Former New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette has emerged as a possible candidate for the Kings’ coaching vacancy early this offseason.
The former Stanley Cup Champion and longtime veteran NHL head coach, Laviolette has been without a job in the league since he was fired by the Rangers this past offseason in 2025. Laviolette is a coaching candidate who would bring ample experience and postseason success in this past couple of decades in the league to the Kings' coaching staff and organization going into next season.
In the past two decades, Laviolette has led the likes of the Carolina Hurricanes to a Stanley Cup Championship (2006) and the Philadelphia Flyers (2010) and Nashville Predators (2017) to respective Stanley Cup Finals appearances.
After five straight first-round exits, the Los Angeles Kings must decide if Peter Laviolette can elevate the franchise
Laviolette helped lead the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final during his first season in New York in 2024.
He has been out of coaching since being fired by the Rangers earlier this offseason after two seasons behind the bench in New York. Laviolette has also been a head coach in this past decade with the likes of the Predators and Washington Capitals.
Laviolette would immediately bring structure, veteran experience, and playoff credibility behind the bench. But after five consecutive first-round playoff exits, the Kings may also need a coach capable of modernizing the offense and maximizing the organization’s younger core moving forward.
The Athletic's Pierre Lebrun reported on May 26 that the Kings have interviewed Laviolette during their coaching search early this offseason. This report from LeBrun specifically mentions that Laviolette had at least "preliminary discussions" with a few teams in the league this offseason, including the Kings.
One major question for Los Angeles is whether Laviolette would represent a long-term solution behind the bench or simply a veteran coach capable of stabilizing the team short term.
Laviolette’s teams have traditionally relied on structure, veteran leadership, and defensive accountability, though some critics question whether that style best fits Los Angeles’ younger core moving forward.
It's also noted in this report from LeBrun that the Kings and Edmonton Oilers have wanted to interview and speak to Bruce Cassidy early this offseason, but the Vegas Golden Knights have yet to grant permission for him to speak to either team in the Pacific Division.
General manager Ken Holland and the Kings are looking for more than a head coach with proven experience behind the bench this offseason. The Kings also need a coach who can help get them over the hump in the Western Conference going into the future after five straight years of disappointing postseason exits in the first round.
Laviolette’s résumé and postseason experience make him a logical candidate for Los Angeles, but the Kings still must determine whether his coaching style aligns with the younger, more offensively dynamic identity the organization appears to be moving toward.
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