Peter Laviolette facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Peter Laviolette |
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Laviolette in 2014
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| Born | December 7, 1964 Franklin, Massachusetts, U.S. |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb) | ||
| Position | Defense | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | New York Rangers | ||
| Current NHL coach | New York Rangers | ||
| Coached for | New York Islanders Carolina Hurricanes Philadelphia Flyers Nashville Predators Washington Capitals |
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| National team |  United States |
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| NHL Draft | Undrafted | ||
| Playing career | 1986–1997 | ||
| Coaching career | 1997–present | ||
Peter Philip Laviolette Jr. (born December 7, 1964) is an American professional ice hockey coach and former player. He is currently the head coach for the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League (NHL). Peter Laviolette was not chosen by any NHL team in the draft, but he still played 12 games for the Rangers during the 1988–89 season.
After his playing career, Laviolette became a coach. He has coached many NHL teams, including the New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators, and Washington Capitals. He led the Carolina Hurricanes to win the Stanley Cup in 2006. He also coached the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2010 and the Predators in 2017. Laviolette is one of only four coaches in NHL history to lead three different teams to the Stanley Cup Finals.
On October 13, 2021, Laviolette won his 647th game as an NHL head coach. This made him the winningest American-born head coach in the league's history, passing John Tortorella. In February 2022, he reached 700 wins, becoming the 10th coach in NHL history to do so. By March 2024, he had recorded 800 wins, making him the eighth coach to reach this milestone.
Laviolette was born in Franklin, Massachusetts. He went to Franklin High School, where he played both baseball and ice hockey. He later played college ice hockey at Westfield State College in Westfield, Massachusetts.
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Playing Career: Peter Laviolette as a Player
As a player, Peter Laviolette spent most of his 10-year career playing for smaller minor league teams. He played only 12 games in the NHL for the New York Rangers during the 1988–89 season. He did not score any points in those games. Laviolette also played for the United States Olympic team twice, in 1988 and 1994.
Coaching Career: Peter Laviolette's Journey as a Coach
Peter Laviolette started his coaching career with the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers. In his first season, he led the team to a 37–24–9 record and a spot in the playoffs. They made it to the third round. After Wheeling, he became the head coach for the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League (AHL).
In the 1998–99 season, he coached the Providence Bruins to an amazing 56–15–4 record. In the playoffs, his team won the AHL Calder Cup Championship with a 15–4 playoff record. Because of his success, Laviolette was named the AHL Coach of the Year.
Laviolette's success in the AHL led him to become an assistant coach for the Boston Bruins. He grew up near Boston, so he was hoping to become the head coach there. When he didn't get the job, he left to coach the New York Islanders.
New York Islanders: First NHL Coaching Job
Laviolette became the head coach of the New York Islanders in 2001. The Islanders had not made the playoffs for seven years before he arrived. He led them to the playoffs in both seasons he coached there.
In his first season, the Islanders earned 96 points. They almost won their division but lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games. The next season, the Islanders just barely made it into the playoffs. They then lost in five games to the Ottawa Senators in the first round. On June 3, 2003, the team's general manager, Mike Milbury, fired him.
Carolina Hurricanes: Stanley Cup Glory
Laviolette joined the Carolina Hurricanes as head coach during the 2003–04 season. He took over after Paul Maurice was fired. In his first season, he coached 52 games during a rebuilding year for the team.
In his second year, Laviolette led the Hurricanes to a fantastic regular season. They won the Southeast Division with 112 points (52 wins, 22 losses, 8 overtime losses). He also coached the U.S. Olympic men's hockey team at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.
The Hurricanes won their first Stanley Cup championship in team history during the 2006 playoffs. They won two very close playoff series, each going to seven games, against the Buffalo Sabres and the Edmonton Oilers. Laviolette was the fourth American-born coach to win the Stanley Cup. He was also a close runner-up for the Jack Adams Award for the NHL's Coach of the Year.
After winning the Stanley Cup, Laviolette's Hurricanes had a tough 2006–07 season with many injuries. The team finished with a disappointing 40–34–8 record. The next season, the team started slowly but held first place in their division for most of the year. However, the Washington Capitals played very well in the final weeks. Carolina lost several games late in the season, and Laviolette's team missed the playoffs.
On November 7, 2008, Laviolette earned his 240th victory. This made him the winningest American-born coach in the NHL at that time. However, John Tortorella later passed this record in 2009. Laviolette regained the lead in 2021 while coaching the Washington Capitals. On December 3, 2008, Laviolette was fired as the Hurricanes' coach. His predecessor, Paul Maurice, replaced him.
Philadelphia Flyers: Another Finals Appearance
On December 4, 2009, Laviolette took over as head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers barely made it into the playoffs thanks to a shootout win against their rival New York Rangers.
Laviolette's Flyers then made history. They became only the third NHL team to come back from being down 3–0 in a series. They defeated the Boston Bruins 4–3 in Game 7 to reach the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals. On May 24, 2010, Laviolette led the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Flyers lost the Finals in six games, with Chicago winning the Cup in overtime on June 9.
On April 1, 2012, during a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Laviolette had a heated exchange with the Penguins' head coach Dan Bylsma. This happened after a Penguins player hit a Flyers player late in the game. Laviolette swung his stick against the boards, breaking it. He continued to argue with Bylsma and assistant coach Tony Granato.
The HBO series 24/7: Flyers/Rangers showed fans what it was like inside the Flyers locker room. Many of Laviolette's sayings became popular, like, "We need to start playing with some jam," and, "It's about as casual as it gets." Laviolette even made a video for the Flyers' Fan Appreciation Game, thanking fans for "bringing more jam than any other city in sports." For a playoff game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Flyers gave away orange shirts to fans. These shirts featured an angry picture of Laviolette and the phrase, "Time for some JAM!!"
After starting the 2013–14 season with three losses, Laviolette was fired on October 7, 2013. Assistant coach Craig Berube replaced him.
Nashville Predators: Third Trip to the Finals
On May 6, 2014, Laviolette was hired to be the head coach of the Nashville Predators. He was only the second head coach in the team's history, replacing Barry Trotz, who had coached for 15 years. Laviolette and his Nashville staff were chosen to coach one of the teams in the 2015 NHL All-Star Game. This was because the Predators had the best points percentage in the NHL by January 8, 2015.
Laviolette led the Predators to a team record of nine home wins in a row. This happened with a 4–3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 4, 2015. During the 2015-16 season, Laviolette guided the Predators to a new team record of a 14-game point streak. The team made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs but lost to the San Jose Sharks in the second round.
In 2017, the Predators again made the playoffs as the second wild card team with 94 points. In the first round, the team swept the Chicago Blackhawks 4–0. This was the first time an eighth-seed team swept a top-seed team in the conference in NHL history. In the second round, the Predators beat the St. Louis Blues in six games. This was the first time the team reached the Western Conference Finals.
On May 16, the Predators beat the Anaheim Ducks in game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. They became the first team in 20 years to win 10 straight home games in the postseason. On May 22, 2017, Laviolette led the Predators to the team's first Western Conference Championship. They beat the Ducks 6–3 to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.
After falling behind 2–0 to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Predators tied the series at 2–2 by winning games 3 and 4 at home. Returning to Pittsburgh, the Predators lost 6–0. They were then eliminated at home 2–0 in game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals on June 11, 2017. Laviolette was fired by the Predators on January 6, 2020. At that time, the team was in sixth place in their division with a record of 19 wins, 15 losses, and 7 overtime losses.
Washington Capitals: A New Challenge
On September 15, 2020, Peter Laviolette was named head coach of the Washington Capitals. He replaced Todd Reirden, who had recently been fired. On April 14, 2023, Laviolette and the Capitals decided to part ways. This happened after the team missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2013–14 season.
New York Rangers: Current Role
On June 13, 2023, the New York Rangers hired Laviolette as their head coach. He replaced Gerard Gallant. In his first year, Laviolette led the Rangers to a 55–23–4 record. They won the Presidents' Trophy, which is given to the team with the best regular season record. He also became the first head coach in NHL history to guide six different teams to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
International Coaching
On February 26, 2020, Laviolette was named head coach of the United States men's national team.
Personal Life: Peter Laviolette's Family
Peter Laviolette and his wife Kristen have two sons and one daughter. Laviolette's oldest son, Peter Laviolette III, plays for the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers. This is the same team where Peter Laviolette Sr. began his coaching career. Peter Laviolette III was born when his father was coaching the Nailers.
Images for kids
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Laviolette in 2014
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Laviolette coaching the Philadelphia Flyers in April 2012
