Rangers hire former Sabres HC as assistant coach

Housley began his coaching career as an assistant coach for the Predators in the 2013-14 season. He spent seasons there, including two alongside Laviolette. The former long-time NHL defenseman got his first head coaching gig for in 2017-18 with the Buffalo Sabres. In the first season, they finished with a record of 25-45-12 and 16 points below the year before.

In his second season in Buffalo, the team finished with a 33-39-10 record, a 14-point increase but not enough for Housley to keep his job. The 2018-19 Sabres included Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, Jeff Skinner, Rasmus Dahlin, and Rasmus Ristolainen but couldn’t find a way out of the NHL’s basement. He most recently worked for the Arizona Coyotes as an assistant for Andre Tourigny.

Housley played in the NHL for over 20 years for the Sabres, Winnipeg Jets, St. Louis Blues, New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, and Toronto Maple Leafs. He played 1,495 games in the NHL which ranks 23rd all-time in games played. He ranks fourth all-time among defensemen in goals and points with 338 and 1,232, respectively.

The Rangers are trying to turn the vibe around in New York. They decided to bring in a guy like Laviolette who has more than 20 years of NHL coaching experience and a Stanley Cup championship, which he won with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2005-06.

The Rangers have a very good team on paper in all positions but something didn’t quite mesh this season as they lost to the New Jersey Devils in seven games in the first round of the playoffs. Laviolette and Housley will aim to bring the Stanley Cup back to New York for the first time since 1994.