Kings hire – Los Angeles has turned to Peter Laviolette to change the direction of its hockey—aiming for a more aggressive, offence-first style. General manager Ken Holland said defending will still matter, but the priority now is creating more scoring. Laviolette, 61, arr
When Peter Laviolette walked into the conversation as the Los Angeles Kings’ next head coach, the message landed quickly: this is supposed to be different hockey.
El Segundo. California. was the backdrop as general manager Ken Holland confirmed the hiring on Wednesday. framing Laviolette’s arrival as a way to kickstart an offence that has been lagging for too long. The Kings won two Stanley Cups in three seasons in 2012 and 2014. but they haven’t managed a postseason series victory since.
Holland was direct about the tension at the heart of the plan. “You still got to know how to defend. so defending is going to be important. but certainly we want to do some things that can increase our scoring. ” he said at his news conference. He added that the shift would be driven by “personnel-driven” changes. “style of play-driven mentality. ” and by the head coach’s approach.
Laviolette. 61. brings a resume that has been closely tied to offence and playoff surges in earlier stops with the New York Islanders. Carolina. Philadelphia. Nashville. Washington and the New York Rangers. In his two seasons with the Rangers. New York finished seventh and 12th in goals per game before he was fired in April 2025. The Kings, meanwhile, have finished in the top 12 in scoring just twice since 2012.
Laviolette said he wants an aggressive approach built around creating offence off the rush and in transition. He described the alternative—what he called “stodgy hockey”—as the kind that cost Jim Hiller his job as head coach on March 1. Interim coach D.J. Smith oversaw enough of an offensive uptick to get Los Angeles into the playoffs for the fifth straight season. but the Kings were swept by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round.
His pitch is built around speed of decision-making and willingness to play when scoring chances aren’t handed over. “Through my experiences. and even just watching the playoffs right now. this is an attack-orientated game. and you have to be willing to move. You have to have a plan in place when there’s no offence available. I think five-on-five is the hardest way to score a goal,” Laviolette said.
The Kings’ hope is that his system can unlock what’s already on the roster. Under Laviolette in 2023-24. Kings forward Artemi Panarin set career highs in goals and points with the Rangers. and the timing of this hire is built around their reunion. Panarin was traded to Los Angeles in February. and he produced nine goals and 18 assists in 26 regular-season games for the Kings.
Laviolette sounded energized about it. “He can change a game on any given night, and so, like I said, I’m really excited to work with him again,” he said.
There’s also familiar territory with Kevin Fiala. Laviolette has worked with the winger before, during his time with Nashville, where Fiala was one of the kinds of players teams lean on to generate offence.
Still, Holland made it clear that the problem isn’t just a question of coaching style. A lack of creativity from the blue line played a major part in the Kings’ 29th-place ranking in scoring last season. After meeting with other general managers at the scouting combine. Holland suggested changes could be coming to the group of defencemen.
If the roster can’t be reshaped through trades. Laviolette said it becomes his job to get more out of the existing group. He pointed to the numbers that describe both the talent and the gap: those Kings defencemen combined for 23 goals and 110 assists in the regular season. but against the Avalanche in the playoffs. they managed one goal and one assist.
“There’s not going to be two sets of plans for those that we consider offensive and those that we consider great defensive defensemen. There’ll be one set of rules, one set of plans, and those players would be expected to try to do their best to implement that plan,” Laviolette said.
One other piece is what happens next. Holland indicated that a more consistent scoring threat could help set the Kings up for another sustained playoff run early in Laviolette’s tenure. Laviolette has been to the Stanley Cup Final with the Hurricanes. Flyers and Predators within his first two years with those organizations. including lifting the Cup in Carolina in 2006.
Holland put the weight of the decision on what Laviolette has done quickly and repeatedly. “When you look at his resume. all the teams that he’s been with. the impact that he’s had on these teams the first couple of years. right off the bat. and it’s a hard league to win. ” Holland said. “Going to the Stanley Cup Finals three times with three different teams. also winning a Calder Cup at the American Hockey League level. pro hockey’s hard to win. and he’s done a lot of winning.”.
Los Angeles Kings Peter Laviolette Ken Holland Artemi Panarin Kevin Fiala D.J. Smith Colorado Avalanche Jim Hiller NHL coaching news Stanley Cup Final