Peter Laviolette reportedly agreed to a three-year deal to become Kings’ next head coach

The Los Angeles Kings are reportedly closing in on a new long-term bench boss, with Peter Laviolette expected to become the franchise’s next head coach on a three-year contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke to The Associated Press. The move would end the Kings’ coaching search and follow a season led by interim coach D.J. Smith after Jim Hiller was dismissed earlier in the year.

If the agreement holds, Laviolette will be taking over his seventh NHL team. The 61-year-old coach brings more than two decades of experience and a track record built on steady postseason pushes. AP reported that Laviolette previously spent time in the league with the Islanders, Hurricanes, Flyers, Predators, Capitals, and Rangers, and that he is returning after being fired by New York in April 2025.

Laviolette’s resume includes a Stanley Cup championship with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006. He has also guided teams to the Stanley Cup Final three times across different stops, reaching that stage with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010 and the Nashville Predators in 2017 in addition to Carolina’s title run. Over his career, he has coached 1,594 games, which ranks among the top totals in NHL history, as reflected in the AP report.

For the Kings, the hire carries both timing and pressure. Los Angeles has made the playoffs in each of the past five seasons, but it has been trapped in what the AP report described as a persistent first-round exit cycle, including five consecutive years being eliminated in the opening round under three different coaches and two general managers. Bringing in Laviolette indicates a willingness to prioritize experience and game-planning at the postseason level over continuity for its coaching carousel.

Laviolette’s most recent NHL coaching work was with the New York Rangers, where he reached the conference final in his first season with the club but was later let go after the Rangers missed the playoffs in 2024-25. With the Kings, the coaching change is expected to come as the team tries to reset the ceiling of a roster that has been good enough to extend seasons, but not consistently good enough to advance.

The team’s current setup also matters. Smith stepped in as interim coach after Hiller’s firing and guided the Kings through the remainder of the season, a stretch that AP said included a 11-6-6 run once Smith took over. A Laviolette arrival would mark a shift from interim leadership to a coach with full responsibility for systems, staff building, and how the Kings prepare for the style of play they will see in playoff matchups in the Pacific Division and beyond.

What to watch next is whether the Kings and Laviolette finalize the agreement on the terms being reported and how soon Los Angeles begins reshaping the coaching staff. Just as important will be how the team translates the regular-season baseline that has supported five straight playoff appearances into a postseason identity that can break the first-round pattern. Until the Kings make an official announcement, the deal should be viewed as expected rather than confirmed.

keyFacts

1) Peter Laviolette is expected to become the next head coach of the Los Angeles Kings on a three-year contract, per an Associated Press report based on a person with knowledge of the negotiations.

2) Laviolette, 61, is returning to the NHL after being fired by the New York Rangers in April 2025.

3) The Kings previously cycled through head coaching leadership, with interim coach D.J. Smith taking over after Jim Hiller was dismissed earlier in the season.

4) Laviolette has 23 seasons of head-coaching experience and won the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006.

5) AP reported Laviolette has reached the Stanley Cup Final three times in his career, including runs with the Flyers (2010) and Predators (2017).

6) The Kings have made the playoffs in five consecutive seasons but, under multiple coaching regimes, have been eliminated in the first round five straight years.

whyItMatters

1) The Kings have remained a postseason participant without translating that access into deeper playoff success, making a proven, experienced coach a high-leverage decision.

2) Laviolette’s postseason background suggests Los Angeles is aiming to tighten execution and preparation for playoff opponents rather than only refining the regular-season game.

3) A new head coach often accelerates staff and tactical changes, which can affect how quickly the Kings settle on defensive structure, special teams identity, and line usage.