The 2024-25 New York Rangers have been one of the most disappointing teams through their first 27 games. After a strong 9-3-1 start, the last 15 games have been disastrous, with the team posting a 6-9-0 record. Over their last 10 games, they have lost 7. The Rangers currently hold the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, but the Islanders, Flyers, Penguins, and Senators are all within three points of catching them. One issue that I feel is not being discussed enough is the coaching, particularly the performance of head coach Peter Laviolette.
Peter Laviolette led the Rangers last year to an impressive 55-23-4 record (114 points), earning the Presidents’ Trophy for the best regular-season record in the NHL. In the playoffs, the team reached Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers. While Laviolette’s first season was largely successful, the ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup was not achieved, and they failed to even reach the Finals.
This season has been a stark contrast, with the team looking significantly worse. There is plenty of blame to go around, starting with GM Chris Drury, who failed to trade Jacob Trouba in the offseason, allowing that issue to carry over into the regular season. Additionally, no meaningful improvements were made to the roster. Many key players have also been underperforming, including Mika Zibanejad, Ryan Lindgren, K’Andre Miller, and, most notably, Trouba, who was traded to the Ducks on Friday.
Despite these issues, a significant portion of the blame must fall on Peter Laviolette.
My biggest issue with Peter Laviolette is the lack of accountability he is showing toward his players and the locker room. Mika Zibanejad has arguably been one of the worst players in the NHL this season, even without considering his $8.5 million contract and his role as the Rangers’ supposed number-one center. He consistently turns the puck over, plays a soft game, and does not forecheck aggressively.
In 28 games, Zibanejad has only 6 goals and 15 assists for 21 points, including just 3 goals and 6 assists for 9 points at 5-on-5. On top of his offensive struggles, he has been a liability defensively, reflected in his -14 plus/minus rating. His power-play production has also been disappointing, with just 2 goals so far this season. Despite these glaring issues, Laviolette refuses to hold Zibanejad accountable, not even benching him for a single shift. This lack of action allows Zibanejad to continue negatively impacting the team.
The same lack of accountability applies to other players, such as Ryan Lindgren and K’Andre Miller, who have both been awful defensively this year. Yet, Laviolette has not sat them for even one shift, perpetuating the team’s struggles.
Peter Laviolette is allowing poor play to continue unchecked, and as a result, the team's record is plummeting. He is letting star players get away with terrible performances, making the Rangers one of the worst teams in the league. Meanwhile, players like Will Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko, who have been consistent and effective all season, are being given less ice time. These young players deserve more opportunities, but Laviolette’s refusal to bench or even scratch struggling veterans is holding the team back.
Rewarding bad play while penalizing players who are performing well makes little sense. Scratching some of these underperforming players could potentially motivate them to improve and turn their seasons around. At any level of hockey, poor play should not be rewarded, yet Laviolette's lack of accountability is allowing this season to spiral out of control. If this trend continues, it may soon be too late to salvage the season, forcing General Manager Chris Drury and owner James Dolan to consider firing Laviolette.
The name on the back of the jersey or the size of a player’s paycheck should not determine their ice time. If a player is struggling, they need to be benched or scratched. Conversely, players who are performing well deserve increased ice time, whether at even strength or on special teams. Peter Laviolette’s tenure as the head coach of the New York Rangers is in jeopardy. Without immediate accountability and changes, the team risks missing the playoffs entirely come April.