Inside look at New York Rangers

NHL.com is providing in-depth roster, prospect and fantasy analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Today, the New York Rangers.

One of Peter Laviolette's first acts as coach of the New York Rangers was to go to dinner with captain Jacob Trouba.

They went out with their wives and when the conversation turned to the Rangers, Laviolette, eighth in NHL history with 752 wins, said he knew his thoughts about the team he was inheriting were in line with Trouba's.

"There is a really good team here," said Laviolette, who was hired to replace Gerard Gallant on June 13. "I think any time that you don't get to the level of success that you want or you're expecting from inside your organization, and this goes for any team not necessarily just the New York Rangers, there is a sense of disappointment and there is a hunger to do more, to achieve more. I definitely picked that up from him and that's a really positive thing for me as a coach to know that there is a thirst in there to be successful."

The Rangers couldn't quench that thirst last season, losing the Eastern Conference First Round to the New Jersey Devils in seven games despite several all-in additions ahead of the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline, including forwards Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko.

It led to Gallant being fired May 6. Laviolette was hired 38 days later. His messaging since has been consistent and clear.

"There's obviously a really good group of players here and I think there is great skill on the team in all three positions," Laviolette said. "I don't want to take away from any of that, I want to continue to work on that, but from Day One in training camp I want us to go to work. I want us to go to work every day. I want practice to be the standard, the work ethic and compete that we play with.

"You watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and you get down the final four and the final two it's a sore thumb standing out that competitiveness and work ethic. I don't think that's something you throw a switch on and get. I think it's learned and that's why I said from Day One it's time to go to work."

The players are ready.

"Everyone who I've talked to loved playing for him," forward Barclay Goodrow said of Laviolette. "As players all you can do is prove yourself to him."

The Rangers bolstered their roster by signing forwards Blake Wheeler, Nick Bonino and Tyler Pitlick, defenseman Erik Gustafsson and goalie Jonathan Quick to one-year contracts. They're expected to fill vacancies left by the departures of Kane, Tarasenko, forward Tyler Motte, defenseman Niko Mikkola and goalie Jaroslav Halak.

Wheeler, who was placed on unconditional waivers by the Winnipeg Jets on June 6 for the purpose of buying out the final season of his contract, has a chance to be a first- or second-line right wing, joining Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider and Vincent Trocheck in the top six.

Bonino is expected to be New York's fourth-line center and a play key role on the penalty kill.

Pitlick will compete for a bottom-six spot on the forward depth chart. He could be pushed by 21-year-old rookie Will Cuylle or Alex Belzile, who turns 32 on Aug. 31.

Gustafsson will try to earn a spot in the top six and potentially the second power-play unit with Adam Fox a lock to run the first unit. Zac Jones, a 22-year-old defenseman, will compete for that same spot.

Quick, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, will be backup and mentor to Igor Shesterkin.

"There were some spots that had to be filled and I think we got some really good players to complete our team," Laviolette said.

But nothing is guaranteed.

Laviolette has an open mind, a movable depth chart, and a willingness to give younger forwards like Kaapo Kakko, 22, Alexis Lafrenière, 21, and Filip Chytil, 23, a larger role than they've had previously.

"There's definitely going to be competition to see where the lines and minutes fall out," Laviolette said. "What's exciting about training camp for me this year is to see who is going to bust through the door."

He's seen it before in previous coaching stops through the NHL.

"Nashville had a lot of young players when I was first there and I watched Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson push up and take minutes, become 30- or 40-goal-scorers," Laviolette said. "That's the progression and it does come with opportunity. It pushes the young kids. It pushes the players that have been here and are established. It creates a competitive environment and that's going to start right away in training camp."