Kings hire Peter Laviolette, end D.J. Smith’s interim run

The Los Angeles Kings made their coaching decision official, moving on from interim head coach D.J. Smith and hiring Peter Laviolette as their new bench boss. The change, announced Tuesday, ends a stretch in which Smith had been leading the club with “interim” still attached to his title, a status that tends to report uncertainty for the staff and the broader team-building process.

For Smith, the outcome is a reminder of how narrow the path can be from an NHL interim role to a permanent appointment. Smith, previously the Ottawa Senators head coach for parts of four and a half seasons (2019 to 2023), had pursued the Kings’ top job full-time for this coming fall. In commentary reported after Los Angeles’ season ended in the first round, Smith pointed the responsibility for the decision toward the general manager, saying in effect that the club had to be ready and that it was ultimately Ken Holland’s call.

Now, the Kings will look to Laviolette to provide a steadier hand as they reshape the organization for the next season. Laviolette, 61, is returning to the NHL as head coach for a seventh tour. His résumé includes stops as a head coach with the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes, and New York Islanders. Across 1,594 career games as a head coach, he has also proven he can reach deep playoff rounds, including winning a Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2006 and playing in the final with the 2010 Philadelphia Flyers and the 2017 Nashville Predators.

In Los Angeles, the hiring also carries a different kind of storyline for fans who track coaching pipelines. Smith’s connection to Ottawa brings with it an enduring theme: the “ex-Senators coach” drought. According to reporting focused on the pattern, it has been more than 20 years since a Senators head coach left the organization and later landed another non-interim NHL head coaching job elsewhere. The last non-interim example cited is Jacques Martin, fired in 2004 before finding additional NHL opportunities.

Whether that historical context affects the Kings’ immediate direction is another matter. Coaches are evaluated on fit, roster construction, and day-to-day details, not on league folklore. Still, the contrast between Smith’s interim label and Laviolette’s established track record underscores what Los Angeles is likely prioritizing: experience in managing pressure during playoff years and familiarity with the strategic demands of multiple playoff ecosystems.

For the Kings, the next questions are practical. Laviolette will inherit whatever systems and player development priorities the organization has already put in place, but he will also be expected to reinforce his own style, from game management to how the team handles defensive structure and offensive zone decision-making. For Smith, his future in the NHL will depend on whether he remains in the league in a coaching capacity elsewhere, or whether the Kings use their staff continuity as a way to keep him close in a different role.

What to watch next is how quickly Los Angeles can align its coaching staff with the front office and how the organization uses the offseason to set expectations for the 2026-27 season. With a veteran coach now installed, the message is clearer than it was when Smith was serving on a trial basis. The Kings have made the move, and the emphasis will shift immediately to execution, player buy-in, and the performance profile the organization wants once games begin again.