LA Kings Hire Peter Laviolette as New Head Coach on Three-Year Deal

The Los Angeles Kings have made a significant move in their coaching ranks by hiring veteran NHL coach Peter Laviolette. Reports indicate that Laviolette has agreed to a three-year contract with the franchise, marking a new chapter for both the coach and the team.

Laviolette, 61, has been away from the league since his dismissal from the New York Rangers last April. His tenure with the Rangers began in 2023 and was highlighted by a trip to the conference finals during his first season. However, after the team failed to qualify for the playoffs in the 2024-25 season, the organization decided to part ways with him.

With an impressive 23 seasons of NHL coaching experience, Laviolette brings a wealth of knowledge to the Kings. He has led six different franchises, starting his coaching career with the New York Islanders in 2001. Notably, Laviolette has reached the Stanley Cup Final three times with three different teams—the Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, and Nashville Predators—winning the coveted trophy once in 2006 with the Hurricanes.

The Kings are looking to turn a new leaf after parting ways with head coach Jim Hiller in March. D.J. Smith stepped in as interim head coach for the remainder of the season, but the Kings struggled, finishing with a record of 35-27-20 and securing the last playoff spot in the Pacific Division. Unfortunately, their postseason hopes were short-lived as they were swept by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round, marking the fifth consecutive year the Kings have exited in the opening round. With Laviolette at the helm, the team is aiming to break this unfavorable trend.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.