With recent coaching shifts in the NHL, discussions about potential lineup changes for various teams are in order, and the New York Rangers might be one of those teams.
According to Stan Fischler from The Hockey News, following Jim Montgomery’s firing and swift rehiring with the St. Louis Blues, there could be pressure on GM Chris Drury to take action.
Rangers’ head coach Peter Laviolette has a solid record of 55-23-4 and led the team to a President’s Trophy in the 2023-2024 season.
“The Maven” questions Laviolette’s job security amid the coaching shake-ups within the league: Has he lost the team’s confidence? Although he secured the President’s Trophy last season, suggesting his position is safe—for now—the Rangers have recently faced challenges, notably a disappointing 2-2 record against rebuilding teams like the Calgary Flames and former contenders the Edmonton Oilers.
If Laviolette can’t establish stability by the new year, his future may be uncertain.
The Rangers, an original six team with passionate fans who invest in a quality product, are facing growing concerns such as Mika Zibanejad’s lack of offensive production and poor defensive play from K’Andre Miller, Jacob Trouba, and Ryan Lindgren. They are currently not performing like President’s Trophy victors and are struggling for consistent play.
In addition to Zibanejad’s issues, Chris Kreider has only scored 9 goals this season and hasn’t contributed assists, compounding their troubles.
Seated fourth in the Metropolitan Division with a 12-8-1 record, the Rangers need to find a way to remain competitive. However, younger players like Will Cuylle, Kaapo Kakko, and a healthy Filip Chytil have shown promise in an otherwise uninspired squad.
Can Laviolette turn things around? Their recent loss to the Carolina Hurricanes at home, 4-3, raises questions about their direction moving forward.
