Speculation: Rangers Head Coach Search (Laviolette being finalized? According to Vince and Friedman)

[JHS]

What year was that?

2001-2003. A simple google search could have gotten you that answer. So I’m assuming you are gonna say that somehow New York media has changed since then. Yeah ok- because if anything it’s gotten softer and more forgiving of failures.

 

[Priorae]

It's such a meh hire.

Just hire Gallant back if this is the route.

Caps fans aren’t upset by this development.

 

[JHS]

After that playoff series Gallant had to go - whatever the options were or were not. It's not that they lost, it's how they lost. There's no road to recovery there with that coach.

Is Florida a "fast" team? As a coach you need to evaluate your roster and play to their strengths. Gallant was smashing a square into a circle.

Florida is a much faster team than the rangers. Yeah anyone can see that.

 

[JHS]

I’ll be happy with Laviolette but it would be a bit foolish to make a hire without knowing what happens with Sullivan and Keefe now that their GM situations are squared away. Lavi is twisting in the wind a bit but his only leverage is to go to Columbus instead. Sounds like a blast. Apparently he met with a he Rangers again today so who knows. I still get a weird spidey sense with Roy I don’t know why.

Exactly right. Not waiting to see if Sullivan becomes available would be a crime. But we know this organization has rushed the hiring of coaches before when they just had to have David Quinn before waiting to see only to find out Barry Trotz became available…

 

[AlaBlueShirt]

Shit show. He is basicly Gallant with a hair transplant

 

[haohmaru]

Florida is a much faster team than the rangers. Yeah anyone can see that.

I didn’t ask if they were faster than the Rangers.

 

[Gardner McKay]

Florida is a much faster team than the rangers. Yeah anyone can see that.

It isn't just that though. They play a much different style of hockey. They dump, chase and punish. We try to always possess the puck through the neutral zone, across the blue line and it doesn't work.

 

[Boris Zubov]

It isn't just that though. They play a much different style of hockey. They dump, chase and punish. We try to always possess the puck through the neutral zone, across the blue line and it doesn't work.

Our roster isn't built to play that way. It simply isn't.

 

[eco's bones]

Again would go with someone else I think.....but Laviolette has a track record. Also for the disciplinarians out there he's not the softest. That might be something that someone like Panarin needs to get his compete level to where it needs to be.

To me it's ridiculous to be slamming someone with a track record like he has before he even coaches a game. I don't think anyone here has a crystal ball but it seems some are already here with their foregone conclusions.

 

[McRanger92]

Again would go with someone else I think.....but Laviolette has a track record. Also for the disciplinarians out there he's not the softest. That might be something that someone like Panarin needs to get his compete level to where it needs to be.

To me it's ridiculous to be slamming someone with a track record like he has before he even coaches a game. I don't think anyone here has a crystal ball but it seems some are already here with their foregone conclusions.

It's all the usual suspects who would be upset about any hire for attention. This thread shouldnt even exist because clearly the gun was jumped on a Laviolette hire, but apparently it needed to be made so people had a place to pre-emptively complain. Its tiresome.

Wait until they hire Hynes instead, our entitled fanbase deserves that with the hysterics recently.

 

[NickyFotiu]

In the coaching thread Messier has around twice as many votes as Lav. Just out of curiosity can someone name 5 reasons Mess is a better choice as coach?

 

[turcotte8]

In the coaching thread Messier has around twice as many votes as Lav. Just out of curiosity can someone name 5 reasons Mess is a better choice as coach?

1. Nostalgia
2. Nostalgia
3. Nostalgia
4. Nostalgia
5. Nostalgia

 

[NickyFotiu]

1. Nostalgia
2. Nostalgia
3. Nostalgia
4. Nostalgia
5. Nostalgia

Kind of reminds me of Knicks fans upset that they didn't hire Patrick Ewing. Patrick was my favorite Knick ever but that doesn't mean he is a good head coach. I have no idea if he would but his results at Georgetown weren't great.

 

[GENESISPuck94]

Again would go with someone else I think.....but Laviolette has a track record. Also for the disciplinarians out there he's not the softest. That might be something that someone like Panarin needs to get his compete level to where it needs to be.

To me it's ridiculous to be slamming someone with a track record like he has before he even coaches a game. I don't think anyone here has a crystal ball but it seems some are already here with their foregone conclusions.

I'd prefer new blood. But I agree. I posted how he had his young forwards being productive while in Philly, specifically the 1st two seasons in Philly. Maybe even more specifically the 1st season in Philly when he still had Jagr, Briere, and Hartnell. If he can get Laf and Kakko integrated as part of the core in the top 6 while getting his vets to buy in then i see it as a win. Maybe it's wishful thinking.

 

[Machinehead]

Had all this typed up, hope no one is upset I post it here instead.


I don't mean to reign on the parade, I wanted to read what the fans thoughts were on a possible hire, but this is literally what the Capitals needed over the last 2 or 3 years and he refused to do it.

He ran Vrana out off the team, shoved Connor McMichael back too AHL when he's been beyond that development point for 2 years now, and basically force fed awful guys like Eller and Irwin minutes they didn't deserve. He broke Anthony Mantha who, believe it or not, was one of the best underlying numbers (and eye test) to start the season. He refused to play Alexander Alexeyev, who ended the season as showing he should have been playing msot of the year, on defense until he was literally forced to via injury.

Literally the only guy who seemed to get a free pass was Kuznetsov, and he was one of the worst players on our team. Lavi has a dog house, and it must always be filled. I would be terrified that one of Lafreniere or Kakko will fill it for him.

Focused is predominantly on the defensive zone. Relies on man to man defending, which will probably be better for you all then it was for some of the dinosaurs we had on our team. Puts a lot expectation on the forwards coming back to help out, be defensively responsible, and basically all designed around getting someone on the stretch pass up the sidewall to get on the offense. I wasn't a huge fan, but it was also probably a that I had the Trotz style defense on my mind and Lavi's defense never felt as smooth and safe as that.

Offensively I feel like the game might have passed him by. I was excited for his hire because he was known as the guy who could bleed a rock for production, but we just never got that production. The offensive side of things felt like it lacked creativity and any real sense of purpose beside try to get it in deep and forecheck. The only saving grace is he wasn't really a dump and chase guy, but their neutral zone play was atrocious so it might have been better.

I have no idea on the special teams play. For our power play we had a teacher's pet who's been there for like a decade running it so I wouldn't call it his bag. The PK was outstanding at times, and they were on it often, but we kept the guy who was supposedly in charge of that so I have no idea how he'd deploy it with you all.

I think all and all you're going to win a lot of games, I hope he doesn't wear Igor out, but I don't know if he's the guy that puts you over the edge. I really thought he'd be better suited to a spot like Toronto.

Sounds like we're hiring the same coach again.

 

[McRanger92]

I'd prefer new blood. But I agree. I posted how he had his young forwards being productive while in Philly, specifically the 1st two seasons in Philly. Maybe even more specifically the 1st season in Philly when he still had Jagr, Briere, and Hartnell. If he can get Laf and Kakko integrated as part of the core in the top 6 while getting his vets to buy in then i see it as a win. Maybe it's wishful thinking.

I think all the young players are guys that would thrive under Laviolette's style of play. Kakko, Lafreniere, Chytil to some extent can play a heavy game. They all have the size for it. And Cuylle and Othmann are more of the same. Hopefully he can get Kreider to play with more fire too. Laviolette has never had a goalie as good as Igor outside of a late career Rinne in Nashville.

 

[Fitzy]

In the coaching thread Messier has around twice as many votes as Lav. Just out of curiosity can someone name 5 reasons Mess is a better choice as coach?

1. NYR fans are idiots
2. "
3. "
4. "
5. "

 

[SRHRangers]

It's not that I want/ don't want Lavi. I wanted Sutter here.

He presented a skill set to seal up our 3 major weaknesses. 5v5 play, Speed/conditioning, and has a real system.

He also would've closed shop on the country club.

The same people that are saying that people are flipping out before it happened....

Alot of us felt this way when Buch was dealt

How that go again???

Kind of reminds me of Knicks fans upset that they didn't hire Patrick Ewing. Patrick was my favorite Knick ever but that doesn't mean he is a good head coach. I have no idea if he would but his results at Georgetown weren't great.

Ewing is a completely different story.

He paid his dues by being an assistant coach for years before he got an opportunity.

Messier doesn't have a single coaching stint of experience

 

[McRanger92]

I've defended Laviolette but there is absolutely no reason for John Hynes to even be a candidate and it's more shit work by the beat writers who continue to spitball. Hynes has never gotten out of the first round and just isnt a top end HC. My hope is that he's getting a courtesy interview (is that even confirmed?) from his former BU teammate Drury, with the possibility of joining the coaching staff with Laviolette. For my own sanity

 

[NickyFotiu]

It's not that I want/ don't want Lavi. I wanted Sutter here.

He presented a skill set to seal up our 3 major weaknesses. 5v5 play, Speed/conditioning, and has a real system.

He also would've closed shop on the country club.

The same people that are saying that people are flipping out before it happened....

Alot of us felt this way when Buch was dealt

How that go again???



Ewing is a completely different story.

He paid his dues by being an assistant coach for years before he got an opportunity.

Messier doesn't have a single coaching stint of experience

Patrick is my man as a player but the reports on his assistant coaching weren't glowing. I always wanted him to get a head coacing job but for whatever reason guys were always jumping ahead of him. Patrick coaching in college was a smart way to start. Mess could also start as an assistant or in the AHL.

 

[McRanger92]

It's not that I want/ don't want Lavi. I wanted Sutter here.

He presented a skill set to seal up our 3 major weaknesses. 5v5 play, Speed/conditioning, and has a real system.

He also would've closed shop on the country club.

The same people that are saying that people are flipping out before it happened....

Alot of us felt this way when Buch was dealt

How that go again???



Ewing is a completely different story.

He paid his dues by being an assistant coach for years before he got an opportunity.

Messier doesn't have a single coaching stint of experience

What would be different if Buch stuck around? Enough time has passed to see he wouldn't have changed a thing. The trade was bad because Blais didnt want to be here and almost immediately got injured. It is what it is.

 

[IDvsEGO]

I'd prefer new blood. But I agree. I posted how he had his young forwards being productive while in Philly, specifically the 1st two seasons in Philly. Maybe even more specifically the 1st season in Philly when he still had Jagr, Briere, and Hartnell. If he can get Laf and Kakko integrated as part of the core in the top 6 while getting his vets to buy in then i see it as a win. Maybe it's wishful thinking.

Everyone talks about”new blood” but name an ahl or college coach that’s actually doing something unique and successful and would work in the nhl?
I don’t love lavi but at the same time he’s clearly the best option available for this roster.
He actually has a system, his teams generate offense, and that alone should greatly move the pace of play through the nz. He relies on D moving the puck, and funny enough we have those.
We might have a better d core than when was in the finals w the preds.
We have a top to bottom deeper forward group than any roster he had.
And Igor is better than any goalie, except for rinne’s best year.

Patrick is my man as a player but the reports on his assistant coaching weren't glowing. I always wanted him to get a head coacing job but for whatever reason guys were always jumping ahead of him. Patrick coaching in college was a smart way to start. Mess could also start as an assistant or in the AHL.

Mess was offered both of those by the rangers, when we hired Quinn. And was insulted he wasn’t given the HC job.
I love mess as a player but that report made him sound entitled af.

 

[TheDirtyH]

Again would go with someone else I think.....but Laviolette has a track record. Also for the disciplinarians out there he's not the softest. That might be something that someone like Panarin needs to get his compete level to where it needs to be.

To me it's ridiculous to be slamming someone with a track record like he has before he even coaches a game. I don't think anyone here has a crystal ball but it seems some are already here with their foregone conclusions.

Obviously none of us know anything about these candidates, really. What we know is what we all remember about the Rangers when they're linked to the obvious, most established name, whose success is mostly concentrated on the front nine of their career and who is being considered at hole 17. Whether its coaches, players... we've seen the movie before and the reaction is mostly with respect to that suspicion, I'd guess. He won a championship, but it was nearly 20 years ago now; it's been 5-6 years since his team won a playoff series.

I also have to consider why it was that Laviolette was let go by the Capitals in the first place, and from what was reported about it. Some people have posted already some of the issues with young players, but if you just pretend you're talking about the Rangers reading some of this stuff, it's not hard to be convinced it's the same story:

•As far as what he’s looking for in his next bench boss, MacLellan said he wants a coach that can manage stars and develop young players — an admittedly rare skill set.

“Our group is changing,” he said. “We’re trying to get younger; we brought in some younger players. It’s going to be different in that you want a coach that can work with young guys, and we’re going to have a veteran group at the top that kind of needs a veteran coach. It’s going to be a challenge to find the right guy for that. … I don’t know that we can find it, but we’ll do the best we can.”

• MacLellan and a few players mentioned the Caps’ lack of speed as a persistent issue — and they weren’t just talking about skating.

“People get caught up in skating speed,” MacLellan said. “But, to me, it’s the way you move the puck, the way you’re available, the way you work away from the puck—that’s how you play fast.”

Added Evgeny Kuznetsov: “That’s where the hockey goes now. It’s not about how fast you skate, it’s how fast you’re thinking, how fast you move the puck.”

OTOH, Laviolette has always seemed like a pretty good coach to me, and he's certainly milked a lot of wins out of an aging and underwhelming Capitals roster the two years before this one. Hard to be excited just because it's the Rangers, and you have to suspect that they're hiring somebody for none of the right reasons. But maybe we'll get lucky and they happen to hit the target without aiming at it.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Everyone talks about”new blood” but name an ahl or college coach that’s actually doing something unique and successful and would work in the nhl?
I don’t love lavi but at the same time he’s clearly the best option available for this roster.
He actually has a system, his teams generate offense, and that alone should greatly move the pace of play through the nz. He relies on D moving the puck, and funny enough we have those.
We might have a better d core than when was in the finals w the preds.
We have a top to bottom deeper forward group than any roster he had.
And Igor is better than any goalie, except for rinne’s best year.


Mess was offered both of those by the rangers, when we hired Quinn. And was insulted he wasn’t given the HC job.
I love mess as a player but that report made him sound entitled af.

Put stats aside. The team lacks both speed and grit. If glued to stats that will show up in 5 on 5 goals. We have big names but its obviously not been enough.

 

[SRHRangers]

What would be different if Buch stuck around? Enough time has passed to see he wouldn't have changed a thing. The trade was bad because Blais didnt want to be here and almost immediately got injured. It is what it is.

The trade was bad because Drury targeted a player he valued more than anyone else and got 60 cents on the dollar.

Sorry, there is no excuse present day about that trade.