NHL: New York Rangers at Ottawa Senators - Source: Imagn — Sean Avery makes shocking announcement amid NY Rangers' head coach change rumor

Sean Avery makes shocking announcement amid NY Rangers' head coach change rumor

Modified Dec 22, 2024 13:18 GMT

There are rumors that the New York Rangers are considering a head coaching change as they continue to lose games. They have been barely above .500 this year, a far cry from the level of play they exhibited just one year ago when they made a deep playoff run.

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Sean Avery, a former player for the organization, has reportedly put his name into consideration should the organization decide to move on from Peter Laviolette. He said:

"I have put my name in the hat officially for the head coach position of the New York Rangers. I have my staff already contacted. We've worked out everything, responsibilities... I'm actually thinking about having a co-head coach with Steve Ott."

The team won last time out, but before that had lost three in a row. It lost six of its last nine games. It also has a date with the red-hot Carolina Hurricanes next, so the losses may not end just yet.

If the same trend continues for the shockingly sixth-placed New York, it may have to make that coaching change. However, it's unclear if it would hire Avery since he's not currently working in the NHL. The Rangers would likely go to an interim currently on the staff in that case, but the former player has at least expressed his interest.

NHL analyst buries NY Rangers' playoff chances

The New York Rangers have already begun making changes. They traded former first-round pick Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken for Will Borgen and two picks. There could be more moves on the way.

Elliotte Friedman, one of the top NHL insiders, believes the team could do something drastic, but he isn't sure it will matter in the end. On the 32 Thoughts podcast, he said via Athlon Sports

“I think overall, they’re looking to take a big swing at something—a very big swing. And, you know, one of the shocking things is that it looks almost impossible for them to get into the playoffs through their division.”

They are in sixth, and they're looking up at a lot of good teams and some shocking names. The Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, and New Jersey Devils are all ahead of them in the Metropolitan Division.