The Los Angeles Kings are in the midst of a head‑coach search after parting ways with their previous bench boss. General manager Ken Holland is currently on the road, scouting the Memorial Cup as he evaluates the next leader for the franchise.
While the team managed to clinch a playoff spot, it stumbled against the league’s elite, exposing gaps in special‑teams execution and production from the defensive pairing. Holland has highlighted those areas as priority points of emphasis as he builds his coaching staff.
Scouting the Candidates
Among the names surfacing are interim coach D.J. Smith, who remains on the shortlist, and former AHL champion Jay Woodcroft, whose recent playoff run has kept him in the conversation. Holland also mentioned Bruce Cassidy of the Vegas Golden Knights as a possible external option, with the front office aiming to lock in a decision a couple of weeks before the June 26 draft.