Latest news with #PeterLaviolette
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gerard Gallant Reportedly Still Looking To Prove Rangers' Past Failures Were Not Entirely His Fault
Over two years after the New York Rangers fired him, Gerard Gallant is still searching for another head coaching job. Gallant just spent two years with the Rangers from 2021-23. In his first season with the expectations not overly high, Gallant led the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 2015. Peter Laviolette Reportedly Eager To Prove Rangers' Collapse Was Not His Fault Peter Laviolette reportedly still has the itch to coach. However, in his second season, the Blueshirts had an underwhelming year and despite all of the talent on the roster, they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the New Jersey Devils. After losing to the Devils, Gallant said something about this Rangers core that still rings true today. 'Talent doesn't mean a thing,' Gallant said. "It's great to have talent, but when you gotta play together and work together…' Gallant was used as the scapegoat. Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury decided to relieve him of his duties after that playoff loss against the Devils. The 61-year-old coach is reportedly still under the impression that he is not entirely to blame for the Rangers' past failures. 'I don't know if he's (Gallant) been in any of these particular interviews this year, I just don't know,' Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said. 'I have heard he's eager to prove that when he got let go by the Rangers, It wasn't only about him, and he wants an opportunity to show people that. We'll see if he gets an opportunity with teams to talk about that.' The Rangers fired Gallant's successor, Peter Laviolette after just two seasons as well and recently replaced him with Mike Sullivan. Sullivan will attempt to break the two-year trend that Gallant and Laviolette have set. Meanwhile, Gallant is just looking for another opportunity to prove himself, but it seems that his Rangers days still haunt him to this day.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rangers fire coach Peter Laviolette after failing to make Stanley Cup Playoffs amid dismal season
Well, that didn't take long. The New York Rangers fired coach Peter Laviolette on Saturday, less than 48 hours after completing one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history. No replacement was named. Advertisement Laviolette coached the Rangers for two seasons after being hired June 13, 2023. He was 94-59-11. Associate head coach Phil Housley also got the ax. 'Today I informed Peter Laviolette and Phil Housley that we're making a coaching change,' Rangers general manager Chris Drury said in a statement. '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. Danny Wild-Imagn Images '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.' Advertisement The Rangers (39-36-7) failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs one season after winning the Presidents' Trophy in 2023-24, when they set franchise records with 55 wins and 114 points. They reached the Eastern Conference Final last season, losing in six games to the Florida Panthers, who went on to win the Stanley Cup. After a 12-4-1 start this season, they were eliminated from playoff contention on April 12 when they lost 7-3 to the Carolina Hurricanes, and finished fifth in the Metropolitan Division, six points behind the third-place Montreal Canadiens. They also finished six points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. 'I'm here, so that's where I'm at right now,' Laviolette said after the season finale Thursday. 'Those are things that are out of my control … right now, I'm here, and this is where I wanted to be.' Last weekend, Laviolette said he wasn't naive about his job status being in question, adding 'I'm not blind to anything.' Advertisement Related: Return of J.T. Miller highlighted slew of Rangers trades during 2024-25 season Rangers fire coach Peter Laviolette after missing playoffs New York is the fourth team to miss the playoffs in the season after winning the Presidents' Trophy — joining the 2014-15 Boston Bruins, the 2007-08 Buffalo Sabres and the 1992-93 Rangers. New York rebounded under coach Mike Keenan to win the Stanley Cup in 1994, its only championship in the past 85 years. Laviolette began his NHL coaching career with the New York Islanders in 2001-02. He has also coached the Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators and Washington Capitals. He won the Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006 and went to the Stanley Cup Final with the Flyers in 2010 and Predators in 2017. His 846 regular-season wins are the most among United States-born coaches in NHL history; he was third among active coaches behind Paul Maurice (916) and Lindy Ruff (900) and is seventh all-time. Danny Wild-Imagn Images Laviolette is the seventh NHL coach fired this season – and the second canned on Saturday; the Anaheim Ducks also fired Greg Cronin after missing the playoffs. Others who've been fired since the start of the season include Jim Montgomery (Boston Bruins on Nov. 19), Drew Bannister (St. Louis Blues, Nov. 24), Luke Richardson (Chicago Blackhawks, Dec. 5), Derek Lalonde (Detroit Red Wings, Dec. 26), John Tortorella (Philadelphia Flyers, March 27). Assistant coaches Michael Peca and Dan Muse were not fired by the Rangers. It's being reported that each will have the opportunity to interview for the head coaching vacancy.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Rangers coach seeks NHL job, wants ‘opportunity to show people last year wasn't on him'
Peter Laviolette has remained quiet publicly since he was fired as coach of the New York Rangers after they missed Stanley Cup Playoffs this season. That doesn't mean Laviolette isn't working behind the scenes to possibly land another head coaching job in the NHL. In fact, NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman stated on the lates 32 Thoughts podcast Monday that Laviolette is quite motivated to erase the stain on his resume from the dismal 2024-25 season with the Rangers. Advertisement 'He wanted to show people that last year wasn't on him, and it was bigger than just coaching,' Friedman explained. 'He would have the desire to prove it and show it and Laviolette does have the reputation as the turnaround master. His teams in the first year do extremely well. But he'd definitely got that mentality and the word on that is out there.' Outside of Mike Keenan, who the Stanley Cup in his only season as Rangers coach in 1993-94, no other coach in franchise history fared better in their first season than Laviolette. He guided the Rangers to franchise records in wins (55) and points (114), and they won the Presidents' Trophy in 2023-24. This past season was a complete trainwreck. And Laviolette is correct, it wasn't all his fault. Behind the scenes soap opera drama bled on to the ice. The Rangers (39-36-7) missed the playoffs for the first time in four seasons, and were often an unwatchable and unlikeable team with little fight and far too many no-shows. General manager Chris Drury took blame for his role in the unsightly season. But at the end of the day, Drury received a contract extension, Laviolette was fired and Mike Sullivan was brought in as the new coach. Advertisement So, Laviolette seeks another job. He's the winningest United States-born coach in NHL history, and ranks seventh all-time with 846 wins. Laviolette coached the Carolina Hurricanes to the 2006 Stanley Cup championship and reached the Final with two other teams in his career. There's reason to believe that a seventh head coaching job is out there somewhere for Laviolette, either now or after the next round of firings. Out of the remaining six vacancies, the Philadelphia Flyers are likely not an option, since Laviolette's 'been there, done that' already. The Pittsburgh Penguins reportedly are seeking a younger coach, perhaps a first timer. That leaves the Vancouver Canucks, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks and Seattle Kraken. Laviolette's already been linked to the Canucks job, recently vacated by Rick Tocchet. The most appealing job likely was the Anaheim Ducks vacancy. But that was just filled by Joel Quenneville, in his return to the NHL coaching ranks. Advertisement Related: Why Rangers long offseason might be blessing in disguise for Adam Fox Peter Laviolette not only former Rangers coach looking for NHL job Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images Friedman pointed out that Gerard Gallant has let it be known he'd like to get back into the coaching game in the NHL. It's not believed he's gotten much traction in interviews since the Rangers fired him after the 2022-23 season. 'Gerard Gallant interviewed in Toronto when [Craig] Berube got the job (last offseason), but that was more a courtesy interview. It was always Berube's job to lose,' Friedman shared. 'I don't know if he's been in any of these particular interviews this year, but I have heard he is eager to prove same thing (as Laviolette), when he was let go by the Rangers it wasn't only about him. And he wants an opportunity to show people that, and we'll see if he gets an opportunity to speak to teams about that.' Advertisement Gallant was 99-46-19 in two seasons as Rangers coach. He was the 2017-18 Jack Adams Award winner as NHL coach of the year with the Vegas Golden Knights and has a .576 points percentage in 705 NHL games coach with four teams. David Quinn, fired as Rangers coach in 2021 and let go by the San Jose Sharks in 2024, remains under contract with the Penguins, where he was an assistant under Sullivan last season. One would think he could be a candidate there or at some of the other openings around the League. John Tortorella, Rangers coach from 2009-13, also is unemployed after the Flyers fired him late this season. Related Headlines
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Experienced NHL Coaches Who Could Replace Canucks' Rick Tocchet
Mar 22, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette speaks with the media after a 5-3 win against the Vancouver Canucks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images With news breaking yesterday that Rick Tocchet will not be returning to the Vancouver Canucks next season, speculation now turns to who could replace him. As it stands, some frontrunners for this job are former Edmonton Oilers Head Coach Jay Woodcroft and current Abbotsford Canucks Head Coach Manny Malhotra. Let's take a look at some other more-experienced NHL coaches who could replace Tocchet in 2025–26. Advertisement Latest From THN's Vancouver Canucks Site: Rick Tocchet's Agent Speaks On Why The Canucks Former Head Coach Decided To Leave Vancouver Canucks Prospect Anthony Romani 2025 OHL Playoffs Point Streak Hits 15 Games BC-Based Betting Site Releases Odds On Who Will Be The Vancouver Canucks Coach In 2025-26 Not Mike Sullivan While speculation about Mike Sullivan joining the Canucks ran at an all-time high on Monday when he and the Pittsburgh Penguins parted ways, Vancouver's President of Hockey Operations, Jim Rutherford, confirmed otherwise during Tuesday's press conference. 'I know my good friend, Mike Sullivan, does not want to leave the east. He's a real good family man. I talked to him yesterday, not about coming here, but talked to him when he left Pittsburgh, and I know he wants to stay in the east.' Peter Laviolette With experience as an NHL Head Coach since the 2001–02 season to now, Peter Laviolette could easily be in consideration for the role of Canucks Head Coach. He parted ways with the New York Rangers on April 19, only two seasons after joining the team. Laviolette got his start as an NHL Head Coach with the New York Islanders before ending up with the Carolina Hurricanes for five seasons. Rutherford was the Hurricanes' General Manager during all five of these years. Together, the duo won a Stanley Cup in 2006. Advertisement 'We had some success together. I like him as a person and a coach. Haven't got that far yet, but certainly having someone you're familiar with helps,' Rutherford said of his experience with Laviolette. He later specified that Patrik Allvin would be the one primarily dealing with the next Head Coach, meaning they would have to find someone he would fit best with. 'I wouldn't want to take him off the list at this point. He's had a lot of success in the league, and it's a good name.' While Laviolette is a popular name that Rutherford is familiar with, realistically, the way he coaches may not fit with the Canucks' future. Laviolette's aversion to playing younger players — something that came up during his time with the Rangers — won't work well with a depth system filled with youth. Gerard Gallant Another former Rangers Head Coach, Gerard Gallant's last NHL coaching gig was during the 2022–23 regular season. Since then, he has coached a 2024–25 Team Canada roster to a semifinal loss during the Spengler Cup. His coaching record has been impressive as of late, with his past three coaching stints resulting in points percentages of .583, .601, and .662. Advertisement 'I'm waiting, I'm hoping, you know, if something comes up,' Gallant said in an interview with back in January 2024. 'Obviously, I'd like to be coaching again in the National Hockey League but we'll see. I haven't talked to anybody, and I'm not waiting by the phone. If the phone rings, I'll be very happy, but I'm not sitting, waiting.' Stylistically, Gallant has been referred to as a players coach, with former Rangers Captain Jacob Trouba emphasizing that 'He's a guy that players respect [ . . . ] and enjoy playing for.' However, one issue that has popped up for him during his four tenures as an NHL Head Coach is that he has been outcoached when his team needs it. Whether this would impact the 2025–26 Canucks or not is something that is yet to be determined — after all, most of Gallant's downfalls have stemmed from difficult playoff losses. With that being said, Gallant could be a great coach to help the Canucks get back on their feet after such a lopsided season. Jay Woodcroft As mentioned, Woodcroft is yet another favourite to become the Canucks' next Head Coach based on bets from His first stint as an NHL Head Coach was with the Oilers, where he coached for around a year and a half. Before this, he was the Head Coach of Edmonton's AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. Early on in his NHL coaching career, he spent three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings as a Video Coach and seven with the San Jose Sharks as an Assistant. Advertisement Like Gallant, Woodcroft has faced issues regarding coaching adaptability. This is something that would likely come into play more-so in playoffs rather than the regular season, but at the end of the day, Vancouver wants to be a postseason team — not a regular season one. Woodcroft may be better suited for a younger team like the Chicago Blackhawks rather than the Canucks. John Tortorella This would be the most chaotic option for the Canucks, and is definitely the most unlikely on this list. John Tortorella spent one season with Vancouver, 2013–2014, and was let go after it despite signing with the team for five years. Regardless of how he was perceived, former Canucks such as Kevin Bieksa have spoken positively of his coaching style. Since departing from the Canucks, Tortorella has split time with the Columbus Blue Jackets (2015–2021) and the Philadelphia Flyers (2022–2025). Throughout the 2024–25 season, he had made headlines for benching some of the Flyers' young stars — something that isn't unexpected of him. Tortorella's coaching style is aggressive and long-standing, as his NHL Head Coach career spans 22 seasons. Advertisement As successful as Tortorella's coaching may be in some locker rooms, Vancouver is probably not the best fit for it next season. The Canucks are coming off a very unsteady season, with many players' futures with the franchise still up in the air. Their best bet for success is to bring someone in who can help stabilize the room with familiarity. Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.
The Province
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The Province
Canucks: Head coach search spans Peter Laviolette to Manny Malhotra
Peter Laviolette could be the placeholder until Manny Malhotra matures as a bench boss. Allow him to grow like Travis Green did in four seasons at the AHL helm in Utica, N.Y. Get the latest from Ben Kuzma straight to your inbox Head coach Peter Laviolette won a Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes and guided the Rangers to the Eastern Conference final in 2024. Photo by Seth Wenig / AP There are wild rides to experience in Vancouver. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors You could choose the famous and award-winning wooden roller-coaster at Playland — hair-raising twists and turns, and a 73 km/h drop at its steepest pitch — or you could run the Canucks' bench. When Rick Tocchet left the NHL club on Tuesday morning he passed on a contract extension salary and term proposal that would have put the reigning Jack Adams Award-winner among the highest-paid NHL head coaches. That's US$5 million territory and as much as five-year security. It left Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford stunned and suddenly thrust into searching for a suitable solution. He thought productive discussions the last four to six weeks about team direction meant Tocchet was staying. However, the coach needed a change. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Rutherford now has to sell Vancouver and a vision for success to attract a proven bench boss like Stanley Cup-champion Peter Laviolette, 60, or pivot to provide AHL head coach Manny Malhotra, 44, a shot at running his first NHL bench. Laviolette experienced a lot of what Tocchet endured the last two seasons. He guided the New York Rangers to 55 wins and the Eastern Conference final in 2024 before losing in six games to eventual champ the Florida Panthers. This season, the Rangers twice lost three straight games between mid-March and April, and missed the post-season by seven points. Laviolette won a Cup in 2006 with the Carolina Hurricanes and Rutherford was their hockey ops czar. Laviolette also guided the Philadelphia Flyers to the league final in 2010. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'When you're familiar with someone, you know how they work,' stressed Rutherford. 'We had success together and I like him as a person and a coach. It's a good name.' Former Canucks centre Manny Malhotra is thriving as an AHL head coach and was also an assistant coach in Vancouver. Photo by Arlen Redekop / PNG Malhotra, a former Canucks centre, has excelled in his first shot at running a pro bench. Abbotsford amassed a franchise-best 44-24-2-2 regular season record, including a 13-game win streak, and finished with an 8-1-0-1 run. Malhotra served as a Canucks assistant for three seasons and with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the last four campaigns. 'I've never mentioned it to him because we didn't think we were getting to this point, but based on the job he did there (Abbotsford) and the experience he has in the league (NHL), he will certainly be on the short list and a guy to be considered,' said Rutherford. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Rutherford reached out to Mike Sullivan, his former Pittsburgh Penguins head coach who won two Cups at the helm as he has left the club, but Sullivan wants to remain on the eastern seaboard. He ran the Boston Bruins' bench and was an assistant with the Rangers, and will be considered for head-coaching vacancies. It's hard to imagine the Canucks pivoting from retooling to rebuilding because ownership believes spending to the salary cap ceiling should ensure a chance to win. Laviolette could be the placeholder until Malhotra matures as a bench boss. Allow him to grow like Travis Green did in four seasons at the AHL helm in Utica, N.Y., including a Calder Cup final appearance. The Canucks could also consider Gerard Gallant, 60. He guided Vegas to the Stanley Cup Final in 2018 and the Rangers to the conference final in 2022. Those teams had 51- and 52-win seasons, respectively. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. As for Tocchet, why he bolted is the big story. Is it him or the Canucks franchise history? The new hire will be the fourth head coach in the last four years — Green, Bruce Boudreau, Tocchet and coach TBD — which is bizarre. And it doesn't include John Tortorella's one-year reign of error. 'It's difficult and we've made a lot of changes ,' said Rutherford. 'I will make the point that I only hired one of them (Tocchet), but it's not easy on an organization, the fans and players. But in the history of the Canucks, not a lot coaches lasted a long time.' Tocchet said all the right things about family being a priority. However, he also noted it was an opportune time 'to explore other opportunities in and around hockey.' It coincides with seven head-coaching vacancies. Mostly notably in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, where he won it all as a player and twice as an assistant. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Tocchet played 11 seasons with the feared Flyers and was adored for pugnacious play and production, including twice hitting the 40-goal plateau. He's also in the club's Hall of Fame. Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet laughs during the NHL team's end-of-season news conference in Vancouver on April 18. Photo by DARRYL DYCK / THE CANADIAN PRESS 'Communication and teaching are probably two things that will be at the forefront of our next coach,' Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said of searching to replace Tortorella. That's Tocchet. The growth in Canucks prospects spoke to the respect that he commanded and he worked well with his staff. It led to a remarkable 50-win season and 109 points in 2023-24 to capture the Pacific Division crown and nearly advance to the Western Conference final. That now seems like so long ago. Tocchet often showed the strain of this unimaginable Canucks season, his hardest in the NHL. Too many injuries. J.T. Miller's 10-game leave of absence in November, and his growing disdain for the Elias Pettersson situation that went well beyond a locker-room distraction. It was divisive and destructive. It led to Miller's trade departure and left a giant void. Pettersson is overpaid as a No. 1 pivot, and pressure to perform and meet Tocchet's daily demand for better practice habits led to just 45 points. It got to Tocchet and is a club concern that hasn't gone away. 'We knew it would set us back,' said Rutherford. 'You don't replace J.T. Miller.' bkuzma@ Read More News Vancouver Canucks Food Federal Election Vancouver Whitecaps
