The New York Rangers have a new head coach in Peter Laviolette. Here are three free agents with links to the coach that the team can sign.
The New York Rangers were supposed to make a run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season, after making a run to the Eastern Conference Finals the year prior. The team added big-name players like Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane at the trade deadline in hopes of lifting the cup for the first time since 1994. But after blowing out the rival New Jersey Devils in the first two games of their first-round series, the Rangers essentially no-showed the next four games and were eliminated.
Head coach Gerard Gallant was the fall guy for the underperforming team. With that, the team began a month-long search. Instead of going for a splashy hire, they went with a "safe pick" in Peter Laviolette. While he does have a Stanley Cup title to his credit, that came back in 2006. He has been on five different teams and was fired by the Washington Capitals back in April.
It's not the hire that is going to excite Rangers fans, especially as the team essentially waited to see if Mike Sullivan or Sheldon Keefe were available, but he was the most experienced option available. With the veteran players on the roster, general manager Chris Drury decided that Laviolette would be the best option.
As is the case in any sport, a new head coach will likely bring in their former players to help implement their system. Here are three free agents the Rangers can sign who have ties with Laviolette.
NHL Rumors: 3 free agents with Peter Laviolette ties Rangers can sign, No. 3: Garnet Hathaway, W
The Rangers brought in the likes of Kane and Tarasenko this season, both top wingers on the team upon their arrival. Now, both are free agents. Kane is recovering from hip surgery, while Tarasenko is one of the top free agents in the entire league. With a little over $11 million in cap space and needing to sign restricted free agents Alexis Lafreniere and defensive K'Andre Miller, the Rangers won't be shopping at the top of the free agency list.
Given the need at wing, it would make sense for the team to bring in some cheaper options with links to Laviolette. Garnet Hathaway is one of them.
Hathaway was with the Capitals since before Laviolette arrived in 2020, and has nearly three years of knowledge in his system. That was until he was dealt to the Boston Bruins this past season. While Hathaway doesn't put many points on the board, he knows how to get under the opposition's skin, which would be a plus for the Rangers, who don't have many fighters on the roster.
In his time with Laviolette, Hathaway scored 29 goals and dished out 29 assists in 191 games played.
Hathaway would be a solid get for the Rangers as a bottom-six winger.
NHL Rumors: 3 free agents with Peter Laviolette ties Rangers can sign, No. 2: Dmitry Orlov, D
New York's defense is pretty stacked, led by Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox and team captain Jacob Trouba. Not to mention they have a potential franchise superstar in K'Andre Miller that they need to re-sign on a contract extension. But, as evidenced in their playoff series against the New Jersey Devils, the defense still needs some work. Not to mention, while Ryan Lindgren has played great for them, he gets injured a lot and the team looks lost without him.
When looking at former defensemen that played under Laviolette, the one name that stands out is Dmitry Orlov.
Orlov had been with the Capitals long before Laviolette arrived, being their 55th overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft. He made his debut with the team in 2011 and was part of their Stanley Cup championship team in 2018.
In his three seasons with Laviolette as his head coach, Orlov recorded 23 goals, 53 assists, 76 points, and a plus/minus of 43. But midway through this past season, he was dealt to the Boston Bruins.
Orlov would be the most expensive ex-Laviolette player the Rangers could pursue this offseason. But he should be a player they at least explore adding, even if it means trying to find ways to clear up cap space to fit him.
NHL Rumors: 3 free agents with Peter Laviolette ties Rangers can sign, No. 1: Conor Sheary, W
Again, the Rangers need to address the winger position this offseason. Tarasenko and Kane are likely to be gone, so here's what their depth looks like:
- Left Wing: Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin, Alexis Lafrienere, Jimmy Vesey
- Right Wing: Kaapo Kakko
As you can see, the team needs to add some players to fill out the depth with not only Tarasenko and Kane hitting free agency, but also Tyler Motte. When looking at the former wingers that played for Laviolette, Conor Sheary is probably the top option available.
Sheary knows the Metropolitan Division, well before joining the Capitals in 2020. He started his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015 and won the Stanley Cup in each of his first two seasons. He was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in 2018 before rejoining Pittsburgh during the 2019-20 campaign.
Later in 2020, Sheary signed a one-year contract with the Capitals. In 53 games, Sheary scored 14 goals and dished out eight assists. Before the end of that first season, the winger signed a two-year contract extension with the team.
In the 2021-22 campaign, Sheary put up 19 goals and 24 assists in 71 games while recording 15 goals and 22 assists in 82 games this past season.
The Rangers need to fill out their depth chart because it's not a given that either Tarasenko or Kane could make a return with the team's current cap situation. Adding Sheary would be a solid addition.
