Credit: Los Angeles Kings-Facebook
The Los Angeles Kings are off to a rough start to the 2026-27 season with a 0-2-1 record.
While there is still plenty of time to turn things around, the roster is still trying to gel with new faces in the lineup.
The coaching staff also has new faces, including head coach Peter Laviolette.With the season now underway, how much of the Kings’ success this season is dependent on Laviolette?
Credit: Los Angeles Kings-Facebook
Laviolette is not new to NHL coaching. He is also not new to coaching new teams either. They all have difficulties and rewards. No team that starts well stays that way all season, and the same goes for a team that starts off on the wrong foot. Laviolette was brought in to make this team better, work harder, and succeed under his systems. He is learning his players, and it may take time for everything to come together.
Is the team’s winning and positive attitude solely Laviolette’s responsibility, or does it fall to the Kings’ new captain, Drew Doughty?
Laviolette has had massive amounts of success in the NHL behind the bench. He has 846 career wins, which place him seventh all-time, but he is the winningest American coach in NHL history. He knows how to coach, and he will get this team on track, as it is a long season.
Laviolette was a popular hire for the Kings because he is well known throughout the league and among fans.They know what he brings to the table, what he can do with this team, and his past success. He has done wonders when coaching a new team.New York Islanders
In 2001-02, he coached the New York Islanders, and in his first season, they finished 42-28-8-4 for 96 points and second in the Atlantic Division.
Although they would lose in the conference quarter-finals, he made a statement with his new team.
Carolina Hurricanes
In 2003-04, he took over the Carolina Hurricanes mid-season (December 2003) after Paul Maurice was let go; the team finished 28-34-14-6 and missed the playoffs. With Laviolette behind the bench, the record was 20-22-6-4.
Philadelphia Flyers
In 2009-10, the Philadelphia Flyers brought in Laviolette mid-season after letting John Stevens go, and Laviolette guided the Flyers to a 28-24-5 record the rest of the way.
Philadelphia finished 41-36-5 for 88 points, made the playoffs, and reached the Stanley Cup Final.
Nashville Predators
Laviolette would be behind the bench for the Nashville Predators in 2014-15, and they would have one of their best seasons in franchise history. Nashville would finish 47-25-10 for 104 points, second in the Central Division, but would lose in the first round of the playoffs.
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals would be Laviolette’s next team in 2020-21, and he would lead them to a 36-15-5 record in a COVID-19-shortened season.
The Capitals finished with 77 points and placed second in the East Division but would lose in the first round.
New York Rangers
The last time before this season that Laviolette coached a team was the 2023-24 season, when he was the head coach for the New York Rangers, and what a season they had under their new coach.
The Rangers finished 55-23-4 for 114 points and won the Presidents’ Trophy for the most points in the regular season. The Rangers were not done yet, as they would make it all the way to the Eastern Conference final before being eliminated.
There is no guarantee how the Kings will finish, but Laviolette may be the best head coach they have had in years. He has been around the league a long time, and he has the wins to prove it. He knows the game and how to win.
There will be an adjustment period for all involved, but once locked in, this team should do quite well with him behind the bench. Not to mention, they also have Phil Housley and Ray Whitney on the coaching staff. This veteran coaching staff knows how to win.
Laviolette is a winning coach; he will press the right buttons to get this team in the right position to win.
Even if he makes questionable decisions, he knows what he is doing.
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Tags: Capitals Carolina Hurricanes Drew Doughty Flyers Hurricanes Islanders Kings LA Kings Los Angeles Kings Nashville Predators New York Islanders New York Rangers NHL NY Rangers Peter Laviolette Phil Housley Philadelphia Flyers Predators Rangers Ray Whitney Washington Capitals
Categorized:Kings