Roughly one month into the 2026 offseason this spring, the Los Angeles Kings have started interviewing candidates to potentially become the next full-time head coach for the franchise going into the upcoming 2026-27 season.
Frank Seravalli reported on May 27 that Woodcroft interviewed with the Kings this past week for the head coaching job opening this offseason. This report from Seravalli also mentioned that Woodcroft is scheduled to interview with the Toronto Maple Leafs for their head coaching job opening later this upcoming week.
This news comes after it was reported early this week that the Kings had interviewed former New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette this offseason.
Jay Woodcroft could offer the Los Angeles Kings a more modern offensive identity moving forward
During his time with the Edmonton Oilers, Woodcroft developed a reputation for implementing aggressive offensive systems and maximizing high-end skill talent. That style could appeal to a Kings team attempting to generate more offensive consistency around younger players like Quinton Byfield and Brandt Clarke moving forward.
He spent this past regular season helping oversee Anaheim’s offense and power play under head coach Joel Quenneville.
Woodcroft would represent a very different type of coaching hire compared to some of the veteran candidates already linked to Los Angeles. His offensive systems and experience coaching elite skill players could make him an intriguing fit for a Kings team attempting to evolve offensively while transitioning toward a younger core.
After multiple seasons of offensive inconsistency and early playoff exits, Los Angeles appears increasingly focused on finding a coach capable of modernizing the team offensively.
Critics of Woodcroft’s tenure in Edmonton questioned whether his offensive success relied too heavily on elite superstar talent, while defensive inconsistency remained an issue at times during his tenure behind the bench.
The Kings may also view Woodcroft as a coach capable of helping elevate Quinton Byfield into a true top-line offensive center moving forward.
We also know that the Kings want to interview head coaching candidate Bruce Cassidy, but the Vegas Golden Knights haven't granted permission to speak with him yet. Based on public reporting so far, Laviolette and Woodcroft are the two known candidates who have interviewed with Los Angeles.
The Kings must determine whether Woodcroft’s offensive-minded approach and younger-player development outweigh concerns about experience and long-term playoff success.
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