The Los Angeles Kings made one of the biggest moves of their offseason by reportedly hiring Peter Laviolette as the franchise's next head coach. While the veteran bench boss brings an impressive résumé and a Stanley Cup championship to Los Angeles, his arrival could also have a significant impact on several players already on the roster.
Laviolette should bring a more aggressive offensive approach along with proven postseason experience to a Kings team that is looking to get over the hump in the Western Conference next season in the 2026-27 campaign.
While his impact will be felt throughout the roster, a few Kings players could benefit more than others from the coaching change.
Here are three Kings players who could benefit the most from the Peter Laviolette hire heading into the 2026-27 season.
Alex Turcotte, F
There may not be a player on the Kings' roster with a better chance to emerge as a pleasant surprise under Peter Laviolette than forward Alex Turcotte. The former fifth overall pick in the first round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft has not lived up to the hype offensively for the Kings in this past few seasons.
Turcotte has developed into a reliable two-way player, but the offensive production that made him a top-five pick has yet to fully emerge at the NHL level. A more aggressive offensive system under Laviolette could provide him with additional opportunities to unlock another level of his game.
If Turcotte can take even a modest step forward offensively under Laviolette, it would give the Kings another valuable scoring option while helping justify the organization's long-term belief in the former top-five pick.
Turcotte has done a nice job of adapting his role on both sides of the ice for the Kings in this past couple of seasons on the ice.
Quinton Byfield, C
No player may benefit more from Laviolette's arrival than center Quinton Byfield.
The Kings are entering a new era after Anze Kopitar's retirement, and Byfield could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of Laviolette's arrival. If the new coach can help Byfield become more assertive offensively and consistently produce at a top-line level, it would dramatically change the outlook of the franchise moving forward.
With Kopitar retired, Byfield could be asked to take on an even larger role next season. His development into a legitimate top-line center may be one of the most important storylines of the Laviolette era.
If Laviolette can turn anyone's game around by making them more confident and aggressive offensively, it should be Byfield this upcoming season.
Trevor Moore, W
Another Kings' forward who has found a solid role in the roster lineup at the winger position is the speedy Trevor Moore. In this past couple of seasons, Moore had trouble reaching that same scoring level he did with the Kings when he was a 30-goal scorer in the 2023-24 campaign.
Moore benefited from the coaching change late last season, recording six goals and 16 points in 22 games under DJ Smith.
Moore's speed and ability to create offense off the rush could make him a particularly strong fit in a more attack-minded system. If Laviolette can help Moore recapture the form that made him a 30-goal scorer, it would give the Kings another important offensive weapon.
Every player on the roster will be impacted by the arrival of a new head coach, but the development of Byfield, Moore, and Turcotte could go a long way toward determining how successful the Kings are in Laviolette's first season behind the bench.
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