Rangers Practices: Where competition Drives Succsess Under Laviolette

Peter Laviolette’s competitive approach in practice sets the tone for a new era of New York Rangers hockey, promoting teamwork and attention to detail.

Head coach Peter Laviolette is changing the game in New York Rangers practices. The intensity level has skyrocketed, and it’s all about competition. They split the team into blue and white, and every drill becomes a battle with consequences for the losers. It’s like a mini-competition within practice, bringing out the best in everyone.

Barclay Goodrow summed it up nicely: when there’s something on the line, it elevates your game. Even the little things, like one-on-one battles, are getting more focused. It’s all part of creating that winning mentality.
“Naturally, we’re all extremely competitive people, so I think we enjoy competing, even in practice,” forward Barclay Goodrow said. “When you’re keeping score and there’s something on the line, it brings the best out of you and ultimately prepares you for games. Even just one-on-one battles, stick battles, trying to come up with the puck every time – I think that transitions really well into games.”

Fostering a Winning Culture Through Competitive Drills and Attention to Detail:

Laviolette isn’t just about intensity; he’s drilling down into the finer details of his system, like that 1-3-1 forechecking style he’s introduced. It’s a tough road ahead with a long season, but the early commitment to Laviolette’s vision looks promising. What I love is that they’ve bought into it,” the coach said. “They’re working hard, competing hard, and it’s been pretty consistent.

There hasn’t been a practice where you’ve had to stop and reel it in and say, ‘What are we doing today?’ And, so, they’ve bought into it, and that, to me, is promising. That’s when your team can take steps in the right direction.”

Yep, they’ve all bought into it, and that’s an excellent sign for the Rangers. Even at 5-2, only some games will be pretty as the team continues to get accustomed to the new system. That said, the work ethic is a step in the right direction for the style of play and the type of success they aim for.