Los Angeles Kings General Manager Ken Holland was relatively noncommittal when asked about the team’s head coaching position. According to Eric Stephens of The Athletic, Holland shared that D.J. Smith is already considered a candidate. Still, the Kings will also talk to other possibilities over the next few weeks.
Smith was named the Kings’ interim head coach on March 1st, after the team fired Jim Hiller. Although it can’t all be attributed to the head coach, Los Angeles found the spark to get into the playoffs. One of the biggest issues that the Kings faced under Hiller was the offense. This season, in 59 games under Hiller, Los Angeles averaged 2.6 goals per game, and 3.1 goals per game under Smith. Even with the improvement, over a full season, that would have been the 16th-best offense in the NHL.
Former NHL player Manny Malhotra has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the Kings’ head coaching position by some sources. However, considering that his current team, the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, finished last in scoring this season, it seems unlikely that the Kings would consider him for a lateral move. For an increase in offense, Los Angeles may consider Peter Laviolette, who is known for his aggressive approach to offensive schematics.
Additional Kings notes:
- Still recovering from multiple fractures during his time with Team Switzerland at the Winter Olympics, Zach Dooley of the Kings shared that forward Kevin Fiala is progressing well in his rehabilitation. He is not only progressing well but also exceeding expectations, as Dooley indicated that Fiala could have been an option in Round Two of the playoffs. The leg fractures Fiala suffered typically take three to six months to fully recover, meaning he would have returned exceptionally quickly, potentially beating the shorter end of the expectation.
- According to Alexander Legget of Mayors Manor, Holland is expecting depth forward Jared Wright to have a full-time role with Los Angeles next season. Wright, 23, is a former sixth-round pick of the Kings, and debuted with the club this season. He should perform relatively well in a bottom-six role with Los Angeles as he registered four assists in 23 games at the NHL level, and 30 points in 54 games with the AHL’s Ontario Reign.
Buy-out Doughty. Start the much needed rebuild. Draft fast goal scoring youngsters. It’ll take 3-4 yrs of misery but well worth it. The other option is to barely miss the playoffs 3-4 yrs in a row and get miserable draft slots == more mediocrity.
What do you think they could get for Byfield?
You realize Byfield was hurt for most of the 2nd half of the season right?
Doughty has trade value if Kings take back up to 50%!
Dark days ahead for L.A. as long as Kenny is in charge.
Ken is the best drafting gm in nhl history
He is armed with extra picks and 3 in the top 60.
Want to fix this team.
Figure out a way to get Robert Thomas.
Plan B. NugentHopkins. Edmonton wants a goalkeeper. Straight up for Kuemper And find another third pair blue liner. The Kings need another scoring winger for the bottom 6. If you can get a combined 110 points between Byfield and 1 other center. Home run.
Coach wise.
I would see who is ready to come up
From the minors
But before that.
Drop a call to Barry Trotz and see if he is interested Bruce Cassidy would be call two.
Really outside the box. Make sports history
Jessica Campbell.
Not to be misogynistic,but Soup aka Jessica Campbell is most likely headed to the PWHL to become a Head Coach much like Becky Hammon went from the NBA to the WNBA
I don’t think we’ll see a Female Head Coach in the NHL for the foreseeable future.
Kuemper lost the starting job and is aging, he wouldn’t be the solution in Edmonton, especially for Nugent-Hopkins LA will definitely need to offer A LOT more.
Jessica Campbell really wasn’t impressive in Seattle as an Assistant Coach and ended up being demoted to a skills coach. while Seattle’s Power Play ranked 23rd and 17th in the 2 years she was running the Power Play, and this season she was replaced of that duty mid year. if LA wants a very MID to lower half of the league results then go right ahead
“Ken is the best drafting gm in nhl history”
Citation needed
He drafted Datsyuk (171), and Zetterberg (210). Couple of diamonds in the rough. There’s been some misses too though. I think that statement “best ever” is generous at best.
Blues aren’t going to trade Thomas
You are high! Snoop wants whatever you are smoking!
Name me someone better in the last 25 years
Kyle Dubas
Jeff Gorton
Steve Yzerman
Julien Brisebois
Mike Grier
Bill Guerin
Jarmo Kekalainen
Doug Armstrong
Jim Nill
Pat Verbeek
Holland has been dining out on picking Datsyuk and Zetterberg late for decades. He took two players who turned into NHL players while GM in Edmonton. Two. You want better in the last 25 years? Zetterberg was drafted 27 years ago.