Jan 19, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Washington Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette looks on in the second periodagainst the Arizona Coyotes at Mullett Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
NHL: Washington Capitals at Arizona Coyotes
(New York, NY) – According to the New York Post, longtime NHL head coach Peter Laviolette will become the 37th person behind the bench for the New York Rangers.
The Blue Shirts’ front office is hoping Laviolette can help the team advance deeper into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, after last season’s highly-disappointing first-round exit.
After the Rangers lost in seven games to the rival New Jersey Devils, the team also parted ways with coach Gerard Gallant. Now, Laviolette brings his 21-years as a head coach to Broadway.
Laviolette was dismissed by the Washington Capitals in April after the team failed to make the playoffs. During his two other seasons coaching in DC the team lost in the first round. But Laviolette has been a champion before – leading the Carolina Hurricanes to their first Stanley Cup championship during the 2005-2006 season, his fourth year as an NHL head coach.
“Peter’s impressive résumé, which includes winning a Stanley Cup and advancing to the final with three different teams, has made him one of the most respected coaches in the league,” owner James Dolan said in a statement. “As we move forward in our goal to consistently contend for the Stanley Cup, I am confident that Peter is the right head coach to lead our team.”
A 58-year-old native of Massachusetts, Laviolette also reached the Stanley Cup finals with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2009-2010, and with the Nashville Predators in 2016-2017.
