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Rangers Coach Unexpectedly Cuts Ties With Team to Join Chicago Blackhawks

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Tom Banks | Last updated May 22, 2025 2:43 PM ET

The New York Rangers coaching staff has had a shakeup this off-season, and now, they've reportedly lost another member of the staff to Chicago.

This off-season has seen plenty of change for the New York Rangers, as the team landed veteran Head Coach Mike Sullivan after parting ways with the highly disappointing Peter Laviolette after the team missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Now, they've reportedly lost another member of their coaching staff, as Michael Peca, who joined the team in 2023 as an assistant under Laviolette has now departed the organization to join the Chicago Blackhawks coaching staff under new Head Coach Jeff Blashill.

It's unclear why Peca wanted to leave New York, but given that he was hired as part of the former regime under Laviolette, there's a chance that he was pushed out as the Rangers look to completely rebuild their coaching staff and their culture under two-time Stanley Cup winning Head Coach Sullivan.

According to Arthur Staple, the process to fill out Sullivan's coaching staff in New York is ongoing, perhaps suggesting that Peca was expected to remain with the team, but with a potentially bigger role in Chicago working with younger players like Connor Bedard and Artyom Levshunov, this may not have been an opportunity to pass up.

Only time will tell whether this was the best career move for Peca, the 51-year old that has potential to be a Head Coach in the NHL one day as he continues to gain experience as an assistant coach, but for now, he's seen greener pastures and will enjoy the role with Chicago as he looks to continue gaining experience as a coach at the NHL level.

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

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