The National Hockey League (NHL) has seen some significant coaching changes in the past few weeks, with two major announcements coming from the New York Rangers and the Calgary Flames. Peter Laviolette has been hired as the new head coach for the Rangers, while Ryan Huska has been promoted to head coach for the Flames.
Peter Laviolette is a seasoned NHL coach with over 18 years of experience. He has previously coached the Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators, and Washington Capitals. Laviolette has an impressive record, having led his teams to the playoffs nine times and winning the Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006.
Laviolette’s hiring comes after the Rangers fired their previous head coach, David Quinn, following a disappointing season. The Rangers finished fifth in the East Division and missed out on the playoffs. The team’s management is hoping that Laviolette’s experience and winning mentality will help turn things around.
In a statement, Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury said, “We are excited to have Peter as the new head coach of the New York Rangers. He is a proven winner who brings a wealth of experience and leadership to our team. We believe he is the right person to lead us back to where we want to be.”
Meanwhile, in Calgary, Ryan Huska has been promoted from his previous role as an assistant coach to head coach. Huska has been with the Flames organization for six years and has also coached in the American Hockey League (AHL) and Western Hockey League (WHL).
Huska’s promotion comes after the Flames fired their previous head coach, Geoff Ward, midway through the season. The team’s management is hoping that Huska’s familiarity with the players and his experience coaching at different levels will help bring stability to the team.
In a statement, Flames General Manager Brad Treliving said, “Ryan is a talented coach who has worked hard to earn this opportunity. He has a great rapport with our players and has shown a strong ability to develop young talent. We believe he is the right person to lead our team forward.”
The NHL coaching carousel is always in motion, and these two announcements are just the latest in a series of changes across the league. As the offseason approaches, it will be interesting to see what other moves teams make as they look to improve their fortunes for next season.
