NHL Rumors: Possible Changes Ahead for the New York Rangers
As the Stanley Cup Playoffs draw near, the focus shifts to the teams that fell short of making the cut. With their season ending in disappointment, the New York Rangers may be heading for a significant offseason shakeup.
What the Rumors Say
According to TSN’s Early Trading, questions are swirling around the futures of head coach Peter Laviolette and general manager Chris Drury. After missing the playoffs, speculation has ramped up that changes could be coming both behind the bench and in the front office.
Breaking It Down
The Rangers showed glimpses of the squad that reached the Eastern Conference Final not long ago, but inconsistency, injuries, and subpar play at both ends of the ice derailed their campaign. Key players like Mika Zibanejad couldn’t match their previous performance levels, and the defense faltered under pressure.
Insider Pierre LeBrun noted that there’s been little public communication from ownership, but hinted that Laviolette’s future is uncertain. While he’s generally well-regarded among the players, a string of questionable decisions and underwhelming results have put him on the hot seat.
Expectations were sky-high for the Blueshirts, but they fell well short of their goal of contending for the Stanley Cup, leaving fans and analysts alike asking: What went wrong?
What’s Next
Young talent like Alexis Lafreniere was expected to break out but faded after a strong start, while Kaapo Kakko found new life after being traded to Seattle. There were also head-scratching choices, such as scratching Gabriel Perreault shortly after he signed, and the limited use of Calvin de Haan post-trade deadline.
Firing Laviolette might be the easiest way to signal change, but Drury’s job appears to be more secure. While his decisions — like the Jacob Trouba trade and waiving Barclay Goodrow — sparked some criticism, LeBrun suggests Drury’s trade deadline aggressiveness impressed owner James Dolan.
That said, Drury will likely face heightened pressure to deliver results. He’s expected to take an assertive approach this summer, and some tough roster moves could reshape the team by the time the puck drops in October.
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