Kings head coach Peter Laviolette is set to return to Madison Square Garden for the first time since being fired by the New York Rangers in April 2025. The time away from the NHL was the longest he had experienced since a lockout season, during which he traveled to Scotland, visited St. Andrews, and spent time with his family, watching his son play in his final East Coast Hockey League season.
Reflecting on his tenure with the Rangers, Laviolette described it as a "tale of two years." The first season saw the team achieve the most wins and points in franchise history, reaching the conference final before losing in Game 6. "It was disappointing not to win a couple more games and get that chance to play for the Cup," Laviolette said. "But, overall, looking back at that year, it was a year that was really good. It was something that I’ll remember being here in New York."
The second season, however, was markedly different. "Obviously, the second year was not as smooth and had problems inside of it," he stated, referring to the team missing the playoffs after their previous success.
The Los Angeles Kings hired Laviolette in June, following his departure from New York. His move to the West Coast reunited him with Artemi Panarin, who had decided to play in Los Angeles after being informed by Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury that he would not be re-signed. Drury subsequently traded Panarin to the Kings in exchange for prospect Liam Greentree and a conditional 2026 third-round pick.
Additionally, former Rangers associate coach Phil Housley joined Laviolette in Los Angeles. Defenseman Erik Gustafsson, who previously played under Laviolette, also signed a one-year deal with the Kings.
Laviolette expressed his fondness for his time in New York, citing the passionate fanbase and the historic nature of the franchise. "I really enjoyed being here," he said. "I love being at Madison Square Garden. I mean, the New York fans were just awesome." He recalled instances of fans approaching him nationwide, emphasizing their deep connection to the team. "They talk about the history of how their grandfather took them to a game like 50 years ago, and they’re 60 years old and now they’re taking their grandkids. Because it’s been around for 100 years, you get stories like that."
He added, "You can feel the passion from the people and the fans, and it’s pretty cool to be in a city like this. It’s one of the greatest cities in the country. It’s a huge sports market. It’s Madison Square Garden. It’s the New York Rangers. There was a lot of things that I loved about being here and part of New York."
