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

[Harbour Dog]

(Raises Hand too). Totally agree. There were a bunch of us on here that were very vocal before and after the trade about how poor of a team building decision it was. Did we keep shouting about our frustrations after every game? No. At some point, it is what it is. And at that point, be hopeful and pray you're wrong.

But everything Chabot said was something that many of us on here had already said AT THE TIME. Tho, the whole Gallant's a modern head coach thing is a bit of BS. But Drury deserving the vast vast vast majority of the blame is correct. If Drury was laying this at the hands of Gallant, he is a horrible horrible GM. Not only because it means he's a terrible manager of people but he's a terrible self-evaluator. Often the best way to lead means looking in the mirror first.

Obviously the most concerning part of that interview was about there being a bunch of players on the team that refused to play a style of hockey that works in the playoffs going back to last season. I'm not entirely sure who Chabot is referring to. I think we can all infer it may start with Panarin and based on the game 6 scratch, we know Gallant would add in Kakko. But after that there are a lot of guys on the team who don't exactly play with the fire and jam one needs in the playoffs. I could see him referring to Foxy or Miller or even Kreider who chooses when he wants to bring the snarl (rarer and rarer).

But point stands, whoever the new coach is, needs to get these guys to play a meaner, more aggressive, dirtier style come playoffs. And Drury needs to get his head out of his a-hole. My opinion of him at the moment couldn't be much lower, frankly.

If there's one thing we've learned from the Torontos of the world. You can't merely just ask everyone else on the team around your first line talent to play a playoff brand. You need the whole roster to sacrifice and play that way. You need a leader who is going to elbow someone in the face when the whistle blows. That's why Mess was more effective in the playoffs overall than Gretzky. That's why Tkachuk and Mackinnon are more successful than Matthews. That's why Crosby has been more effective than McDavid. Playoffs are really not about modern hockey or modern thought. Its really as simple as the playground in the 1970s. It's Neanderthal lizard brain level thinking. Apologies to Lizards and Neanderthals.

One team is going to be the bigger bully, the other team is going to get bullied more. Win the physical/mental upper hand and 9 times out of 10 you're winning the series. The fact that we couldn't do that against the current version of the New Jersey Devils was very very very telling. And Drury, god love him, traded for a few Mike Gartners at the deadline as opposed to traded them away. I have grown to think Mike Keenan was a total POS but he knew what it took to get over the hump just for one season.

This x100. It's revisionist history to say that we all thought signing Kane was a good move. There were quite a few of us that disliked it from the first rumor; we just never harped on about it like the lip service that some other topics on here get.

 

[duhmetreE]

We suck 5v5.

Get stronger 5v5 players. Stong 5v5 players are typically strong skaters and strong on the forecheck

That's not Kane. The more unexciting choice would be an Engvall.

A coach that understands 5v5 in 2023. It's why we canned Gallant. Is Lavi that guy? From what I've read, he has similar issues to Gallant.

 

[will1066]

We suck 5v5.

Get stronger 5v5 players. Stong 5v5 players are typically strong skaters and strong on the forecheck

That's not Kane. The more unexciting choice would be an Engvall.

A coach that understands 5v5 in 2023. It's why we canned Gallant. Is Lavi that guy?

This team has a bunch of players who are strickened by a freelance improvise mindset under the guise of "creativity" -- propagated by you-know-who -- and who haven't played good systems hockey in a few years.

If a new, good systems coaching staff miraculously gets this ragtag bunch to buy in, then it's a short turnaround. If they continue to resist or just plain cannot understand systems play, we have a few more years to go until the roster completes a full turnover (pun intended).

 

[TopShelfSnipes]

Laffy is getting paid ELC money. To put him in the same category as the fat cat$ is wrong imo

Panarin, Zibs and Trouba are getting paid top dollar. They did shit. That's where they problem lies. 1 goal for nearly $30M in cap space. 1 Goal and 6 points for 3 of the 4 top paid players. 2 even-strength points. That's dog shite and it's been the problem here forever. Whoever our 'offensive leaders' are, they typically do not show up when we need them. Zibs was the exception to the rule last run but did nothing to start the playoffs and nothing to finish the playoffs.

Cant forget Trochek too... complete opposite of what I expected from him.

Trocheck had a horrible playoffs.

I'm going to keep beating the him and Panarin should never be on the ice together drum until the team stops putting them together because it was apparent in October.

They are both good players but their playstyles are completely incompatible.

Panarin should've been playing with Zibanejad and Kreider with Trocheck.

That to me falls on the coach. Especially when anyone actually watching the games could see it back in October.

I'm sick of coaches who enter the season with a template in their mind, and when it does not work, they continue to try to pound the square peg into the round hole. Trocheck and Panarin will never be a thing. Just like Staal Girardi against the triplets was never a thing.

 

[huerter]

Trocheck had a horrible playoffs.

I'm going to keep beating the him and Panarin should never be on the ice together drum until the team stops putting them together because it was apparent in October.

They are both good players but their playstyles are completely incompatible.

Panarin should've been playing with Zibanejad and Kreider with Trocheck.

That to me falls on the coach. Especially when anyone actually watching the games could see it back in October.

I'm sick of coaches who enter the season with a template in their mind, and when it does not work, they continue to try to pound the square peg into the round hole. Trocheck and Panarin will never be a thing. Just like Staal Girardi against the triplets was never a thing.

There isn't a template, there is #TheTemplate and between you and Gerard, Gerard is the one who gets it.

 

[TopShelfSnipes]

There isn't a template, there is #TheTemplate and between you and Gerard, Gerard is the one who gets it.

Great. So you think putting our best playmaker on a line with someone whom he assisted on two even strength goals all season (in half a season's worth of work) was a good deployment for both of them and you're siding with a fired coach who got little out of a talented roster and was overwhelmingly considered disappointing.

Glad we have that on the record.

 

[gravey9]

he was good? the same player everyone is penciling in on the first line next season isn't above blame or criticism. He did nothing that series. At least Kakko was visible. To be fair, I forgot to add Trocheck to the list of complete suck-fest jackholes.

to be fair, you could add in a LOT of players to this. That's why blaming the 21 year old unfinished product is just a way to vent frustration. I get it. it was frustrating. but blaming Laffy over the guys thrust into the top 6 who didn't show in 3 of the final 4 games of the series is just overlooking too much. Sometimes when many players fail its not really about 1 or 2 players but a team wide issue and the younger players by and large will suffer the most. Was Laf great? No. But was he getting into traffic more than a bunch of players higher in the lineup? Yup. But that's beside the point. It's easy to scapegoat players. We constantly do it around here. But look at those players away from the team. Look whose in the cup finals. Howden, Staal, Duclair, the other Staal who sucked for us. Picking out one player who isn't even being relied upon for points in their role as to the main reasons for the team's failure is just a bunch of you know what. Too many players failed. Bottom line. That's on the organization.

 

[duhmetreE]

This team has a bunch of players who are strickened by a freelance mindset -- propagated by you-know-who -- and who haven't played good systems hockey in a few years.

'You know who' is capable of playing systems hockey. He was at his best in a system and with Torts' residue still on him he had a historic season his first season here.

I also do not like how Zibs game has 'evolved' or 'devolved'....

I don't see Lavi changing this.... Maybe 3rd times the charm with Hynes? So uninspiring.

 

[Kaapo Cabana]

I don’t care if they are coached by a reincarnation of Genghis f***ing Khan. Just win games

 

[duhmetreE]

I don’t care if they are coached by a reincarnation of Genghis f***ing Khan. Just win games

** in the Playoffs.

 

[ncdoc]

Thanks for posting that link. It reinforces to me how little us fans (most of us) have so little insight with what it takes to win in the NHL. I do not mind complaining and opinions, but some of the posters here have taken it to a much too extreme place. Our place is as fans, not owners, managers, and coaches. Root for the team and hope they make good decisions. I love to hear most of the opinions here, but some act like they truly understand this business.

Edit: mispell

 

[Kaapo Cabana]

** in the Playoffs.

True true

 

[SRHRangers]

It is not mentioned enough how much Hischier owned Z in that series.

 

[Gardner McKay]

I have to say and maybe I shouldn't be surprised, but the reaction from this board to the coaching saga has been... strange.

If Drury rushed and hired a head coach immediately, this board would have ROASTED him that he didn't wait to see if Keefe or Sullivan shakes loose.

Drury takes his time to see who comes available, thinks about the available candidates and is more methodical in making his decision, he gets roasted.

The reactions here tell me how few of you have ever been in a leadership role of any kind and no, assistant manager at McDonalds doesn't count. While I am not a fan of Drury and I am less than enamored with the candidates we have available, it is f***ing asinine to be so critical of how he has handled this process. He is taking his time to think about what is best for the organization based on what he has available.

What would have been same old Rangers is just naming Laviolette head coach without seeing who shakes loose. Instead, we took a different approach. Will it yield the same result? Likely, but not intentionally. I don't agree with the direction of the team, but I agree with the process we are using to find a coach. I think it is fine that they are tight-lipped. There is something to be said for not showing your hand.

If you don't like who we ultimately hire, that is fine. I get it. I'm not thrilled either. But let's quit acting like how the Rangers have conducted the search is some sort of travesty simply because the outcome isn't what you exactly wanted.

 

[duhmetreE]

It is not mentioned enough how much Hischier owned Z in that series.

Hischier, Crosby and whoever was paired up against him from Game3 on against Tampa... I don't remember

 

[SRHRangers]

Hischier, Crosby and whoever was paired up against him from Game3 on against Tampa... I don't remember

Crosby had Z until the end.

Cirelli smashed Z in the TB series

But Hischier took out Z on even strength altogether. 2 shot on goal at even strength the entire series

 

[TheDirtyH]

Crazy to me that this has dragged on so long and that Lavoilette is still at the front of the pack.

Drury isn't helping his own image here with zero interaction with the fans/media after a hugely disappointing season. The silence gets filled with speculation, and the longer the coaching search goes on with only two names ever really being brought up as contenders makes Drury look like he's way out of his depth.

I still think there's a good team here in what we have, but Drury has seemed to go from his inaugural stance of "everyone has to have a role" to "throw darts at the board and hope something sticks" very quickly. The present casts a bad light on the past moves here, from gallant being hired in the first place (which looks more and more now like a concession after Drury couldn't get his pie-in-the-sky, they were never on the market choices), to trading away Buchnevich, spending big at two deadlines, opening the check book for Trochek and Goodrow... All of it feels now like moves made with an utter lack of vision. Drury continues to be referred to as methodical, but it seems from the outside that he's entirely the opposite.

It'd go a long way if he could just do what every single other GM does (sans the ancient and inept Lou in NYI) and just address the fans and media even once.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

to be fair, you could add in a LOT of players to this. That's why blaming the 21 year old unfinished product is just a way to vent frustration. I get it. it was frustrating. but blaming Laffy over the guys thrust into the top 6 who didn't show in 3 of the final 4 games of the series is just overlooking too much. Sometimes when many players fail its not really about 1 or 2 players but a team wide issue and the younger players by and large will suffer the most. Was Laf great? No. But was he getting into traffic more than a bunch of players higher in the lineup? Yup. But that's beside the point. It's easy to scapegoat players. We constantly do it around here. But look at those players away from the team. Look whose in the cup finals. Howden, Staal, Duclair, the other Staal who sucked for us. Picking out one player who isn't even being relied upon for points in their role as to the main reasons for the team's failure is just a bunch of you know what. Too many players failed. Bottom line. That's on the organization.

Maybe blame isn't the right word. But if we're looking for reasons why they lost, his performance along with Panarin's, Zib's, and Trocheck's is at the very top of the list. We complained all season about how Goodrow and Vesey weren't top 6 players, Drury goes out and gets guys to push them down the lineup and deepen the forward group. We were all stoked. He built a good team for the playoffs, the players failed him and the coach.

The team scored 15 goals in 3 games and what, 2,3 in the other 4? They shut down the Devil's top players. Hirschier, Bratt, Mercer, and Meir did absolutely nothing all series. Even Hughes had a quiet last few games. Is that really a system issue, a skills coach issue? I don't think so, I think it's as simple as guys didn't show up when it mattered most.

And I can't help but laugh to see Howden play so well, when the poor kid was the undisputed whipping boy here for like two years.

 

[SRHRangers]

I have to say and maybe I shouldn't be surprised, but the reaction from this board to the coaching saga has been... strange.

If Drury rushed and hired a head coach immediately, this board would have ROASTED him that he didn't wait to see if Keefe or Sullivan shakes loose.

Drury takes his time to see who comes available, thinks about the available candidates and is more methodical in making his decision, he gets roasted.

The reactions here tell me how few of you have ever been in a leadership role of any kind and no, assistant manager at McDonalds doesn't count. While I am not a fan of Drury and I am less than enamored with the candidates we have available, it is f***ing asinine to be so critical of how he has handled this process. He is taking his time to think about what is best for the organization based on what he has available.

What would have been same old Rangers is just naming Laviolette head coach without seeing who shakes loose. Instead, we took a different approach. Will it yield the same result? Likely, but not intentionally. I don't agree with the direction of the team, but I agree with the process we are using to find a coach. I think it is fine that they are tight-lipped. There is something to be said for not showing your hand.

If you don't like who we ultimately hire, that is fine. I get it. I'm not thrilled either. But let's quit acting like how the Rangers have conducted the search is some sort of travesty simply because the outcome isn't what you exactly wanted.

I was alright with the wait until this week and Roy was a red herring.

Now the wait makes me feel that he's awaiting the Q ruling and the thought of that makes me vomit a little in my mouth.

 

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

I have to say and maybe I shouldn't be surprised, but the reaction from this board to the coaching saga has been... strange.

If Drury rushed and hired a head coach immediately, this board would have ROASTED him that he didn't wait to see if Keefe or Sullivan shakes loose.

Drury takes his time to see who comes available, thinks about the available candidates and is more methodical in making his decision, he gets roasted.

The reactions here tell me how few of you have ever been in a leadership role of any kind and no, assistant manager at McDonalds doesn't count. While I am not a fan of Drury and I am less than enamored with the candidates we have available, it is f***ing asinine to be so critical of how he has handled this process. He is taking his time to think about what is best for the organization based on what he has available.

What would have been same old Rangers is just naming Laviolette head coach without seeing who shakes loose. Instead, we took a different approach. Will it yield the same result? Likely, but not intentionally. I don't agree with the direction of the team, but I agree with the process we are using to find a coach. I think it is fine that they are tight-lipped. There is something to be said for not showing your hand.

If you don't like who we ultimately hire, that is fine. I get it. I'm not thrilled either. But let's quit acting like how the Rangers have conducted the search is some sort of travesty simply because the outcome isn't what you exactly wanted.

The part of the process that I am critical about is hearing that the team is NOT interviewing every candidate available. They should leave no stone unturned. From that perspective, I do have an issue with their process,

 

[HonestGabe]

 

[duhmetreE]

Our roster was 10xs tougher then the soft devils, still didn't matter.

Tougher is one thing. Effort is another.

A part of me hopes the team just became slow/reactive with the lack of system and overthought the game ( in what they needed to do in any given instance ) Not moving with a purpose or as a unit

 

[bigdog16]

The part of the process that I am critical about is hearing that the team is NOT interviewing every candidate available. They should leave no stone unturned. From that perspective, I do have an issue with their process,

Im fairly ok with the Rangers not giving Patrick Roy the time of day.

That guy is an absolute clown

 

[Hitch16]

Drury isn't helping his own image here with zero interaction with the fans/media after a hugely disappointing season. The silence gets filled with speculation, and the longer the coaching search goes on with only two names ever really being brought up as contenders makes Drury look like he's way out of his depth.

Great post - This point interests me specifically has me thinking. Drury not helping his own image I personally see as a positive. He is not allowing the media, fans or critics dictate his moves. I don't have an opinion, either way on Drury, I think he is respected among other GMs (may of his contemporaries on other teams played with him or have some interaction with him.) His Rangers stint, his retiring as a player to open a pizza restaurant and his personality contributes to what drives Rangers fans crazy. Some of the questionable decisions can be debated.

As far as communication to the fans, I agree but I think that starts with the owner. I am an older poster so I remember the Gulf+Western/Paramount owned Rangers. Dolan treats the Rangers (and Knicks) fans almost as a pain. When I am fortunate enough to travel and visit other arenas, I find myself envious of the fan-friendly experience. The Rangers seem to have gotten arrogant with their treatment of fans and now, at times, front office and staff. I am starting to go off topic but this organization is starting to (or is already) lose it's preferred destination. I heard a recent interview with Jack Eichel and his experience in Vegas and there a small little things that the team does for it's fans and players that I can't see Dolan doing.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

This team has a bunch of players who are strickened by a freelance improvise mindset under the guise of "creativity" -- propagated by you-know-who -- and who haven't played good systems hockey in a few years.

If a new, good systems coaching staff miraculously gets this ragtag bunch to buy in, then it's a short turnaround. If they continue to resist or just plain cannot understand systems play, we have a few more years to go until the roster completes a full turnover (pun intended).

Completely agree. With the right structure/plan AND getting buy-in/accountability the right coach really could turn this group around. Coupled with a few smart roster moves around the edges.

Obviously that’s a tall f***ing task. But IMO it was pretty clear to me Gallant wasn’t going to get that done. Will the next guy be better? Who knows unfortunately. And it’s tough that it all falls on the coach because it’s the easiest lever to pull in this insanely roster inflexible league.