Laviolette Climbs NHL Coaching Ranks With Kings Hire

Peter Laviolette stands seventh on the NHL’s all-time wins list with 846 regular-season victories after 23 seasons and 1,594 games coached.

All-Time Seasons and Games Coached

Laviolette has coached 23 NHL seasons, tied for seventh-most all-time. Coaching the full 2026-27 schedule would move him into sole seventh place, passing Al Arbour and Barry Trotz. If John Tortorella sits out next season, Laviolette would tie for sixth. He coached his first NHL game on Oct. 5, 2001, with the Islanders at age 36.

His 1,594 games coached rank ninth all-time. Laviolette’s shortest tenures produced 164 games each with the Islanders and Rangers. Coaching all 84 games in 2026-27 would allow him to pass Ken Hitchcock and Al Arbour, potentially reaching as high as sixth depending on Tortorella’s status.

Laviolette’s career trajectory shows consistent longevity across six teams. The Kings’ decision to hire him after firing Jim Hiller on March 1 and using D.J. Smith as interim coach directly taps this experience.

Wins and Playoff Success

Laviolette owns 846 regular-season wins, seventh-most all-time. The Rangers’ 55-23-4 record in 2023-24 delivered his highest single-season total and the Presidents’ Trophy. He needs only four more wins to pass Hitchcock for sixth place but would require 54 victories to reach 900.

Including playoffs, Laviolette has 934 wins, also seventh all-time. Two additional postseason victories would move him past Hitchcock for sixth. He has reached the playoffs 14 times and the Stanley Cup Final three times, winning once with the Hurricanes in 2005-06 on a 16-9 record.

The 2022-23 Capitals posted a career-worst 37 regulation losses under Laviolette and missed the playoffs by 12 points, leading to his dismissal. The Kings, who finished last in the West as the eighth seed after 27 regulation losses and 20 overtime losses in 2025-26, now seek to avoid similar outcomes.

Losses and Future Trajectory

Laviolette ranks eighth all-time with 562 regulation losses. Experienced coaches accumulate defeats, yet his .518 points percentage across 1,594 games reflects sustained competitiveness. The upcoming season with Los Angeles marks his return after sitting out 2025-26 following the Rangers’ playoff miss.

His hiring aligns with the Kings’ need for proven leadership to stabilize a roster that reached the playoffs despite overtime-point volatility. Historical precedent shows Laviolette delivering immediate improvement in first full seasons with new teams.

Reaching 900 regular-season wins would require 54 victories in 2026-27, a total achieved by only six coaches in league history.