I will be the first to admit that I was less than thrilled when the New York Rangers settled on a retread head coach in Peter Laviolette this past offseason. I was looking for a younger, less experienced candidate to provide a fresh perspective.
Fast-forward to the present, and it appears that Laviolette is just what the Rangers have needed. Yes, it’s only been eight games, and the great vibes from this honeymoon period will likely fade to an extent over time. But the early returns are very promising.
While Saturday night’s 4-3 overtime victory in Vancouver was not the Rangers’ best effort — they largely reverted to the familiar formula of potent power play plus Igor Shesterkin — they’ve shown enough across other games to create a great deal of optimism.