Multiple NHL insiders confirm that former New York Rangers coach Peter Laviolette is in the running for the coaching vacancy with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Maple Leafs interviewed 15 candidates via Zoom, including Laviolette, in the initial phase of the process.
“I think I’m getting closer to confirming some of these names, but Laviolette is one I know they did by Zoom,” Friedman stated Wednesday on his 32 Thoughts podcast. “So, we’ll see about some of the others. But I heard there are about 15 … I don’t have a problem with that (the number). I assume they’re going to narrow it down soon.”
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Darren Dreger of TSN also confirmed that Laviolette interviewed with the Maple Leafs, and that recently-fired Islanders coach Patrick Roy did as well.
It figures that Laviolette is a hot commodity to fill a coaching vacancy this offseason. His 846 wins for six teams is seventh most in NHL history, and tops for a United States-born coach. He led the Carolina Hurricanes to their only Stanley Cup championship in 2006, and guided the Philadelphia Flyers (2010) and Nashville Predators (2017) to the Cup Final.
The 61-year-old took this past season off after the Rangers fired him at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. Laviolette guided the Rangers to franchise records for wins (55) and points (114), as well as the Presidents’ Trophy and a berth on the Eastern Conference Final in 2023-24. But what followed was a complete faceplant by the Rangers the following season, when they became the fourth team in NHL history to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs one year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy.
Of course, Laviolette doesn’t shoulder all the blame for New York’s collapse in 2024-25. And the Rangers actually were worse this past season under Mike Sullivan, finishing last in the Eastern Conference.
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Nonetheless, after a year off, Laviolette recently expressed desire to “get after it again” behind an NHL bench.
Former Rangers coach Laviolette believes Maple Leafs have ‘a lot to be excited about’
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Laviolette is an intriguing candidate for a veteran team expected to be far better than the Maple Leafs were in 2025-26. Just last week, Laviolette was asked by host E.J. Hradek on the Toronto Sports Rush about his understanding of what happened with the Maple Leafs this past season and if he has interest in taking that job.
“It would be totally wrong of me to sit here and tell you what went right in one year and what went wrong one year,” Laviolette said about the Maple Leafs success in 2024-25 and failure to reach the postseason in 2025-26.
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“But the same kind of thing happened to me two years ago and then the year after. We had a great team in New York, then lost to that Florida team in the Eastern Conference Final in six games … and then the next year wasn’t quite the same.”
The Maple Leafs pushed the Panthers to seven games in the second round of the 2025 playoffs after finishing first in the Atlantic Division with 108 points. Then this past season, they were last in their division, and one point ahead of the Rangers in the conference.
“All I can tell you is that under no circumstances does one thing absolutely guarantee another thing. A successful year and a successful run in the playoffs doesn’t even guarantee that you’ll make the playoffs the next year or that you’ll have that long run, or what people expect is that you’re going to go two steps further. Obviously, that’s the goal but that doesn’t always happen,” he explained.
As for his interest in the Toronto gig, Laviolette expressed interest in coaching in a Canadian market for the first time, and embraced the intensity and scrutiny of coaching the Maple Leafs with their fervent fan base. He also likes where the Maple Leafs sit heading into next season.
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“Certainly, they have good pieces in place. They got a pretty good pick (No. 1 overall) in the lottery this year, so that’s another piece coming to them,” Laviolette said. “I think they have good depth. It’s a great city, great market. There’s a lot to be excited about.”
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