As part of the exit media interviews this past week in the West, Los Angeles Kings general manager Ken Holland in the front office spoke to the press on Friday (May 1) regarding the upcoming head coaching candidate search situation for the franchise this upcoming offseason in the summer of 2026.
Holland gave answers to the must-know question regarding who the Kings' coaching search will lead to in the West in the Pacific Division in the 2026 offseason in this upcoming next few months for the team.
Former Ottawa Senators head coach DJ Smith took over as the Kings' interim bench boss in the West this past regular season in this past couple of months. Ex-Kings' head coach Jim Hiller was fired exactly two months ago this past regular season on March 1. Smith was the Kings' assistant coach for this past few years in the West.
"Are they detailed? Do they show up every night? And the answer to that question is yes, they did under me. Ken’s been around a long time. He’s won Stanley Cups. He’s one of the best in the business. He’s a Hall of Fame General Manager. He’s going to make that decision. So, that’s not up to me to decide. I know I did my absolute best."DJ Smith
Under Smith, the Kings finished up with a .609 points percentage and made the postseason in the playoffs in the West this past month vs. Colorado. The Kings and Smith and the coaching staff were swept in the first round of the postseason in the playoffs this past week in the West.
"When we met, when this all started. We’ll see what happens, and we’ll talk at the end of the year. I’ve done this in the league. I know what the job entails. I think my teams are hard to play against, and I think we were hard to play against."Smith
Other potential head coaching candidates that have been mentioned as possible hires in the Kings' search for this upcoming offseason in the upcoming next couple of months in the summer of 2026 are former Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy and Anaheim Ducks assistant coach Jay Woodcroft.
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