The Los Angeles Kings appear to be entering the final stages of their coaching search.
According to a report from David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Kings are close to naming their next head coach, with a decision potentially coming later this week.
Pagnotta reported that Anaheim Ducks assistant coach Jay Woodcroft and former New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette are among the leading candidates to become the next full-time head coach in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Kings appear ready to move in a different direction after DJ Smith's interim tenure
If the report is accurate, it suggests Holland ultimately prioritized experience over continuity. Keeping DJ Smith would have provided familiarity for the roster, but turning to either Woodcroft or Laviolette would signal a desire for a fresh voice behind the bench entering the post-Anze Kopitar era.
The reported finalists suggest the Kings are placing a premium on experience, familiarity, and established relationships throughout the organization.
One of the more notable takeaways from the report is the apparent removal of Smith from the finalist pool. Smith had previously been viewed as one of the leading candidates after serving as the Kings' interim head coach.
For Woodcroft, Holland has connections with him from their time together in the Edmonton Oilers organizations in the early 2020s decade. Holland hired Woodcroft as the interim and then the full-time head coach of the Oilers in the 2021-22 season and in the 2022 offseason.
Laviolette also has familiarity with Artemi Panarin from their time together with the Rangers, where he coached the veteran winger during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
While Woodcroft and Laviolette bring different coaching styles and backgrounds, both would represent experienced hires for a Kings team entering a transitional period. With Anze Kopitar retired and expectations still high in Los Angeles, Holland appears to be targeting a coach with a proven NHL track record rather than taking a chance on a first-time head coach.
Woodcroft would offer familiarity with Holland and a recent history of success in the Pacific Division, while Laviolette would bring one of the most accomplished coaching résumés available this offseason. Either choice would signal that the Kings believe they can remain competitive in the Western Conference immediately, rather than entering a rebuild.
The timing aligns with the Kings needing to find a new head coaching hire early this offseason before the start of the upcoming free agency cycle and the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. The Kings pick 17th overall in the first round of the 2026 draft in a few weeks early this summer.
Naming a head coach before the draft would allow the organization to enter one of the busiest parts of the offseason with a clear direction behind the bench.
With the NHL Draft approaching later this month, the Kings appear to be closing in on one of the most important decisions of their offseason. If Pagnotta's report proves accurate, Los Angeles could have its next head coach in place within days as the organization begins the next chapter of the post-Kopitar era.
