Second-year Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette said he's not looking to reinvent the wheel when it comes to planning to prepare his team for the 2024-25 season.
Why would he do that, coming off a season that saw him win the most games in the NHL and the Presidents Trophy?
The numbers and accolades Laviolette has received in his first season behind the Blueshirts bench show the veteran coach is sticking to his philosophy.
“To be honest, we [winning the Presidents’ Trophy]”It wasn't written on a board. The goal was always to have good days, focus on winning, try to get better and try to get better as we move forward,” he said during his preseason press conference with reporters in Tarrytown on Wednesday.
“You try to win as many hockey games as you can, but on a short-term basis of attacking each day and making the most of each day. That doesn't change anything. It would be great if we could win as many games or even more, but there are 31 other teams that have a say in that. Sometimes I think it's best to just take it back and keep it really simple and focus on what you do day-to-day.”
“Just more short term, setting some short term goals and not just going for one game, but multiple games. We'll do that in our room. It helps us stay focused on what we're doing in what could be a very long year.”
Only six teams have ever won consecutive Presidents Trophies: the Flames, Stars, Red Wings, Oilers, Canucks and Capitals.
Three of those clubs, Edmonton, Calgary and Dallas, won the Stanley Cup along with the Presidents Trophy for the second consecutive year.
“Every team wants to believe there's a next step, but there isn't always a next step,” said Laviolette, who won his only Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006. “I think it's really important for us to focus on team development, on working hard every day, and we did that really well last year.”
“But it's a new year, a new team. This team now just needs to focus on working hard every day. If we work hard enough throughout the season, we can build our game and gain confidence to get to the playoffs and have some success.”
Laviolette said he expects rookie Riley Smith, whom the Rangers acquired from the Penguins in July, to play the top right wing role.
“He's a really good addition and a really good guy for us to add to our team,” he said of Smith. “A guy that's proven to be successful and winning in the offensive line and in the top nine. I think anytime you can have a guy like him in the lineup, it's a real plus. Training camp is about to start, so he'll be a hot topic there, but it's also training camp, so you don't want to lock guys out or lock things out on the first day.”
