Peter Laviolette Aims to Reshape Kings’ Culture and Success

Peter Laviolette’s arrival as the head coach of the Los Angeles Kings marks a new chapter for the franchise, one filled with potential and promise. During a recent tour of the area, Laviolette anticipated settling into a cozy one-bedroom home by the water. However, his children had other ideas, insisting on a four-bedroom residence. This moment encapsulates the family-centric approach Laviolette hopes to instill within the Kings’ organization.

After taking a year away from the sport, Laviolette, now 61, spent time in Scotland watching his son compete in the East Coast Hockey League. This break offered him a chance to reflect and rethink his coaching philosophy. With three decades of coaching experience, including 23 as an NHL head coach, he is introducing a three-pronged strategy aimed at transforming the team’s culture and performance on the ice.

“For me, there are three real important pieces,” Laviolette explained. “First, build a family inside the locker room, inside the organization. Secondly, to really work to try and build the culture to get players and organizations to think about the choices they make and how that can affect the culture. And then the third part is the actual game on the ice.”

Having signed a three-year contract with the Kings, Laviolette brings a wealth of experience, having coached 1,594 games—ranking him ninth all-time in NHL history—with six different teams, including the Capitals, Flyers, Islanders, Hurricanes, and Predators. His most recent experience was with the Rangers, where he was let go after two seasons in 2025.

One of Laviolette’s key selling points for the Kings is his postseason success. The franchise has struggled to find its footing since winning the Stanley Cup in 2014, making playoff appearances but failing to advance past the first round since the 2021-22 season. Laviolette is only the fourth coach in NHL history to lead three different teams to the Stanley Cup Final, with his last championship coming in 2006 with Carolina. His accolades also include two President’s Trophies, awarded to the league’s top team, during his tenures with the Predators and Rangers.

However, Laviolette steps into a team in transition. Following the dismissal of coach Jim Hiller after the Olympic break, interim coach D.J. Smith led the Kings to an 11-6-6 record, aided by a midseason trade for Rangers winger Artemi Panarin, whom Laviolette is excited to coach again. “I had a really good relationship with Artemi in New York,” he noted. “He’s one of the most talented players I’ve ever coached, and I’m really happy to get to work with him again.”

As Laviolette prepares to implement his vision, he aims to shift the Kings’ historical focus on defense to a more aggressive attacking style. Last season, the Kings ranked last in the league in goals per game and struggled with a paltry power-play percentage. “I don’t think it should be irresponsible to defense,” he acknowledged. “But through my experiences, this is an attack-oriented game, and you have to be willing to move.”

Laviolette sees Panarin as a pivotal piece in his plan. “He has the ability to be a game-breaker and a difference-maker,” he said, emphasizing the winger’s versatility. The Kings’ goal for the upcoming season is ambitious: to score 250 goals, a significant increase from last season’s total of 220. Kings vice president and general manager Ken Holland underscored the importance of this goal, highlighting the need for both personnel adjustments and a shift in playing style.

As Laviolette builds his coaching staff, Holland is actively reaching out to potential assistant coaches and players. Phil Housley, who served as an assistant during Laviolette’s time with the Rangers, is among the candidates being considered. However, the road ahead won’t be easy; Laviolette’s teams have a history of declining performance a few seasons after his hiring, and he has faced challenges in developing younger players. The Kings will need to maximize the potential of talents like Quinton Byfield and Brandt Clarke, both of whom are poised to make significant impacts.

Ultimately, the Kings’ success in the coming seasons will depend on their ability to adapt to Laviolette’s coaching philosophy. With a confident demeanor, Laviolette stated, “When you put those three things together, you can really become an unstoppable force.” The Kings are eager to embark on this journey under his leadership.

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