Peter Laviolette has been hired as the head coach of the Los Angeles Kings, according to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun.
LeBrun notes it is a three-year deal for Laviolette, who spent this past year out of the league.
D.J. Smith finished this past season as the Kings’ interim head coach after Jim Hiller was fired at the beginning of March. L.A. went 35-27-20 for 90 points on the season and were 11-6-6 under Smith before being swept by the Colorado Avalanche in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Kings have not yet officially announced Laviolette’s hiring.
Laviolette, 61, was fired by the New York Rangers at the conclusion of the 2024-25 campaign. He spent two years with the Rangers, helping the team win the Presidents’ Trophy and reach the Eastern Conference Final in his first season before a significant drop off the next year.
Laviolette has served as head coach of six NHL clubs and won the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006. He has also worked as the bench boss of the Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals and Rangers. He reached the Stanley Cup Final with both the Flyers in 2010 and Predators in 2017, falling just short of a title in those years.
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reported last week Laviolette was one of the many names being considered as the Toronto Maple Leafs’ potential next head coach.
More to come.
