LA Kings Hire Laviolette to Unleash Offensive Play
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. The Los Angeles Kings have made a decisive break from their stagnant, defensive past. By hiring Peter Laviolette as their new head coach, the franchise is rejecting a risk-averse model that yielded past glory but recent failure, opting instead for a dynamic, attack-oriented approach on the ice.
Breaking the Defensive Straitjacket
The Kings' old, defensive-focused system won them Stanley Cup titles in 2012 and 2014. However, that rigid style eventually became a straitjacket, restricting creativity and failing to deliver a single postseason series victory since. General manager Ken Holland confirmed on Wednesday that bringing in the well-traveled Laviolette is a deliberate move to liberate a lagging offense.