Michael Peca to join Peter Laviolette on New York Rangers coaching staff
By Marvin Azrak
The New York Rangers have added Michael Peca to their coaching staff for the 2023-24 NHL season. Although his specific role is unknown, Peca will be an assistant coach to Peter Laviolette. Peca has a wealth of experience in player development, gained from his two seasons as an assistant coach at the Rochester Americans, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres.
He has helped hone the skills of promising young players, such as 21-year-olds Jack Quinn and JJ Peterka, who have just finished impressive rookie seasons in Buffalo. Quinn had 14 goals and 37 points in 75 games, while Peterka had 12 goals and 32 points in 77 games. Peca’s ability to guide and extract the best from young talent makes him a valuable addition to the Blueshirts.
Peca had a successful 14-season career as an NHL player with the Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Columbus Blue Jackets. He was a two-time Selke Winner and recorded 465 points, including 176 goals and 289 assists, in 864 regular season games. Peca captained the Sabres during their run to the Stanley Cup Final in the 1998-99 season. Although he never won a Stanley Cup, he won Gold with Canada at the 2002 Olympics.
The Rangers have struggled with developing prospects in the past decade. They’ve also had the same skills coach, Mark Ciaccio, for a decade. He was hired by Jeff Gorton after he was let go by the Arizona Coyotes in 2013 for not developing top talent.
It hasn’t been different on Broadway. Lottery picks Kaapo Kakko Alexis Lafreniere, and Vitali Kravtsov(Now with the Vancouver Canucks but playing in the KHL) have yet to find their identity in the NHL.
The Blueshirts need a change. If the Vegas Golden Knights winning the cup was any indication, there’s a reason why Conn Smythe Winner Jonathan Marchessault refused to return to the Connecticut Whale (Now the Hartford Wolf Pack) in the 2012 offseason. Even if he did see a faster path to the NHL by joining the Columbus Blue Jackets organization, that’s another winger that left New York’s system and improved elsewhere.
Maybe Peca being here can change the way the Rangers develop their young forwards. His coaching philosophy aligns with the Rangers’ vision, particularly in nurturing the growth and potential of their youngsters. This move should bode well for Lafreniere, Kakko, and eventually prospects Brennan Othmann and Will Cuylle.
Peca’s mentorship will be crucial in bringing the best out of them. Peca previously worked with Laviolette back when Peca began his head coaching career with the New York Islanders in 2001. He was also the Washington Capitals player development coach in 2021 under Laviolette.
The Rangers will introduce their new bench boss on Tuesday at 11 AM at their practice facility in Tarrytown.