The Rangers have found their new head coach, officially announcing on Tuesday afternoon that Peter Laviolette will replace Gerard Gallant behind the bench for the 2023-24 season.
Laviolette, the 37th head coach in franchise history, has head coaching experience in New York with the Islanders for two seasons. He most recently was head coach of the Capitals, where he was 115-78-27 in three seasons.
A former Stanley Cup champion as head coach of the Hurricanes in 2006, Laviolette has reached the Cup Final three times, most recently with the Predators in 2017. He also made it with the Flyers in 2010. He ranks eighth all time in NHL history in head coaching wins.
“We are thrilled that Peter will be the next Head Coach of the New York Rangers,” president and GM Chris Drury said in a statement via the team. “With Peter's extensive experience as a Head Coach in the National Hockey League, as well as the success his teams have had at several levels throughout his career, we are excited about what the future holds with him leading our team.”
The Blueshirts and Gallant parted ways at the end of this season, when the Rangers were bounced from the first round of the playoffs in a decisive game seven against the rival Devils. Likewise, Laviolette and the Caps parted ways mutually in April, after Washington's season ended short of the playoffs for th first time in nine years.
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