The memo came early in what became a 5-14-0 stretch.

Advertisement

The Rangers also had multiple players publicly question their role on the team. Kaapo Kakko said, “I think it’s easy to pick the young guy and put him out” after a scratch in December and was traded days later. Zac Jones and Jimmy Vesey both expressed frustration at consistent scratches in interviews with various publications. Most recently, Calvin de Haan said the way the Rangers have treated him has been “f—ed” as he got on the ice for an optional morning skate. De Haan, acquired in a package for Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey, played his first three games with the Rangers, then was a scratch for the final 20 games of the season. Laviolette said Monday he communicated with de Haan throughout his time with the team.

After its rocky stretch in November and December, New York stabilized a bit when the calendar flipped to 2025 and on multiple occasions pulled within a tie of the East’s second wild-card spot. The Rangers were tied in points with the Montreal Canadiens as recently as April 2. But a Canadiens six-game win streak paired with New York going 4-4-0 in April ensured the Rangers would miss the playoffs.

The Athletic also came out with a report Thursday, the day of the season finale, that Panarin and Madison Square Garden, the company that owns the team, “paid financial settlements to a Rangers employee last year after she alleged that Panarin sexually assaulted her.” Asked for comment on the report, Laviolette deferred to the MSG statement that said, “The matter has been resolved.”

New York had plenty of turnover throughout the season. Drury shipped out Trouba and Kakko in December, then landed a J.T. Miller-centered package in January for Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini and a conditional first-round pick. The Rangers decided to trade pending unrestricted free agents Lindgren, Vesey and Reilly Smith at the trade deadline but brought in NHLers Carson Soucy, de Haan and Juuso Pärssinen with eyes on still making the playoffs.

Given the way the season went, Laviolette seemed to know a coaching change was possible.

Advertisement

“I think everything gets looked at when a year is not good like this,” he said April 13 when asked about his job security. “I’m not blind to anything. I love being here with these guys and the New York Rangers. It’s a year where everything went right to a year where things didn’t go right. When things don’t go right, I’m sure everything gets looked at.”

In 2024-25, the year in which Laviolette said everything went right, the Rangers set a single-season franchise record in wins (55) and points (114). New York fell to the Panthers in six games in the Eastern Conference final.

The Rangers are now looking for their fourth coach since hiring David Quinn ahead of the 2018-19 season. Quinn served three seasons, then Gerard Gallant and Laviolette each lasted two despite each leading the Rangers to a conference final appearance.

Assistant coach Phil Housley was also fired, per the announcement. A league source told The Athletic that assistants Dan Muse and Michael Peca will have the opportunity to be on the next coaching staff.

(Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)

This news was originally published on this post .

About the author

About the author call_made

SPORTIVO

More posts

trending_flat
Steph Curry heats up with Jimmy Butler out, Warriors take 2-1 lead over Rockets

<!--> Stephen Curry eventually found his shooting groove while Houston tried everything to stop him, finishing with 36 points, nine assists and seven rebounds to lead the Golden State Warriors past the Rockets 104-93 on Saturday night without Jimmy Butler for a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.Playoff Steph delivered while Playoff Jimmy became his biggest cheerleader on the bench — in a full-length fur coat.Buddy Hield had 17 points off the bench with five 3-pointers as the Warriors won their sixth straight Game 3 in the opening round. Gary Payton II scored 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter.ADVERTISEMENT -->Game 4 in the best-of-seven series is Monday night at Chase Center. The biggest question will be whether Butler can heal in time to contribute.The Warriors missed their do-everything forward after he suffered a pelvic injury and […]

trending_flat
Brasileiro feminino: Expansão do campeonato nos próximos anos pode impactar qualidade na elite

Em 2027, o futebol feminino estará em destaque no Brasil. Além de sediar a Copa do Mundo, o país terá a primeira edição do Brasileirão A1 com 20 clubes, quatro a mais do que atualmente. O anúncio da expansão do campeonato, feito em janeiro, levanta a dúvida: a infraestrutura e a qualidade técnica dos times vão acompanhar esse crescimento? Nas seis primeiras rodadas da edição em disputa, foram marcados 158 gols, média de 3,3 por partida — no Brasileiro masculino, por exemplo, a média no mesmo período é de 2,3. O número expõe o abismo entre as equipes que brigam pelo título e aquelas que lutam contra o rebaixamento: já são seis jogos, 10% do total, com vitórias por quatro ou mais gols de diferença. Mas a frequência de goleadas vem diminuindo: caiu de 22,5% em 2019 para 12,5% em […]

trending_flat
In winning time, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was at his best in Thunder’s sweep of Grizzlies

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Before breaking through in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s series-clinching 117-115 Game 4 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had scored 73 points on 68 shots in the first three contests. His 35 percent shooting ranked last among 10 Thunder players who had appeared in every game — not exactly a stat anyone would have predicted entering the series.AdvertisementBut in winning time Saturday, the Thunder star and MVP finalist was at his best.Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 38 points to lead the Thunder to a series sweep and a second-round date with the winner between the LA Clippers and Denver Nuggets. Whichever team emerges will have to contend with a well-rested Thunder squad whose best player might have just hit his stride.It’s not that Gilgeous-Alexander, or anyone with the Thunder, ever worried about his uncharacteristic inefficiency. But what […]

trending_flat
Grizzlies must consider Ja Morant’s future and everything else after sweep

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — During his six-year tenure as general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Kleiman has usually gone out of his way to avoid the spotlight.Despite being the architect of a team that’s won at least 48 games in three of the last four seasons, few NBA fans could identify his face in a lineup. He’s likely happy with that.AdvertisementHe went against his usual tendencies earlier this season when he released a public statement that made waves throughout the league. Though his intent was to quiet the noise in Memphis, Kleiman may have unknowingly given an early glimpse into the unease behind the scenes that led to the Grizzlies’ shocking late-season collapse and yet another early exit from the playoffs.All of this culminated in Memphis falling short again in a 117-115 loss in Game 4 against the Oklahoma City […]

trending_flat
LIV Golf Mexico City: Ripper GC pulls ahead of Crushers GC after Round 2

<!--> MEXICO CITY – Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau is arguably golf's biggest hitter. Ripper GC Captain Cameron Smith is arguably the sport's best putter. On Sunday at LIV Golf Mexico City, they'll face off for the first time in the final group of a LIV Golf final round.DeChambeau, thanks to a birdie at the par-3 18th Saturday, grabbed a one-shot lead over Smith. Both shot matching 5-under 66s while playing together during Saturday's second round, a precursor to what promises to be a dramatic and entertaining finish at Club de Golf Chapultepec.And if that wasn't enough, the third member of the final threesome is Torque GC Captain Joaquin Niemann, the current season-long points leader. Niemann is three shots off the lead and tied for the low round of the day Saturday with a 7-under 64.ADVERTISEMENT -->"Hopefully Bryson and I […]

trending_flat
Arkansas NIL collective calls on prominent lawyer to enforce Madden Iamaleava buyout clause amid transfer

247Sports FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas' name, image and likeness collective has hired an attorney to pursue and enforce a buyout clause in former quarterback Madden Iamaleava's agreement, CBS Sports has learned.In an unprecedented move in the NIL era of college sports, the parent company overseeing the Arkansas Edge collective has hired noted sports attorney Tom Mars to enforce buyout provisions in NIL contracts at Arkansas, Blueprint Sports CEO Rob Sine confirmed Saturday to CBS Sports. The collective is following the orders of Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek, who directed the collective to pursue buyout money in contracts broken by players in an insistent statement released Tuesday, just two hours after Iamaleava entered the transfer portal.The two former Arkansas players targeted in the initial legal efforts are Iamaleava and former receiver Dazmin James, sources told CBS Sports. A meeting between Iamaleava's […]

Related

trending_flat
Steph Curry heats up with Jimmy Butler out, Warriors take 2-1 lead over Rockets

<!--> Stephen Curry eventually found his shooting groove while Houston tried everything to stop him, finishing with 36 points, nine assists and seven rebounds to lead the Golden State Warriors past the Rockets 104-93 on Saturday night without Jimmy Butler for a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.Playoff Steph delivered while Playoff Jimmy became his biggest cheerleader on the bench — in a full-length fur coat.Buddy Hield had 17 points off the bench with five 3-pointers as the Warriors won their sixth straight Game 3 in the opening round. Gary Payton II scored 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter.ADVERTISEMENT -->Game 4 in the best-of-seven series is Monday night at Chase Center. The biggest question will be whether Butler can heal in time to contribute.The Warriors missed their do-everything forward after he suffered a pelvic injury and […]

trending_flat
Brasileiro feminino: Expansão do campeonato nos próximos anos pode impactar qualidade na elite

Em 2027, o futebol feminino estará em destaque no Brasil. Além de sediar a Copa do Mundo, o país terá a primeira edição do Brasileirão A1 com 20 clubes, quatro a mais do que atualmente. O anúncio da expansão do campeonato, feito em janeiro, levanta a dúvida: a infraestrutura e a qualidade técnica dos times vão acompanhar esse crescimento? Nas seis primeiras rodadas da edição em disputa, foram marcados 158 gols, média de 3,3 por partida — no Brasileiro masculino, por exemplo, a média no mesmo período é de 2,3. O número expõe o abismo entre as equipes que brigam pelo título e aquelas que lutam contra o rebaixamento: já são seis jogos, 10% do total, com vitórias por quatro ou mais gols de diferença. Mas a frequência de goleadas vem diminuindo: caiu de 22,5% em 2019 para 12,5% em […]

trending_flat
In winning time, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was at his best in Thunder’s sweep of Grizzlies

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Before breaking through in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s series-clinching 117-115 Game 4 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had scored 73 points on 68 shots in the first three contests. His 35 percent shooting ranked last among 10 Thunder players who had appeared in every game — not exactly a stat anyone would have predicted entering the series.AdvertisementBut in winning time Saturday, the Thunder star and MVP finalist was at his best.Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 38 points to lead the Thunder to a series sweep and a second-round date with the winner between the LA Clippers and Denver Nuggets. Whichever team emerges will have to contend with a well-rested Thunder squad whose best player might have just hit his stride.It’s not that Gilgeous-Alexander, or anyone with the Thunder, ever worried about his uncharacteristic inefficiency. But what […]

trending_flat
Grizzlies must consider Ja Morant’s future and everything else after sweep

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — During his six-year tenure as general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Kleiman has usually gone out of his way to avoid the spotlight.Despite being the architect of a team that’s won at least 48 games in three of the last four seasons, few NBA fans could identify his face in a lineup. He’s likely happy with that.AdvertisementHe went against his usual tendencies earlier this season when he released a public statement that made waves throughout the league. Though his intent was to quiet the noise in Memphis, Kleiman may have unknowingly given an early glimpse into the unease behind the scenes that led to the Grizzlies’ shocking late-season collapse and yet another early exit from the playoffs.All of this culminated in Memphis falling short again in a 117-115 loss in Game 4 against the Oklahoma City […]

trending_flat
LIV Golf Mexico City: Ripper GC pulls ahead of Crushers GC after Round 2

<!--> MEXICO CITY – Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau is arguably golf's biggest hitter. Ripper GC Captain Cameron Smith is arguably the sport's best putter. On Sunday at LIV Golf Mexico City, they'll face off for the first time in the final group of a LIV Golf final round.DeChambeau, thanks to a birdie at the par-3 18th Saturday, grabbed a one-shot lead over Smith. Both shot matching 5-under 66s while playing together during Saturday's second round, a precursor to what promises to be a dramatic and entertaining finish at Club de Golf Chapultepec.And if that wasn't enough, the third member of the final threesome is Torque GC Captain Joaquin Niemann, the current season-long points leader. Niemann is three shots off the lead and tied for the low round of the day Saturday with a 7-under 64.ADVERTISEMENT -->"Hopefully Bryson and I […]

trending_flat
Arkansas NIL collective calls on prominent lawyer to enforce Madden Iamaleava buyout clause amid transfer

247Sports FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas' name, image and likeness collective has hired an attorney to pursue and enforce a buyout clause in former quarterback Madden Iamaleava's agreement, CBS Sports has learned.In an unprecedented move in the NIL era of college sports, the parent company overseeing the Arkansas Edge collective has hired noted sports attorney Tom Mars to enforce buyout provisions in NIL contracts at Arkansas, Blueprint Sports CEO Rob Sine confirmed Saturday to CBS Sports. The collective is following the orders of Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek, who directed the collective to pursue buyout money in contracts broken by players in an insistent statement released Tuesday, just two hours after Iamaleava entered the transfer portal.The two former Arkansas players targeted in the initial legal efforts are Iamaleava and former receiver Dazmin James, sources told CBS Sports. A meeting between Iamaleava's […]

Be the first to leave a comment

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sportivo bridges the gap between talent and opportunity.

About SPORTIVO

Sportivo Network is a dedicated social platform for sports enthusiasts, athletes, and scouts. Whether you’re an aspiring athlete looking for opportunities, a coach searching for talent, or simply a sports lover wanting to connect with like-minded people, Sportivo is your go-to network. With features like direct messaging, profile showcasing, and talent scouting, Sportivo bridges the gap between talent and opportunity. Here, you can share your achievements, interact with professionals, and open doors to the next level in your sports journey. Join Sportivo Network – because every great athlete deserves to be discovered!
Copyright © 2025 SPORTIVO News. and SPORTIVO Network. All rights reserved.

Login to enjoy full advantages

Please login or subscribe to continue.

Go Premium!

Enjoy the full advantage of the premium access.

Stop following

Unfollow Cancel

Cancel subscription

Are you sure you want to cancel your subscription? You will lose your Premium access and stored playlists.

Go back Confirm cancellation