To what extent may a coaching change have an impact?
The Rangers hope this one is a big one.
With a squad essentially identical from their first-round playoff exit the previous season, they are asking Peter Laviolette to lead them much further. The early results are positive, despite some initial cynicism regarding a coach coming off a poor three-year tenure in Washington and making his sixth NHL stint.
Laviolette’s more hands-on style and sophisticated playing system appear to be winning over players (and fans) compared to what we witnessed under former head coach Gerard Gallant. Early on, Captain Jacob Trouba expressed to reporters during training camp that Laviolette’s “energy,” “enthusiasm,” and “direction” are “good for us.”
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