Confirmed with Link: Rangers Hire Peter Laviolette as Head Coach, Assistants Michael Peca & Dan Muse

[bhamill]

Always respected the way Laviolette’s teams played over the years, heavy teams that can defend and don’t take shit. Everyone saying we are a “finesse” team and can’t play that way, I’m not sure what team you’ve been watching the last few years. Saying Lavi is the same as Gallant is disingenuous as well, their resumes aren’t comparable and Gallant never makes it through Year 3 anywhere.

It’s now on the players to make it work, specifically the vets. Kreider and/or Trouba will be moved if they fizzle out again. Outside of 3 guys we actually have a very young team, which people lose sight of.

The roster will mostly change around the margins imo. Othmann and Cuylle have a very good shot to break camp under Lavi, Robertson as well. I think they make a run at guys like Hathaway and Sheary on the cheap too. The outside the box move I could see is Lafreniere to Vancouver. Seems to be some smoke there.

Agree with a lot of that. I think if Hathaway is affordable he is a no brainer.
I honestly don't see Laf to Van. What would be the rumored return, I don't see getting value, and if it was any good, how would we afford it? He's also one of our heavier playing forwards...

 

[Bob Richards]

 

[Machinehead]

I think the young players all have the willingness to play a heavy game but they need a structure to rely on, which Laviolette has done historically. Kreider & Mika can do it too , look at how they dominated the Pens & Canes below the goal line in last years playoffs. Panarin has also had his most success under more demanding head coach’s so maybe there’s some hope there too. I’m cautiously optimistic.

If Panarin takes a shift off the next time he kills a possession doing something that's just not there, he'll respond.

Likewise, Kakko needs to learn to commit to plays and not lose the puck getting stuck between passing and shooting. Lafreniere needs to learn not to kill a good possession lobbing it at the goalie from 40 feet away.

The whole team needs more structure in the two-thirds of the rink that aren't defending. It will help everyone, vets and kids, if Laviolette can accomplish that.

 

[Machinehead]

He looks like somebody stuffed Mark Cuban with lard, so that's gonna be hard to look at. Doesn't make him a bad coach.

 

[pld459666]

When is the presser

 

[savebyrichter94]

I’m gonna say he wins a cup within 2 years, f*** it haha

 

[mas0764]

If Panarin takes a shift off the next time he kills a possession doing something that's just not there, he'll respond.

Likewise, Kakko needs to learn to commit to plays and not lose the puck getting stuck between passing and shooting. Lafreniere needs to learn not to kill a good possession lobbing it at the goalie from 40 feet away.

The whole team needs more structure in the two-thirds of the rink that aren't defending. It will help everyone, vets and kids, if Laviolette can accomplish that.

Let's hope.

 

[17futurecap]

Turn Braden Schneider into an average defender challenge.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

As unspectacular as the hiring is, he's probably the right guy for right now. The team has a 2-3 year window to win with this group. Drury wasn't rolling the dice on an unproven, rookie NHL coach.

 

[will1066]

He looks like somebody stuffed Mark Cuban with lard, so that's gonna be hard to look at. Doesn't make him a bad coach.

 

[Levitate]

He looks like somebody stuffed Mark Cuban with lard, so that's gonna be hard to look at. Doesn't make him a bad coach.

my mental image of him is from the Flyers days when he was carrying a lot less weight, kinda disorienting now.

IIRC his teams also always attacked hard and fast, but I dunno how that'll translate these days either

 

[RangersFan1994]

Say it again and keep saying it. If you are a Rangers fan you will root for our coach to succeed not root against him.

I am happy about this hire. I don’t get the ones that upset or wanted Messier or someone who is not a great coach

 

[LOFIN]

As unspectacular as the hiring is, he's probably the right guy for right now. The team has a 2-3 year window to win with this group. Drury wasn't rolling the dice on an unproven, rookie NHL coach.

Starting to lean this way as well. I would've been ok with Keefe, but he's not available it seems. I would've been ok with Roy, just for the entertainment factor. But the other options like Hynes (barf), Konblauch or Leach? Meh.

Laviolette is a good coach. I don't like what I'm hearing regarding young players, but honestly structure is more important right now and should help the kids as well.

 

[McRanger92]

Why is Jay Leach the common “young, innovative” coach people wanted? None of you knew who he was 2 months ago and no team hired him anyway lol. Congrats on the Kraken for winning a round in the playoffs though I guess

 

[Levitate]

Starting to lean this way as well. I would've been ok with Keefe, but he's not available it seems. I would've been ok with Roy, just for the entertainment factor. But the other options like Hynes (barf), Konblauch or Leach? Meh.

Laviolette is a good coach. I don't like what I'm hearing regarding young players, but honestly structure is more important right now and should help the kids as well.

I dunno that there are many young players ready to play prominent roles with the Rangers right now

I mean, if he wants to bury Kakko and Laf rather than try to get the most out of them then he's screwed because there's no one else to play the roles they do and the Rangers don't have cap flexibility to go buy some top six forwards

But Cullye and Othman...eh, I have my doubts they're knocking at the door this training camp

 

[nevesis]

Hopefully he cleans house with the absolute garbage skills coach we have.

Indifferent about this move. Obviously a new voice will change things up, but the country club atmosphere will remain forever, and you can't turn players who don't have a alpha dog mentality into those types.

Bunch of betas with the exception of a few.

 

[LOFIN]

I mean, if he wants to bury Kakko and Laf rather than try to get the most out of them then he's screwed because there's no one else to play the roles they do and the Rangers don't have cap flexibility to go buy some top six forwards

There's still going to be Goodrow and Vesey, Gallant would've found a way.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Starting to lean this way as well. I would've been ok with Keefe, but he's not available it seems. I would've been ok with Roy, just for the entertainment factor. But the other options like Hynes (barf), Konblauch or Leach? Meh.

Laviolette is a good coach. I don't like what I'm hearing regarding young players, but honestly structure is more important right now and should help the kids as well.

I already showed that young player narrative is pure nonsense. He played young players one 1st and second lines in Carolina, Philly and Nashville. Eric Staal, Giroux, Richards, Carter, Forsberg, and Johansson all played huge minutes at 19-24 years old for Lav.

 

[turcotte8]

Don’t be surprised when I tag your guys (and anyone else being blatantly disrespectful) in about a year when Laviolette has the rangers reach the finals or make our best run we’ve had in a while.

We got one of the best coaches in the world right now that’s perfectly suited for this roster

I hope you're right, he's wasn't my first pick but I want him to succeed. Just not getting my hopes up.

 

[EdJovanovski]

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

Starting to lean this way as well. I would've been ok with Keefe, but he's not available it seems. I would've been ok with Roy, just for the entertainment factor. But the other options like Hynes (barf), Konblauch or Leach? Meh.

Laviolette is a good coach. I don't like what I'm hearing regarding young players, but honestly structure is more important right now and should help the kids as well.

We also should come to grips with the reality that Kakko, Laff, and Chytil aren't kids anymore by NHL standards.

 

[turcotte8]

Hope he does this to Panarin.

 

[Breaded Fox]

Do we not have anybody in tech that could have whitened his teeth in that pic for the announcement?

 

[17futurecap]

Normal coaching deal, he has two years before he becomes a lame duck.

 

[will1066]

Carcillo is a straight shooter, so I believe this. I think Lavi will do a deep-dive into the roster and study it individual by individual and then make his decision on how to play, honestly.