The LA Kings eye bold head coaching hire as Bruce Cassidy’s surprise firing rocks the Pacific Division. Is Ken Holland about to hire a Cup-winning coach—and can the Kings still secure a playoff spot? Eddie Garcia spotlights Cassidy, Pete DeBoer, Peter Laviolette, and possible Craig Berube as leading candidates to replace D.J. Smith. The episode covers the Kings’ ownership’s willingness to pay top salaries and the impact of past relationships on NHL coaching hires. With a crucial showdown against the Nashville Predators looming the Kings battle for the last Western Conference playoff spot intensifies. Prospects James Reader, Kristen Epperson, and Brandon McMorrow head to the Frozen Four, while goalie Hampton Slukynsky may turn pro soon. Can Holland’s first head coaching hire move the LA Kings into NHL contention?
00:00 Kings Coaching Search — Analysis of Jim Hiller and DJ Smith, outlook on LA Kings head coach vacancy, criteria for new coach and job attractiveness.
11:21 NHL Coaching Changes — Vegas fires Bruce Cassidy, ripple effects on Kings options, overview of veteran available coaches and their credentials.
22:12 Kings Playoff Race & Prospects — Wild-card standings, upcoming games, Kings injury updates, prospect news including NCAA Frozen Four and goalie situation.
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17 Comments
Bruce Cassidy
Pittsburg's coach that helped turn them around this season wasn't a retread. Kings need to go this same route.
Lots of good options but Cassidy would get my nod
The coach is taking over a rebuilding team. They're just in denial. 😂
Edit: Babcock might get me to stop watching hockey until Luc is fired.
Wow look at that picture…
I've only been saying Pete De Bore since pre season.
I like them to bring in Bruce Cassidy.
If Luc is involved prepare to be very disappointed and underwhelmed. They will cock it up per usual.
Carter George is looking to sign money contract with Boston College. And Forsberg & Kuemper on the last year there deals. With injuries you never know. You could start the season and have Darcy & Anton in the NHL. In the AHL Erik Portillo with of Carter or Hampton and the other could start in the ECHL …. you know with injuries and you can trade a goalie on the last year to a team who has an injury
Todd Nelson…….start the rebuild….
Vegas won't agree for Cassidy to go to the King's since it would be the same division. Vegas has Cassidys rights for 1 more year.
LA Kings don't seem to be a team trending upward, I don't know if one of the big name coaches want to take on a rebuild. The Kings need a big off-season to maybe recalibrate.
I've always liked DeBoer. At the least, one conference final appearance with the last four of his five teams he's coached. Cassidy, Laviolette might be great hires too, but the big question is Holland. I think he just goes with who he knows, like Eddie said.
I don't have too many opinions about coaches, but among the list of availabilities, Babcock is the only one I'm against. If the Kings hire him, I might, for the first time since I became a Kings fan in '89, have to root against them until he's gone. Like the Lakers and LeBron. I won't support them until he's off the roster.
Hire Peter Laviolette! and then you need to rip the Band-Aid off, and get Playoff Calibur players…Kings need talent, they don't have it, I'd retool the team….I will say though Holland historically does most of his work during the offseason
I am not a fan of Berube personally. He’s very defense forward and LA only hires defense first coaches and our players dont flourish in these systems. Its time for a Deboer/Cassidy type coach to let our players shine. Fiala, Kempe, Clarke and QB will all SHINE.
Bruce Cassidy would more likely go to Edmonton before L.A. but then there's the Panarin trade so maybe he'll love L.A. too? hehehe.
Either way, I'd hire him ASAP.
The team will look dramatically different next year without knowing much about the young guys. Hiller and the team wasted a year of development on every player under 25. Holland better have some good hires and trades that justify the players we will lose this off-season.
DeBoer is probably the best but he wears out his welcome in 2-3 years and players hate him. Very glad Torts is off the board, he’s a jerk. Laviolette would be my personal choice.