The Chicago Blackhawks dealt the New York Rangers yet another tough defeat on Monday night, ending with a tight 2-1 score at Madison Square Garden. However, New York’s performance was once again lackluster, and these uninspired showings have begun to affect head coach Peter Laviolette.
The Rangers have now dropped eight out of their last 10 games. After a strong start of 12-4-1, their record has slipped to 14-12-1 in the 2024-25 season. The pressure is increasing on the team to improve quickly. Unfortunately, there seems to be no clear cause for their struggles, and Laviolette appeared to be looking for solutions following the game.
“It could be fatigue, it could be mental, it could be anything – but regardless, it’s unacceptable,” Laviolette stated, according to USA Today’s Vince Z. Mercogliano. “We’ve got to be better than that.” Upon joining the Rangers, Laviolette aimed to help the team compete for the Stanley Cup, and he succeeded to some extent, leading New York to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2024. Although they fell short against the Florida Panthers, they demonstrated their potential for a deep playoff run.
However, the current season has not progressed well, highlighted by the forced departure of captain Jacob Trouba just this past Saturday. The Rangers traded him to the Anaheim Ducks amidst offseason trade rumors, and since then, they have a record of 1-2-0.
This recent losing streak has put Laviolette in a precarious position. On one hand, it’s reasonable to consider the coach accountable for a team with championship aspirations that is underperforming. On the other hand, it’s difficult to blame him entirely, as the team’s core is aging and no significant offseason adjustments were made to enhance a squad that reached the Eastern Conference Finals.
Nevertheless, the Rangers are not completely out of the playoff picture for 2025. They currently hold the final playoff position in the Eastern Conference, tied on points with the New York Islanders and sitting just four points above the struggling Montreal Canadiens.
On paper, New York has the talent to stay competitive. However, significant issues need addressing if the team is to improve this season, or Laviolette may face the repercussions of their failures.
