Exclusive Interview: Peter Laviolette Relieved To Have Parted Ways With The New York Rangers
Photo credit: Icon Sportswire
Head Coach Peter Laviolette was fired upon the conclusion of the 2024-25 NHL season by Chris Drury. We haven't heard from him in quite some time, as he made himself available for an interview with the Leafs Nation, and he thought being fired by the Rangers was a good thing.
Peter Laviolette was fired at the end of last season and hasn't put any thoughts of a return into his plans.
In fact, according to a recent interview, the former Rangers head coach has enjoyed the freedom his firing has allowed him in an interview with The Leafs Nation.
«It was actually a good thing to take a minute,» Laviolette told The Leafs Nation crew on Tuesday. «I just think when you've been in it that long - I think it's approaching 25 years of straight go - I don't think it's a bad thing to take a skip for a second and catch your breath. It allows you to re-set. It allows you to just rejuvenate, think about what you want to do, if you want to come back.»
Laviolette took the team to a Presidents' Trophy in 2023-24, and subsequently failed to capitalize on it, and wouldn't be able to make a deep run to the Stanley Cup.
A tale as old as time, for the fourth time in NHL history, to be exact.
Peter Laviolette Is Living His Best Life Without the New York Rangers
For Laviolette, who's been a coach in the league since the 2001-02 season, where he led the New York Islanders to a postseason run at 37, is enjoying his time off with his family.
«just cool stuff I haven't had the chance to.»
That includes attending a pair of weddings that he would've skipped if still tethered to the NHL schedule. And traveling to Scotland with his family to watch his daughter's boyfriend, a professional golfer from Australia, play the historic St. Andrews course.
That includes attending a pair of weddings that he would've skipped if still tethered to the NHL schedule. And traveling to Scotland with his family to watch his daughter's boyfriend, a professional golfer from Australia, play the historic St. Andrews course.
The former Rangers coach looks quite different after his exit from the Rangers. On the video with Leafs Nation, he's sporting a trimmed beard and is living in Florida. He's taken to the gym and looks tanned and fit, according to Jim Cerny of Foreverblueshirts.
In a bit of irony, during the interview, he did admit he still watches Rangers games, as he may still have a bit of a connection to the team, although unadmittedly.
He also follows the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins, with Dan Muse assuming the role in Pittsburgh and Michael Peca serving in Chicago as an assistant.
Previously on NY Rangers Insider
