Former HC Peter Laviolette is reportedly ready to prove the New York Rangers wrong![Former New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette #nhl #rangers]()
According to Elliotte Friedman of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Laviolette feels that he wants to prove to the league that he still has what it takes to be a successful head coach in this league.
Many feel problem with the Rangers ran deeper than Laviolette
«He wanted to show people that last year wasn't on him, and it was bigger than just coaching,» Friedman said. «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.» - Elliotte Friedman
The Rangers did have a fantastic season during his first year as head coach as the team was anointed the President's Trophy is the best team in the NHL during the regular season and capturing 55 wins which was a team record.
The Rangers also made it to the Eastern Conference finals where they were almost successful in making a trip to the Stanley Cup finals 30 years after their last Stanley Cup win in 1994.
The team had a strong start to the season where they were leading the metropolitan division early on in the first 25 games of the year, but things began to unravel quickly as several stories in issues began to leak out from the organization.
Other NHL teams still searching for a new coach
The Rangers had solved their head coaching vacancy by hiring former Pittsburgh Penguins coach and New York Rangers assisted Mike Sullivan.
Other teams in the NHL are currently looking for head coaches including the Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins and the Vancouver Canucks to name a few.
There's a strong chance that Laviolette will have several interviews with many of these teams as he is an experienced coach who tends to help teams turn around quickly especially in their first year together.
It will depend on what the teams are looking for but one thing is for certain Laviolette has the credentials and the stamina to continue working in the NHL with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove which is great motivation for anyone.
Source: The Hockey News
