New York Rangers Hire 14-Year NHL Veteran

Former NHL player, Mike Peca, with a successful career spanning 14 seasons, is set to join the coaching staff of the New York Rangers under head coach Peter Laviolette.

Reports indicate that Peca, who has been serving as an assistant coach for the Rochester Americans in the AHL, will bring his wealth of experience and knowledge to the Rangers' bench.

Mike Peca will be joining Peter Laviolette on the bench with the New York Rangers.

— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) June 20, 2023

This reunion with Laviolette marks 22 years since their collaboration with the New York Islanders, where Laviolette coached and Peca played as a key player.

Their partnership played a significant role in the Islanders' resurgence, leading them to their first playoff appearance in several years.

Peca's coaching tenure with the Rochester Americans and his previous role as a player development coach for the Washington Capitals have provided him with valuable experience in working with young talent.

The Rangers hope that Peca's presence will contribute to the development of their promising players such as Kaapo Kakko, Alexis Lafreniere, as well as upcoming prospects like Brennan Othmann and Will Cuylle.

Mike Peca joins the NYR coaching staff under Laviolette

As a player, he had:

176 G
289 A
2x Selke
in 864 games

Since his retirement, he has been an assistant coach for the Sabres AHL team, and was a player-development coach with the Caps

How are we feeling? pic.twitter.com/kHNyzCzbcs

— RangersMuse (@nyrangersmuse) June 20, 2023

Known for his leadership qualities and reputation as a role model, Peca's addition to the coaching staff adds excitement and anticipation regarding his role in maximizing the potential of the Rangers' young talent.

Peter Laviolette, known for his successful coaching career and previous Stanley Cup Final appearances with different teams, recently joined the New York Rangers as their head coach after parting ways with the Washington Capitals.

Laviolette's decision to bring Peca on board reflects the trust and familiarity they have developed over the years, highlighting the importance of their previous collaboration and the potential positive impact it could have on the Rangers' coaching dynamic. Photo Credit: Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY Sports