1. A New Head Coach
The New York Rangers should and likely will have a new head coach by the start of the 2025-26 NHL season. And following the conclusion of play in Madison Square Garden against the Lightning, a coaching change could happen at any time.
As Blue Line Station previously reported, TSN and The Athletic's NHL insider Pierre LeBrun has been doing his homework on the Rangers and concluded that coach Peter Laviolette will be fired, but general manager Chris Drury will remain on with the organization.
“I can tell you that there’s absolutely no word out of the Rangers, themselves,” LeBrun said in a conversation with TSN’s Gino Reda on Insider Trading. “Very tight-lipped about what might transpire here over the next week, or so. But in talking to other people around the League, the low-hanging fruit, the expectations from a lot of people I’ve talked to is that Peter Laviolette could get fired."
“He’s got another year on his deal, so certainly not a sure thing. But when you look at the body language and the performance of the team over the last month, again, when I’ve talked to other people around the League, that’s probably the easiest conclusion, and so, we’ll see whether or not that happens.”
A change in coaching could do wonders for both the franchise and the fans. New blood is exciting and could certainly bring a spark back to the Rangers — and it's certainly something for fans to look forward to.
Bonus: A 2025-26 Stanley Cup run
The last time the Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy and missed the playoffs the following season, the very next season they won the Stanley Cup. Given the 5-3 win against the Florida Panthers and if the Blueshirts can keep the momentum going against Tampa Bay, maybe they can prove to the fans that history can be repeated, and that the team is truly serious about changing the page for next season.