Kings Hire Laviolette as Head Coach to Boost Offense

The Los Angeles Kings named Peter Laviolette head coach on Wednesday. General manager Ken Holland said the move aims to increase scoring while maintaining defensive play. Holland spoke at a news conference in El Segundo, California. He said the team wants to raise its offensive output after finishing 29th in scoring last season.

"You still got to know how to defend, so defending is going to be important, but certainly we want to do some things that can increase our scoring," Holland said.

61, previously coached the New York Islanders, Carolina, Nashville, Washington and the New York Rangers. In two seasons with the Rangers, the team ranked seventh and 12th in goals per game. The Kings have posted top-12 scoring offenses only twice since 2012.

Laviolette said he plans an aggressive style focused on transition play. "Through my experiences, and even just watching the playoffs right now, this is an attack-orientated game, and you have to be willing to move," Laviolette said.

Laviolette previously coached forward Artemi Panarin with the Rangers and winger Kevin Fiala in Nashville. Panarin recorded nine goals and 18 assists in 26 games after joining the Kings in February. Holland said the team may pursue changes on defense after meetings with other general managers at the scouting combine.

Laviolette said one set of rules will apply to all defensemen regardless of prior roles. The Kings reached the playoffs for a fifth straight season under interim coach Jim Hiller before a first-round sweep by the Colorado Avalanche.