Rangers Make Peter Laviolette Announcement After Missing Playoffs

“Today I informed Peter Laviolette and Phil Housley that we’re making a coaching change,” Rangers general manager Chris Drury wrote in the statement released by the franchise. “I want to thank them both and wish them and their families all the best going forward. Peter is first class all the way, both professionally and personally, and I am truly grateful for his passion and dedication to the Rangers in his time as head coach.

"After finishing with the best regular season record in the NHL a year ago and making a trip to the Eastern Conference Final, we came into this season with high expectations for ourselves. Quite simply, we failed to meet those expectations. We must all do better–myself included. 

"As we head into next season and beyond, I felt that a change was necessary in order to give us the best chance to achieve our goals as an organization. Our search for a new head coach will begin immediately.”

Laviolette’s dismissal comes just one year after he led New York to a franchise-record 55 wins and the Presidents’ Trophy.

The club made several trades in a failed effort to spark a turnaround, including moving captain Jacob Trouba, Kaapo Kakko, and Ryan Lindgren. The moves didn’t help.

Laviolette departs with a 94–59–11 regular-season record and a 10–5–1 playoff mark in New York. He became the sixth NHL coach fired after two seasons or less with the franchise and the second straight Rangers coach to be dismissed after two years.

With Laviolette out, the Rangers join the Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, and Chicago Blackhawks among teams currently seeking a new head coach.