The Los Angeles Kings are embarking on a coaching search as they look to reset ahead of the 2026-27 season. General manager Ken Holland confirmed during the team’s end-of-season press conference that he plans to speak with multiple candidates this week, including interim head coach D.J. Smith, who guided the squad into the playoffs after taking over in March.
Smith’s interim stint came after the March 1 firing of Jim Hiller, marking the third coaching change for the Kings in recent years. The team finished the regular season with a 35-27-20 record, earning 90 points but struggling offensively and on special teams. A first-round sweep by the Colorado Avalanche highlighted ongoing playoff frustrations, extending their first-round exit streak to five years.
Holland emphasized the need for improvement without a full rebuild. “D.J. did a great job. The team responded to him, so he’s a candidate,” he said.
Kings’ recent coaching turnover
The Kings’ coaching carousel has spun quickly. Jim Hiller was dismissed on March 1 after the team sat at 24-21-14, out of playoff contention amid offensive woes and special teams failures. Hiller had taken over midseason in 2023-24 following Todd McLellan’s exit, leading LA to the playoffs that year but failing to advance past the first round.
Under Hiller’s full tenure, the Kings posted solid defensive numbers at 5-on-5 but ranked 29th in goals scored league-wide. Home ice became a liability, with a sub-.500 record that frustrated fans and management alike.
D.J. Smith stepped in as interim, bringing prior NHL head coaching experience from five years with the Ottawa Senators. He joined the Kings staff in February 2024 as an associate coach.
Smith’s promotion stabilized the locker room. Players rallied, and the team showed renewed detail and competitiveness every night, as Smith himself noted in post-season reflections.
The move paid dividends initially, injecting energy into a fatigued group. However, persistent penalty kill issues—last in the NHL during his stint—limited deeper success.
D.J. Smith’s interim performance
Smith went 11-6-6 in 23 regular-season games, boosting the Kings’ offense from 2.53 goals per game pre-interim to 3.09 under his watch. This surge helped snag the final wild-card spot in the West.
The team responded positively, with Smith petitioning for the full-time role based on preparation and execution. “All I know, as a coach… is your team prepared? Are they detailed? Do they show up every night? And the answer to that question is yes,” he said.
Playoff limitations surfaced, as LA scored just five goals across four games against Colorado. Yet, Smith’s hard-to-play-against style earned respect.
Holland praised the response: “First off, I will say D.J. did a great job.” Smith’s prior extension with LA underscores internal buy-in.
Canada named him to its 2026 World Championship staff, signaling league-wide regard.
His six NHL seasons (340 games) provide a blend of head coaching savvy and recent assistant success.
Potential candidates beyond Smith
Holland targets five to eight interviews, mixing veterans, assistants, and newcomers. “Some with experience, some maybe assistants, and some who haven’t been a head coach,” he outlined.
Names surfacing include Bruce Cassidy, whose high-energy systems fit competitive rosters; Peter DeBoer, a defensive specialist; and Gerard Gallant, known for gritty turnarounds.
Jay Woodcroft, now an Anaheim assistant with Edmonton ties, emerges as an option. Dark horse Pat Ferschweiler from Western Michigan adds college pedigree.
Veterans like these could address offensive stagnation. The Kings ranked 28th on power play (17%) and 30th on penalty kill (74.6%).
Holland seeks balance: elite defense with attack from the back end.
Holland’s criteria and offseason priorities
Ken Holland, hired in May 2025, demands evolution. “I’m not happy… Under .500 at home, 29th in goals scored,” he stated bluntly.
No full rebuild looms, but tweaks target special teams and scoring. “We’ve got to generate a little more attack from the back end. Power play has got to be better.”
Anze Kopitar’s retirement leaves a massive void—franchise scoring leader, captain, two-way force. Quinton Byfield steps up, joined by Adrian Kempe, Kevin Fiala, and newcomer Artemi Panarin.
Cap space allows depth additions. Assistant coaches like Newell Brown and Matt Greene await the new hire’s input.
Holland’s Cup-winning Detroit pedigree guides a measured approach: build better around good players.
Implications for the Kings’ future
This search caps a transitional year. Road strength contrasted home frailty, signaling mentality shifts needed.
Playoff sweeps underscore urgency—seven first-round exits since 2014. A fresh voice could unlock potential in Byfield, Clarke, and Laferriere.
Fans eye Holland’s track record. Success hinges on blending defense with offense.
As interviews unfold, the Kings aim to contend. Smith or outsider, the hire shapes post-Kopitar revival—what it means for Pacific contention remains the key question.
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.