Los Angeles Kings Hire Peter Laviolette
The Los Angeles Kings have reportedly secured the services of veteran NHL coach Peter Laviolette to lead their team, according to several sources. As noted by Pierre LeBrun from The Athletic, the agreement entails a three-year contract finalized on Monday.
Coaching Career Overview
Laviolette, known for his extensive 23-season career in the league, has had previous coaching stints with six franchises. His journey began in 2001 with the New York Islanders, and he has since guided teams such as the Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, and Nashville Predators. Notably, he led the Hurricanes to victory in the Stanley Cup Final in 2006, marking the franchise’s only championship win to date.
Recent Tenure and Departure
After a brief tenure with the New York Rangers, where he was appointed head coach in 2023 and reached the conference finals in his debut season, Laviolette was dismissed in April after the team failed to secure a playoff spot in the following season.
Kings’ Coaching Changes
The Kings made headlines earlier this year when they parted ways with head coach Jim Hiller in March. Following his departure, D.J. Smith took over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. The Kings concluded the year with a record of 35-27-20, claiming the last playoff position in the struggling Pacific Division.
Unfortunately, their postseason hopes were dashed as they were swept by the Colorado Avalanche during the first round, marking the fifth consecutive year the franchise has exited in the playoffs’ opening round.
