The top priority this upcoming offseason in the summer of 2026, for the Los Angeles Kings and general manager Ken Holland in the front office will be hiring a new head coaching candidate in the West. The Kings and Holland in the front office have made it known in this past week early this month in early May that interim head coach DJ Smith is a candidate for the head coaching job this upcoming offseason in the summer of 2026.
While Smith was the interim head coach for the Kings in the West in the Pacific Division in this past regular season in this past couple of months, he isn't officially having the interim tag remove to be the next full-time head coach yet in this upcoming next few months.
There will be a good list of coaching candidates for the head coaching job opening this upcoming offseason in the summer in the league in the NHL that the Kings could consider who are experienced and qualified for the position in the West.
Here is the first edition of the early head coaching candidate hot board for the Kings for this upcoming offseason for 2026.
Bruce Cassidy (former Vegas Golden Knights head coach)
There aren't many top-notch coaching candidates for the head coaching position for the Kings in the West in the Pacific Division this upcoming offseason in the summer of 2026 who are available to hire now, like former Vegas Golden Knights and Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy. The longtime veteran NHL coach, Cassidy has established a reputation for himself for smart coaching decisions and discipline.
Cassidy could help the Kings improve the offensive structure in the zone scoring the puck in the West in 2026. He could also help to develop younger and burgeoning talents on both sides of the ice for the Kings in the West, like center Quinton Byfield, center Alex Turcotte, and young defenseman Brandt Clarke.
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