Peter Laviolette, Kings Reportedly Agree to HC Contract Amid Maple Leafs, Oilers Rumors

Peter Laviolette will be tasked with leading the Los Angeles Kings in their first season without Anže Kopitar.

Laviolette reportedly is taking over as the Kings' next head coach, per Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada.

Friedman noted the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs also had interest in Laviolette.

The Kings were seeking new leadership after firing Jim Hiller when the team was at risk of missing the postseason in March.

Hiller, who was initially promoted following Todd McClellan's midseason firing in 2024, led the Kings to a 93-58-24 regular-season record and three total playoff wins prior to his dismissal.

Interim coach D.J. Smith then led the Kings into the playoffs by closing out the regular season with an 11-6 stretch before his team was swept from the first round by the Colorado Avalanche.

This season marked the end of an era for the Kings given that it was capped off by the retirement of Kopitar.

Kopitar, who had served as the team's captain since 2016, was one of the last remaining members of the core that led the Kings to Stanley Cup wins in 2014 and 2016.

That distinction now belongs to Drew Doughty and Adrian Kempe, who are both signed through next season and can provide some stability on a roster that could see some turnover this summer.

After acquiring Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers in February wasn't enough to extend the Kings' playoff run, general manager Ken Holland could look to add some more pieces to his roster this offseason.

The Kings have been eliminated from the first round in each of the last five postseasons. Laviolette's ability to continue developing young players like Brandt Clarke, Quinton Byfield, Alex Laferriere and Michael Anderson will be key to the franchise's hopes of breaking that streak in 2027.

The 61-year-old Laviolette has coached the New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals and most recently the New York Rangers in his coaching career, going 846-562-161 in his career with 14 playoff appearances and one Stanley Cup title.