New Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette: ‘Let’s go to work’

GREENBURGH — In his introductory  news conference with the local media at the Rangers’ complex on Tuesday, new coach Peter Laviolette was asked what his message to the Blueshirts’ fans would be.

“My message, I guess to everybody, is ‘Let’s go to work,’ ’’ Laviolette replied. “Let’s get working . . . To me, it’s about that work ethic that drives teams. And so, I would think that the messaging for me with the players is that we’re going to start working in training camp, and then we’re going to take it through the season, and try to prepare ourselves for the playoffs.’’

The idea of putting in hard work was a theme that Laviolette doubled back to a few times in his 20-minute presser, which he did with his boss, Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury, sitting next to him. Drury hired Laviolette as the 37th coach in Rangers history a week earlier, concluding a five-and-a-half week coaching search after the organization parted ways with Gerard Gallant following the Rangers’ first-round playoff exit.

Laviolette, 58, touched on a few things that he thought would define his style as a coach. He’ll be organized (“There has to be a clear-cut plan on what it is that we’re doing’’), and he’ll be able to adjust to the player personnel (“You always have to adapt . . . you have to be able to see what you have, and where your strengths are, and where your weaknesses are, and you have to play to that a little bit’’).

But perhaps the most notable thing he said had to do with young forwards Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafrenière, who never seemed to blossom under Gallant. Lafrenière, the No. 1 pick overall in the 2020 NHL draft, and Kakko, the No. 2 overall in 2019, were generally limited to third-line roles under Gallant, while some of their contemporaries around the league (like Jack Hughes and Tim Stutzle) developed into stars with their teams.

Laviolette, who was criticized by some at his last coaching stop, in Washington…