It doesn't take a genius to know that the New York Rangers fanbase was happy to see former head coach Peter Laviolette go.
Laviolette was fired by the Rangers on April 19, 2025 after the team missed the postseason the very year after winning the Presidents' Trophy. He coached the Rangers for two seasons after being hired June 13, 2023 and finishing 94-59-11. Associate coach Phil Housley — also under Laviolette — was fired as well.
But what if things were different? What if in an alternate timeline, Laviolette wasn't fired?
Laviolette would've been fired anyway
While this is the week of "what if's" for FanSided, this is not a what if that would have occurred in any timeline.
Laviolette's replacement Mike Sullivan (as announced in May) and his new coaching staff are superior to Laviolette in every possible way.
Full statement from Chris Drury on firing Peter Laviolette and Phil Housley: https://t.co/RD8t6yhcXl pic.twitter.com/N5MJS6Kyog
— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) April 19, 2025
Drury himself even recognized that Laviolette fell short "across the board."
"Quite simply, we fell short across the board," Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury said on a conference call Saturday. "Nobody here takes it lightly. We know our fans are frustrated and they deserve a better season than this. It starts with me."
Sullivan spent four seasons (2009–10 through 2012–13) serving as an assistant coach behind the bench under John Tortorella. During this time, he also coached then–Ranger Chris Drury — who would later go on to sign off on his hiring as the President and General Manager of the New York Rangers franchise.
“I would like to welcome Mike back to the Rangers organization, said James L. Dolan, MSG Executive Chairman and CEO. “Mike’s track record and success in the NHL and internationally speaks for itself, and I look forward to seeing him behind the Rangers bench.”
One leg up this new coaching staff has — Sullivan, Joe Sacco, David Quinn, and Ty Hennes — compared to others' is that the majority of them already have experience with the Rangers' franchise and each other. And hopefully, next year it will show.