Why Jessica Campbell deserves an interview to replace Peter Laviolette

With Peter Laviolette officially out as head coach of the New York Rangers, names of potential replacements candidates have been swirling.

Names such as Mike Sullivan, John Tortorella, David Carle and even Rick Tocchet have been placed on various lists as possible replacements. One other name — and one that isn't getting the attention it deserves — is Jessica Campbell.

Campbell made sports history as becoming the first woman to work full-time behind an NHL bench as an assistant coach. A former ice hockey player herself, Campbell had a career at the Ivy League's Cornell University — putting up 100 points across four seasons and captaining her squad in her final year. She also won a Clarkson Cup in 2016 in the now defunct CWHL, and played for Canada's national team, which included a silver-medal finish at the 2015 World Championships

So you might be asking, why should she come to the Rangers franchise? Well the answer is simple: the female playcaller already has a history with the Blueshirts.

In 2022, Campbell joined the Rangers' 2022 Development Camp as a coach, becoming the first woman in the history of the Original Six franchises to serve in such a role.

The Rocanville, Saskatchewan native also joined Germany's coaching staff at the Men's World Championship that same spring.

As the lone female coach in the league, Campbell often goes the extra mile to prove herself to certain doubters. She’ll sometimes sit “for hours” with Bylsma in pursuit of more knowledge about coaching and the game.

"You're going to have to put in that extra mile. You're going to have to go the longer route to get somewhere."

Jessica Campbell

July 3, 2024 marked a major career milestone for Campbell. She was named an assistant coach of the Seattle Kraken under head coach Dan Bylsma making Campbell the first woman to work full-time behind an NHL bench as a coach. The move came two years after the Kraken's AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, hired Campbell as an assistant coach.

Under her direction, Coachella Valley’s power play was ranked 14th (20.3 percent) in the AHL in 2022-23 and 14th again the following year (18.4 percent).

And proven herself Campbell has. The Kraken players clearly both respect and listen to her. Her coaching moniker is surrounded by the three L's — listen, lift, and love the player.

This is because she believes that when you build a respect and rapport by just sitting with the player and you address the human first and foremost, more trust and respect is built.

So why should she be considered for an interview to replace Laviolette? Well, to keep it simple, the Rangers need a big change. Laviolette was fired because the Rangers spiraled to missing the postseason the year after winning the Presidents' Trophy and a disastrous 4-15-0 record tallied in November and December under his charge.

Laviolette himself also admitted that he did not have an interactive coaching style with his players.

"I don't have a message right now. I don't go into the locker room after the game," Laviolette previously said. 

So a coach who regularly communicates with their players is something new for the Rangers, unfortunately for them. And since that's what Campbell's coaching style is based on, why should she not be considered for at least an interview?

After all, once her affiliation with the Rangers was made official in 2022, Campbell said, "my sister said to me the other day, 'Isn't it so funny that it's New York, of all teams, where it's going to begin for you? Just because you've always loved that city and had a soft spot for [the Rangers]."

"I believed I could do it....with that inner belief, whatever it is, in sport, in life, you can create whatever you believe in."

Jessica Campbell

After helping run the Kraken's power play with Bob Woods, becoming the first woman to coach at the men's world championships and now the first female coach in the NHL — Campbell has certainly earned at the very least an interview with Rangers' President and General Manager Chris Drury.