Rumors are circulating that Drury was leaning towards hiring Peter Laviolette, but with John Hynes out in Nashville, he’s another guy that could be of interest. But Hynes or Laviolette seem most likely at this juncture. And yet, both are so…uninspiring. Ugh
Other guys who have interviewed: Jay Leach, Patrick Roy and Mike Babcock. Kris Knoblauch is still in the hunt, of course.
Still hoping for Leach
2. If whomever gets hired as GM in Toronto decides to fire Sheldon Keefe. If that happens, I could see Keefe being of interest to Drury.
He may get Panarin to lift his NMC. Haha
They need Laf and Kakko to take the next step. That's the biggest thing. Laviolette isn't exactly known for developing young players. In fact, he prefers to ride his veterans.
And Hynes is a defensive-first HC.
Spencer Carbery.
Did a tremendous job with the Maple Leafs.
Unfortunately, the Capitals just announced his hire.
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players, the top 6 contracts put them in "win now" mindset, and can you entrust a 1st time HC with that. Tough spot.
They need Laf and Kakko to take the next step. That's the biggest thing. Laviolette isn't exactly known for developing young players. In fact, he prefers to ride his veterans.
And Hynes is a defensive-first HC.
What young players did Lavy eschew in favor of veterans?
His Stanley Cup in CAR was won on the back of 21 year old Eric Staal, 24 year old Justin Williams, 21 year old goalie Cam Ward and he gave significant playoff minutes to 20 year old Andrew Ladd.
He went to the SCF in PHI with 22 year old Claude Giroux as a primary contributor as well as 20 year old JVR.
In NSH he went to the SCF with 21 year old Filip Forsberg and 23 year old Victor Arvidsson as the primary offense. The top 4 scorers on that NSH team were under 26.
And those cup runs didn't begin those players careers with those teams.
He should get credit for developing Eric Staal, Filip Forsberg, Claude Giroux, JVR, and more and to an extent Roman Josi (though D are often immune from the veteran preference in many coaches).
Do you have an example of a young player he wouldn't play that later turned out to be a good player that could have helped the team? Or even a team where he refused to play young guys?
This Rangers team is also kind of unique. It's not often a contender gets the #2 then #1 pick in back to back years.
IDK who this Rear Admiral is, but to be fair, EVERYONE knew Kane was going to the Rangers.
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players, the top 6 contracts put them in "win now" mindset, and can you entrust a 1st time HC with that. Tough spot.
They need Laf and Kakko to take the next step. That's the biggest thing. Laviolette isn't exactly known for developing young players. In fact, he prefers to ride his veterans.
And Hynes is a defensive-first HC.
but how can they step up? You think they are going to drop Panarin's ice time for Kakko or Laf when they're paying him $11MM+? Or Kreider? And they all have no move clauses.
And we would really miss Kreider living near us :-)
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In comment 16125177 Victor in CT said:
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players, the top 6 contracts put them in "win now" mindset, and can you entrust a 1st time HC with that. Tough spot.
They need Laf and Kakko to take the next step. That's the biggest thing. Laviolette isn't exactly known for developing young players. In fact, he prefers to ride his veterans.
And Hynes is a defensive-first HC.
What young players did Lavy eschew in favor of veterans?
His Stanley Cup in CAR was won on the back of 21 year old Eric Staal, 24 year old Justin Williams, 21 year old goalie Cam Ward and he gave significant playoff minutes to 20 year old Andrew Ladd.
He went to the SCF in PHI with 22 year old Claude Giroux as a primary contributor as well as 20 year old JVR.
In NSH he went to the SCF with 21 year old Filip Forsberg and 23 year old Victor Arvidsson as the primary offense. The top 4 scorers on that NSH team were under 26.
And those cup runs didn't begin those players careers with those teams.
He should get credit for developing Eric Staal, Filip Forsberg, Claude Giroux, JVR, and more and to an extent Roman Josi (though D are often immune from the veteran preference in many coaches).
Do you have an example of a young player he wouldn't play that later turned out to be a good player that could have helped the team? Or even a team where he refused to play young guys?
This Rangers team is also kind of unique. It's not often a contender gets the #2 then #1 pick in back to back years.
Fiala, Alexeyev....
"Because of that, Laviolette earned a reputation from Capitals fans that he does not like giving young players or prospects meaningful ice time and is unwilling to put time into developing them. El-Bashir added that Laviolette “scoffed a bit” at the line of questioning but there is a mountain of evidence that backs up the claim.
The most obvious examples come in the form of Jakub Vrana and Jonas Siegenthaler who both left the team in 2021 with separate gripes regarding playing time and certain expectations. Siegenthaler almost immediately became one of the best defensemen on a New Jersey Devils team that looks primed to win a playoff series this postseason, which Laviolette never did in DC. Vrana has definitely had some struggles post-move to the Detroit Red Wings but looks to have found his feet again with the St. Louis Blues, scoring 10 goals in his first 20 games with his new team.
Meanwhile, Anthony Mantha, the big winger brought in, in exchange for Vrana from Detroit, ended up being a healthy scratch by Laviolette off and on during the 2022-23 season, and hired a “mental coach” to be able to better deal with not consistently being in the lineup.
The Capitals’ former young goalie tandem made up of Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek didn’t pan out as expected and were also moved under Laviolette. Their failures perhaps had nothing to do with a playing time issue but both shouldered the bulk of the load this past season for two playoff teams. The Devils are one win away from moving to the second round and Toronto just advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in 19 years."
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You have Vrana (who got the same minutes for the most part after leaving WAS) and goalies who were bad elsewhere.
the article mentions Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre (who the article says is not NHL ready)
If that's your evidence, it seems like you choose it to cite as evidence because you want to a narrative, not facts.
It's clear Laviolette was hired in WAS to manage the downfall of the Roman empire and try and squeeze out a final victory. that team had decline written all over it. Context matters. He probably knew if he could sneak into the playoffs and get a healthy Backstrom, Oshie and Carlsson back the core could win some games. Didn't happen.
The trades for Tarasenko and Kane proved that the team is no longer in rebuild mode. They need to hire somebody with a track record.
I'm not sold on the makeup of the roster, but that's another story.
Mathew Tkachuk = is what Lafraniere could and should be.
Mathew Tkachuk = is what Lafraniere could and should be.
but they're stuck with them.
disagree on Laf being Tkachuk. no way.
Ultimately, Drury feels green to me.
I'd say the win now window is nearly closed and that the big contracts with no-trades and no-moves are now a hindrance going forward.
The truly need to revamp the 4th line, did you see Vegas fourth line in this series vs Dallas?
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players, the top 6 contracts put them in "win now" mindset, and can you entrust a 1st time HC with that. Tough spot.
I'd say the win now window is nearly closed and that the
The truly need to revamp the 4th line, did you see Vegas fourth line in this series vs Dallas?
I agree that the "big contracts with no-trades and no-moves are now a hindrance going forward." but they are stuck with them so they have to try and win until the contracts become moveable or the cap goes up.
The 4th line was not the problem against NJ. The top 2 lines were.
Mathew Tkachuk = is what Lafraniere could and should be.
And the Panthers and Golden Knights do?
Nobody would have picked those two teams based on talent to be in the Cup Final.
In Hockey more than any other sport, the whole can be greater than the sum of the parts
Vesey Goodrow and Motte
vs
Carrier Roy and Kolesar
but if anything I think I'd prefer the NYR 4th line.
The styles are just so different.
Vegas is a very disciplined team with basically IMO a 1st line and three 3rd lines and a really good 1-6 on defense. Brett Howden is on Vegas' 2nd line (not due to injury or line shuffling, he's their 2nd line LW). If he was in NY, no matter who the coach is or who the GM is, they would always be looking to replace Howden with a more talented player.
You have Vrana (who got the same minutes for the most part after leaving WAS) and goalies who were bad elsewhere.
the article mentions Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre (who the article says is not NHL ready)
If that's your evidence, it seems like you choose it to cite as evidence because you want to a narrative, not facts.
It's clear Laviolette was hired in WAS to manage the downfall of the Roman empire and try and squeeze out a final victory. that team had decline written all over it. Context matters. He probably knew if he could sneak into the playoffs and get a healthy Backstrom, Oshie and Carlsson back the core could win some games. Didn't happen.
Not sure why you’re taking it so personally, PJ. It’s his reputation. He doesn’t develop his young players well. Whether it’s warranted or not, there is some basis for it.
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I just showed you three stops where Laviolette took three different teams to the Stanley Cup finals, winning one, littered with young players his team developed.
but you, highlight the perception that exists only in his 4th stop, and say "that's the perception". And your examples are Jacob Vrana, Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre. Vrana went elsewhere and got less or similar minutes from other coaches. Lapierre, the author admits, is not NHL ready. So, it's just Connor McMichael. Sure, that qualifies as "can't or won't develop young players".
No, it's only the perception among lazy writers or caps fans. or people who want to parrot it but not research it.
WAS wasn't going to win regardless of who was coach. Hard to pin that on him.
There are no inspiring options out there and you could do much worse than Laviolette.
Hoping he proves my apathy wrong.
Will
@_willnyr_
He's a middle of the pack 5v5 coach with his average finish at 12. His best years were 2016-17 (NSH: 9th), 2015-16 (NSH: 4th), 2014-15 (NSH: 2nd), 2011-12 (PHI: 8th), and 2009-10 (PHI: 5th). The other years his teams finished around 12th-17th with an outlier at 24th.
His last three years with Washington, they finished 18th, 15th, and 13th.
While I don't think he is a bad coach, I don't think he is the right fit for the New York Rangers. At 5v5, his teams are nothing special. There are good years sprinkled here and there but nothing consistent
The New York Rangers have struggled to find consistent play at 5v5 over the past nine years, and they struggled to transition from their own zone into the NZ and OZ in the two years Gallant was at the helm.
Since the 2015-16 season, the Rangers have finished 20th or lower at 5v5 play. The last time they finished higher was in 2014-15 when they finished 19th.
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This team does not have the players to go anywhere in the playoffs. They are a bunch of finesse jerkoffs and this organization can't develop a forward...they could draft a 20yr old Gretzky and he would be stuck on the 3rd line.
Mathew Tkachuk = is what Lafraniere could and should be.
And the Panthers and Golden Knights do?
Nobody would have picked those two teams based on talent to be in the Cup Final.
In Hockey more than any other sport, the whole can be greater than the sum of the parts
I agree they are not built to win the cup. As far as the comments about the two remaining teams. I watched every Panthers game. Rangers would not have beaten them. They played with something the Rangers were missing, heart, guts, and will.
I think a coach who can develop Kakko and Laf can help solve that issue.
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In comment 16125260 Gforce11 said:
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This team does not have the players to go anywhere in the playoffs. They are a bunch of finesse jerkoffs and this organization can't develop a forward...they could draft a 20yr old Gretzky and he would be stuck on the 3rd line.
Mathew Tkachuk = is what Lafraniere could and should be.
And the Panthers and Golden Knights do?
Nobody would have picked those two teams based on talent to be in the Cup Final.
In Hockey more than any other sport, the whole can be greater than the sum of the parts
I agree they are not built to win the cup. As far as the comments about the two remaining teams. I watched every Panthers game. Rangers would not have beaten them. They played with something the Rangers were missing, heart, guts, and will.
Exactly and you can't coach that.
@nypost
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Rangers get permission to speak to John Hynes for head coaching gig after Predators firing https://trib.al/wqkb6Kk
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Would assuage my main concern - if we don’t acquire more straight line hard nose forwards, we’re not going to be a legitimate contender. We rely way too much on our PP to score.
I think a coach who can develop Kakko and Laf can help solve that issue.
Hate to say it, but I’d trade Laf and keep Kakko. We have too many unmovable LW’s. And Othman is a LW.
I had some doubts about him after the world U20's last year when he played on a line with Bedard and Wright and didn't stand out (at all).
But maybe when you play with Connor Bedard and Shane Wright you try so hard not to seem selfish it hurts your game.
He looks fantastic right now. 25 points in 23 playoff games. leading the Petes to the OHL championship.
I think he may be suspended though for a borderline hit in the last game and the Petes aren't likely to last much longer in the Memorial Cup. I don't like dirty play, but I wouldn't be too mad about the suspension if he does get one (there was no penalty on the play) and I like players who are aggressive.
-9 years as a head coach with 2 teams
-Has never finished higher than a wild card position
-has never won a playoff series
-overall 4-15 record in the playoffs
-Was buddies with Chris Drury in college
Sounds like a winner
[quote] is saying Lavoliette is going to be announced this week as Rangers head coach. He was zeroed in on the Patrick Kane news before it broke. [/quote time to bring back LESTER PATRICK
@nypost
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38s
Rangers get permission to speak to John Hynes for head coaching gig after Predators firing https://trib.al/wqkb6Kk
No.
IDK, this whole coaching search has been totally uninspiring. Makes me wish we ran it back with Gallant for a year.
But I'd go Knoblauch over both.
IDK, this whole coaching search has been totally uninspiring. Makes me wish we ran it back with Gallant for a year.
Gallant had his limitations, but the team was not so bad with him that you shouldn't have fired him without a definite plan on where you wanted to go.
I have been on the record as saying the Laviolette hiring is not a sexy one, but the difference between Lavy and Hynes is not even in the same rink, ballfield, whatever. If Drury hires his college buddy, this is a total sh@tshow.
As a devil fan, I hated him. He is a defensive minded coach and his teams are never great.
I think both are average at best hires and it’s really the rangers roster construction that’s the issue. Panarin isn’t a playoff player at all. You went all out for Kane and senko when you shoulda beefed up defense. Mikkola was a solid addition though.
I personally think rangers are too reliant on PP to score…they aren’t getting younger and their young guys haven’t shown much. Should be an interesting offseason
Playoffs is hard to compare since not all teams play the same amount of games, but if you just stack rank teams (which would push all the 1st round eliminated teams to the bottom) they were tied for 12th (out of 16) 5v5 and 13th (out of 16) all situations.
In the playoffs scoring was a problem you could say, but again, but stats don't indicate they were too dependent on the PP IMO.
I have read a few fans say that. You could argue that their lack of scoring (if 10th in the league at 5v5 goals for is an area you want to improve) indicated they need the PP to score, but that can be true about every team.
2. Does Brad Treliving fire Sheldon Keefe? If that happens, I could see Keefe being of interest to Drury.
He has to be viewed as a massive failure, no? All that talent and 13-17 in the playoffs, 0-3 in game 7's. All at home. One to hated rival MTL.
He has to be viewed as a massive failure, no? All that talent and 13-17 in the playoffs, 0-3 in game 7's. All at home. One to hated rival MTL.
He finally got Toronto past the first round. Haha, that's a feat in it of itself.
Keefe may turn into a good coach, but Laviolette is more accomplished than Keefe.
Keefe may turn into a good coach, but Laviolette is more accomplished than Keefe.
For sure, but Laviolette is also much older and more experienced. I think the appeal with Keefe is that he's still young, he's had decent results so far (definitely better results than Hynes) and he's not a journeyman retread like Laviolette.
He's retired in Florida...
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have Laviolette than Keefe.
Keefe may turn into a good coach, but Laviolette is more accomplished than Keefe.
For sure, but Laviolette is also much older and more experienced. I think the appeal with Keefe is that he's still young, he's had decent results so far (definitely better results than Hynes) and he's not a journeyman retread like Laviolette.
If the Rangers were a rebuilding team I'd day Keefe or Knoblauch 100% good fits.
But with the state of the Rangers I'd say Sullivan (100%) or Laviolette are safer hires.
You call Laviolette a journeyman retread, but after getting his feet wet with the NYI, he brought each team he coached to the SCF. He won a cup. Before his stint in WAS.
a journeyman to me is more like Lindy Ruff (he did go to a cup in his second year of coaching, but hasn't sniffed success since then - in 20 years) or Rick Bowness or guys like that. I don't think Laviolette is on Sullivan's level or even Cooper's (I know people hate him) but he's better than some people give him credit for on here.
Fun Fact. Slapshot was written by a woman.
Maybe people knew that, I did not until she passed away earlier this year.
Maybe people knew that, I did not until she passed away earlier this year.
I knew that and was somewhat surprised. Completely different character, lol
Flyers fired him three games into the season, made the playoffs, missed next year.
Fired mid year in NAS, made qualifying round due to COVID and got beat by the Coyotes. Made the playoffs and lost in the first round the following year.
These weren't some elite teams that were being held back by him. I'd hire Knoblauch but Laviolette is fine.
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Roy would be a quintessential NYR move. You don't settle for Lavy or scheme for Mike Sullivan or try and get Quenneville sold to your base (and the NHL) or even promote from within with someone like Knoblauch. You bring in hockey royalty.
I'd promote Knoblauch partially because he's an easy guy to fire if someone better comes along.
I'd promote Knoblauch partially because he's an easy guy to fire if someone better comes along.
Like Sullivan if the Penguins decide to commit to rebuilding next year
the whole world knew about Kane's hip.
the Rangers were the healthiest team in NHL history last year, not saying it's on the trainer, but if they weren't healthy he'd be blamed.
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Patrick Kane’s representative, Pat Brisson, says Kane had a hip resurfacing today under Dr. Edwin Su. As is normal, follow-ups are planned, but roughly 4-6 months recovery is expected. Brisson says Kane “wants to play for a long time,” and doctors are optimistic that will happen
the whole world knew about Kane's hip.
the Rangers were the healthiest team in NHL history last year, not saying it's on the trainer, but if they weren't healthy he'd be blamed.
For sure, but I wonder if Kane's hip was worse than initially thought but Ramsey cleared him and thus the trade went through.
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Fun Fact. Slapshot was written by a woman.
it was also loosely based on the long Island Ducks. First game I ever saw at the old Commack Arena. Rich history. John Muckler was a coach there. Red Light Messina. John (i think) Brophy caoched went on to coach the Maple Leafs.
Su’s a great surgeon..good guy too
And remember, a month ago when it was announced that Gallant wasn't coming back, Weekes posted a cryptic tweet showing the NYC skyline with Patrick Roy. Maybe it was him all along?
in other news...
Chris Johnston
@reporterchris
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3m
Gary Bettman says Joel Quenneville and Stan Bowman have independently requested meetings with him that will be held after the Stanley Cup Final.
Neither is currently eligible to return to work with a NHL team.
Or maybe they're waiting on Coach Q getting cleared?
And no guarantee he's reinstated, but it makes sense to wait if the Rangers did their due diligence and know what Quennville knew and didn't know about Beach. I do think there is a scenario where Quennville would be off my list. but that's just me.
And no guarantee he's reinstated, but it makes sense to wait if the Rangers did their due diligence and know what Quennville knew and didn't know about Beach. I do think there is a scenario where Quennville would be off my list. but that's just me.
Regardless, there’s going to be PR blowback if they hire Q
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isn't meeting with Bettman until after the SCF.
And no guarantee he's reinstated, but it makes sense to wait if the Rangers did their due diligence and know what Quennville knew and didn't know about Beach. I do think there is a scenario where Quennville would be off my list. but that's just me.
Regardless, there’s going to be PR blowback if they hire Q
Sure, because people who don't have facts often spout off about stuff they don't know about.
If I am the Rangers I would make sure to learn the truth and then make a decision they can live with.