Bruins after dark

The New York Rangers just made a surprise call — head coach Peter Laviolette is out after only one season behind the bench, despite clinching the Presidents’ Trophy last year.

This year’s meltdown was hard to ignore. The team finished 39-36-7 and missed the playoffs entirely. Still, Laviolette’s coaching pedigree makes him one of the hottest names on the market — and don’t be shocked if the Boston Bruins are already lining up to talk.

Let’s not forget: Laviolette brought the Carolina Hurricanes a Stanley Cup in 2006 and coached the Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville Predators to the Final. The man knows how to build a contender — and with a handful of teams scrambling for coaches (Boston, Chicago, Philly, Anaheim, even New York), the timing couldn’t be more intriguing.

Last season started strong in New York. Laviolette had the Rangers looking dangerous at 55-23-4. But this year, the wheels fell off — and it wasn’t just about the stats. There’s been a storm brewing in that front office.

Most of the Rangers top players all had terrible seasons this year, with a lot of players complaining about their roles in the lineup.

The fallout reflects poorly on GM Chris Drury, whose handling of the roster raised eyebrows. But Laviolette’s stock hasn’t dropped much. In fact, for teams like the Bruins, he might be the best-case scenario.

Not to mention, the connection’s personal. Laviolette is a Massachusetts native, a Westfield State alum, and a former Providence Bruins player and coach. His roots in New England run deep — and that could tip the scales in Boston’s decision-making.

He’s not just another name on the list — Peter Laviolette has Massachusetts roots that run deep. Born in Franklin, he skated three seasons with the Providence Bruins before stepping behind the bench as their head coach.

From there, he made the jump to the NHL, joining the Boston Bruins staff as an assistant during the 2000-01 season. For a guy who once wore the Spoked-B in multiple roles, the idea of coming full circle isn’t far-fetched.

That kind of homegrown connection? You don’t just ignore it.

The Bruins are still picking up the pieces after parting ways with Jim Montgomery midseason. There’s been talk of Joe Sacco getting a serious look — and that still holds true — but Laviolette suddenly being available might throw a wrench into the plan.

He won’t be the only one getting calls. A handful of teams are headed into the offseason in search of new leadership: the Bruins, Rangers, Blackhawks, Flyers, and Ducks are all expected to enter the bidding war.