Top 3 NY Rangers head coach replacements if Peter Laviolette gets fired as hinted in Larry Brooks' shocking column feat. Joel Quenneville

The NY Rangers could be the next team to fire its head coach, NY Post columnist Larry Brooks believes. With the Rangers in a tailspin, Brooks states that Peter Laviolette’s job is on the line.

In a column posted on December 29, Brooks discussed how the NY Rangers have quit on Laviolette. The team’s current three-game losing streak and 2-8-0 record in their last 10 have raised plenty of questions regarding a coaching change in New York.

Brooks referred to the timing of the coaching change, stating:

“It is only a matter of time, whether it is this week, next month, or the moment the season ends.”

However, Brooks does not point the finger at Laviolette for the NY Rangers’ flaws. Brooks squarely pins the blame on the following culprits:

“It’s the core.”

By “the core,” Brooks refers to Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin, Adam Fox, Igor Shesterkin, and the missing Mika Zibanejad.

GM Chris Drury has already shipped out former captain Jacob Trouba in a desperate attempt to shake things up. He extended Shesterkin and flipped the much-maligned Kaapo Kakko to Seattle. Unless Drury goes all-in on a ten-player deal, his only option is a coaching change.

If that’s the case, here are three NY Rangers coaching replacements the team should consider if Peter Laviolette gets the heave-ho.

Top 3 NY Rangers head coach replacements should Peter Laviolette get fired

#3 Jay Woodcroft

A coaching change for the NY Rangers would likely mean an in-season change. If that’s the case, the Blue Shirts will need someone who can step in almost immediately. That could be Jay Woodcroft. His last role was as an assistant with Team Canada during last spring’s World Championship.

However, Woodcroft’s resume includes coaching the Edmonton Oilers, plus serving as an assistant with the Detroit Red Wings.

Woodcroft is a young coach who could revolutionize the Rangers’ system, communicating with players at a completely different level. That could be something Drury and the Rangers’ brass may want to consider.

#2 Bruce Boudreau

Boudreau is the opposite of Woodcroft. He’s one of the most tenured coaches in the league with a track record of old-school hockey. Boudreau would provide credibility behind the bench while putting core players on the spot for their lack of accountability.

While Boudreau is on the older side, he could help transition the team into a different phase where a younger coach, like Woodcroft or perhaps Dallas Eakins, could take over long-term.

#1 Joel Quenneville

Quenneville is arguably the most interesting coaching option out there. He’s a tenured coach with a track record of success. His three Stanley Cups in Chicago, scandal notwithstanding, are a testament to his effectiveness behind the bench.

He’s older, but not too old to where he couldn’t become a long-term solution for the NY Rangers. During his last coaching stint in Florida, the team played well. However, his tenure was cut short, allowing Paul Maurice to guide the Cats to a championship.

Still, Quenneville could jump in mid-season and potentially lead a turnaround that could help the Rangers escape the cellar in the Metro Division.