The New York Rangers hired Peter Laviolette as their head coach in mid-June this off-season (it took a little too long in my opinion) and he brings a style that took his teams to THREE Stanley Cup Finals. His 2006 Carolina Hurricanes brought home the Stanley Cup, but what's not mentioned is the prosperity most of his players experience during his tenure. Plenty of players peaked in their careers under the watchful eye of the winningest American born coach, but here's a few players that should send Laviolette a thank you card every year.
Shawn Bates (LW, New York Islanders 2001-03): After 135 games with the Boston Bruins, Shawn Bates arrived on Long Island with something to prove. The 6 foot speedy winger had yet to harness his abilities in the NHL. He scored 14 goals in his 4 years with the Bruins. Enter Laviolette's influence were Bates EXPLODED with 17 goals, 35 assists for 52 points in his first season at Nassau Coliseum - obliterating his career totals. His greatest moment came in Game 4 vs the Maple Leafs, where he was tripped by former Isles Captain Bryan McCabe. He was awarded a penalty shot that gave the Islanders the lead and nearly knocked the roof off Nassau Coliseum. Bates would score 13 goals and 29 assists the next season, but after Laviolette was relieved of Coaching duties following the 2003 season.
Bates would score 15 goals in one of his next 4 years with the Islanders, but he'd never eclipse 40 points once Laviolette was gone.
Adrian Aucoin (Defenseman, New York Islanders 2001-03): In previous stops in Vancouver and Tampa, defenseman Adrian Aucoin put up good numbers but not great numbers. Sure, he'd score 34 points 1999-00 season, but he had a minus -14 on top of it. Then he came to the Island under Laviolette and Aucoin improved greatly in all areas. His first season saw the Ottawa native notch 12 goals, 22 assists, 34 points with a plus 23 on it. He was so impressive that he received Norris Trophy votes; more than Hall of Famers Brian Leetch and Scott Stevens. That's pretty high praise for Aucoin, who would turn in a good season in 02-03, but unlike Bates, Aucoin would continue to succeed after he was gone, finishing 5th in Norris Voting in 2004.
Erik Cole (left wing, Carolina Hurricanes 2003-09): In his first 3 seasons in Carolina, Erik Cole was okay. 48 goals in 214 games isn't bad, but a change from Paul Maurice to Peter Laviolette, Cole began producing at a MUCH BETTER rate. His first 30 goal season came in the Stanley Cup winning 2005-06 season. Pair that with 29 assists and Cole broke through the 50 point plateau for the first time, but then the 60 point plateau the next season as Cole would score 29 goals, 32 assists for 61 points (career high). Cole would score 22 goals and 29 assists in Laviolette's final full season (08-09) with the Canes.
Eric Staal (Center, Carolina Hurricanes 2003-09): Selected 2nd overall in the much talked about 2003 NHL Draft, Eric Staal was poised for stardom. The kid from Thunder Bay, Ontario impressed a little in his first full season in 2003-04, but his second season (albeit after the lockout season), Eric Staal bursted onto the scene. His 45 goals and 55 assists were incredible; enough to make him 4th in Hart trophy voting for the NHL's Most Valuable Player. While Staal would still be a pretty good player under Laviolette, he would never approach these numbers again in his NHL career.
Claude Giroux (Center, Philadelphia Flyers 2009-2013): Eric Staal wasn't the only young center Laviolette would mold into a great player pretty quickly. Taking over a team for the second time in his career, Laviolette would step behind the bench of the Philadelphia Flyers and Giroux would have his best season. After a 76 point season in 2010-11, the 3rd year Ontario center turned in a 28 goal, 65 assist, 93 point season. As seen on the 2nd season HBO 24/7 series, Giroux displayed his dominance that season -even after suffering a concussion during the four week series. It displayed the Laviolette influence on the Flyers while showcasing Giroux's rise to stardom and if that wasn't enough, the 2012 first round of the playoffs was Giroux's coming out party. In the series against the Sidney Crosby and Pittsburgh Penguins, Giroux deposited 6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points with a +6 rating overshadowing the former MVP. Giroux's efforts that season would net him enough Hart trophy (MVP) votes to finish 4th. Yeah, it's not even a bronze medal, but he finished behind Henrik Lundqvist's Astonishing Vezina Trophy season, 60 goal scorer Steven Stamkos and Evgeni Malkin 109 point season in the absence of Sidney Crosby. Giroux would get his first 100 point season in 17-18, but that was nowhere near the mastery he displayed under Peter Laviolette.
Viktor Arvidsson (LW, Nashville Predators 2014-20): In Laviolette's first season in Arvidsson appeared in 6 games. His 2nd season netted 16 points in 56 games. Then the 3rd year Swedish winger broke out in a big way. In 2016-17, multiplying his point total nearly 4 times, Arvidsson would score 31 goals, 30 assists, 61 points (team leading), made the All Star team and received some Selke consideration. He scored 3 goals and 10 assists in 22 game playoff games that year en route to the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals. Even though they'd fall to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Arvidsson-led Predators went further than anyone thought they could and put Music City in the center of the hockey world. Arvidsson would repeat his 61 point season the next year and score 34 goals in the 2018-19 season. While he'd resurrect his career in LA, his career best numbers came under Peter Laviolette.
So will the New York Rangers see a similar bump in production with the Norwood native in charge? Certainly. Who? The Rangers have plenty of candidates. Could it be their former 1st or 2nd overall picks in Kakko and Lafreniere? Mika Zibanejad ascending to the top top the NHL Most Valuable Players? Or can he finally squeeze the full potential out of Artemi Panarin when it comes to the playoffs? Beginning this October, we'll see who answers the call.
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