A 3-Year Deal for Laviolette in LA and Nobody in the Pacific Is Ready For It

Holy smokes, Emerald City! You hear this wild news dropping from down south? The LA Kings are officially bringing in Peter Laviolette, signing him to a THREE-YEAR term as their new Head Coach. Seriously, a three-year deal right after an interim guy was just trying to turn their ship around? This is a massive shake-up for the Pacific Division, and trust me, it’s got major ripples for our Kraken and the whole league.

The Coaching Carousel Spins Fast in LA

This move isn't just some casual coaching change either. Remember back in early March, Jim Hiller was relieved of his duties, and D.J. Smith stepped in as interim head coach? Smith was literally just tasked with putting the past in the past and trying to turn things around in Los Angeles. Now, barely three months later, they’re bringing in a new long-term bench boss. It tells you everything you need to know about how much the Kings want to shake things up and start fresh. Laviolette’s job from day one will be to steer that ship in a totally new direction, and the pressure is on with a multi-year commitment right out of the gate.

What Laviolette Inherits in the City of Angels

Laviolette is walking into a team that's been in a weird spot, to say the least. Just a few months ago, the Kings were making moves at the trade deadline, with Holland adding future draft capital while trying to keep their playoff push alive. We saw Scott Laughton talking about pushing for the playoffs in LA back in March, excited to reunite with D.J. Smith. They had their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, kicking off the Calder Cup Playoffs against Coachella Valley in April. The focus for the Kings themselves, heading into a Game 2, was to add more offense and turn good into great.

They've got some interesting pieces, too. Kings prospect Jared Woolley just snagged his second consecutive Memorial Cup championship, which is pretty wild. And don't forget the Slukynsky brothers, Hampton, signed for three years, and Grant, for one year, both inked to entry-level contracts in April. Plus, guys like Angus Booth, Kenny Connors, and Jared Wright all made their NHL debuts earlier in March. It’s a mix of veteran presence, like Anze Kopitar getting nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy and hitting a bittersweet franchise record, and these new faces. Laviolette has to figure out how to make it all click from the jump, especially after exit interviews where players like Doughty, Clarke, Laughton, and Kuzmenko were all talking contracts and free agency. It’s a full plate!

So, what does this mean for us in the Emerald City, for our Kraken? The Pacific Division just got a whole lot tougher. Laviolette brings a veteran presence and a clear signal the Kings aren’t messing around. They want to contend. We've got our own firepower with Matty Beniers, Jordan Eberle, Vince Dunn leading our guys, and Joey Daccord in net. Our team is gonna have to be ready for an even harder grind next season. Can't wait for our Kraken to show LA what real hockey looks like when the puck drops again!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.