Kings move again in coaching sweepstakes, leaving Leafs and Oilers as the lone head-coach vacancies

Peter Laviolette’s reported agreement with Los Angeles knocks another marquee name out of the market, intensifying Toronto’s and Edmonton’s search for a long-term bench identity heading into 2026-27.

By The Apex Times Newsroom3 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The Los Angeles Kings moved to the front of the NHL coaching carousel Monday by reportedly agreeing to make Peter Laviolette their next head coach, a decision that also appears to close the door on one of the more established candidates from Toronto’s orbit. The development matters beyond the Kings’ own bench because it changes the market math for the teams still looking for a permanent head coach as the 2026-27 season approaches. With Laviolette’s hire in place, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers are left as the only clubs without a head coach named, according to Sportsnet’s reporting.

Toronto’s vacancy dates to mid-May. The Maple Leafs fired Craig Berube on May 13, 2026, with no replacement identified at the time, and Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka framed it as an organizational decision rather than a referendum on Berube alone. The report described the firing as part of a broader “organizational shift,” and indicated the new coach would determine the shape of the remainder of the staff.

As Toronto recalibrated, Manny Malhotra was viewed as a name that could not stay on the board for long. Yahoo Sports had described Toronto as having lost another coaching target after Vancouver hired Malhotra, and the timing lines up with an official Canucks announcement. On June 2, Vancouver named Malhotra as head coach, continuing his relationship with new general manager Ryan Johnson, after Malhotra led the Abbotsford Canucks in the AHL to a Calder Cup title.

Laviolette’s path to Los Angeles is similarly clear in the resume category, even if the final contract details were still being described through reporting rather than a fully posted team announcement in the research gathered here. Sportsnet reported the Kings are poised to name Laviolette and noted his career workload, citing 1,594 NHL games as a head coach. The outlet also tied his hire to experience in the biggest moments, reminding readers he won the Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2006 and reached the final again with Philadelphia (2010) and Nashville (2017).

Sportsnet also positioned the decision in the context of the Kings’ season and staff continuity. D.J. Smith finished as interim head coach after the Kings were swept by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the team’s fifth straight opening-round exit. Sportsnet reported Laviolette was in contention ahead of the Kings’ final call, competing with other candidates such as Jay Woodcroft.

Edmonton, meanwhile, is dealing with its own vacancy and the pressure that comes with it. reported on May 14 that Kris Knoblauch was fired as Oilers coach and that no replacement was named. That leaves Edmonton searching for a new bench voice while its roster’s championship window remains open and the offseason roster decisions start to harden into priorities.

Why It Matters

Toronto now has to continue its coaching search without one more high-profile option, shortening the list of coaches who could be realistically available.
For the Oilers, the continued vacancy raises the stakes of the next appointment because the bench identity will set the tone for the 2026-27 “response year” after an early playoff exit.
The Kings’ move indicates they value proven playoff experience as they try to end a stretch of first-round eliminations, which affects how the organization plans to use its roster and development pipeline.
Across the league, having only two open head-coach jobs makes the market less about widespread interviews and more about final decisions and staff construction.

Sources

Key Facts

The Los Angeles Kings are reported to be hiring Peter Laviolette as their next head coach.
Sportsnet reported the Kings’ hire leaves the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers as the only teams without a named head coach going into 2026-27.
Toronto fired head coach Craig Berube on May 13, 2026, with no replacement named at the time.
Vancouver hired Manny Malhotra as head coach on June 2, following his Calder Cup run with Abbotsford.
Edmonton fired Kris Knoblauch on May 14, 2026, and reported no replacement was named.
Sportsnet cited Laviolette’s 1,594-game head-coaching experience and noted he won the Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2006 and reached the final with Philadelphia (2010) and Nashville (2017).