NY Rangers Rumors: 3 Names To Watch for Laviolette Replacement at Head Coach

The New York Rangers went from Presidents' Trophy winners in 2024 with the best record in the NHL, to playoff also-rans this year, missing the dance entirely. Head coach Peter Laviolette paid the price, and a number of names have quickly emerged as potential replacements behind the Blueshirts' bench.

They range from an established veteran coach to a couple who would be first-timers leading at the NHL level.

Rick Tocchet

"I would keep Tocchet towards the top of the Rangers list," said insider Frank Seravalli on the DFO Live podcast this past week. He says if the Vancouver Canucks don't get a deal done with him—and that situation is expected to be resolved fairly quickly—he sees the Rangers certainly being interested in a coach like Tocchet. It should be noted that the Canucks seems to have decided that they want to make Tocchet a very rich man, but whether the 61-year-old coach wants to be that in Vancouver remains to be seen.

Michael Peca

"I think there's a chance that someone in the organization could get a good look," said DFO Live's Jonny Lazarus of Peca. The players seem to really like (him), and he's done a good job in his role." The 51-year-old Peca, who played 14 seasons in the NHL, has been an assistant coach with the Rangers for the past two years.

David Carle

This is the one name that can't be avoided for any head coaching opening in the NHL this offseason. The University of Denver's two-time NCAA champion bench boss will be seriously in demand if he decides to move to the pros, and the Rangers would certainly be in on him if that's the case.

Other names that have been thrown into the mix by some as possibilities include Mike Sullivan and Joel Quenneville.