The Los Angeles Kings are close to naming their next head coach, and former Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft is among the leading candidates.

The Fourth Period’s Jay Woodcroft reported Monday morning that Woodcroft and Peter Laviolette are two names to “keep eyes on.”

Woodcroft spent nine years in the Oilers organization from 2015-16 until November 2024, first as an assistant coach with the NHL team under then-head coach Todd McLellan. When the latter was let go ahead of the 2018-19 season, Woodcroft was named the head coach of the Oilers’ AHL affiliate, Bakersfield Condors.

The franchise saw success during his tenure there, going 105-71-15 in 197 games for a .590 points percentage, making the playoffs in two of his three full seasons, including winning the AHL’s Pacific Division in 2020-21. He took over behind the Oilers bench in February 2022 for Dave Tippett, spending parts of three seasons with the team, coaching them to a 79-41-13 record. They made the playoffs in each of his first two years behind the bench, getting swept in the 2022 Western Conference final by the Colorado Avalanche, and losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in six games in 2023’s second round.

Woodcroft was fired after a 3-9-1 start to the 2023-24 season, and he remained out of the league until joining the Anaheim Ducks as an assistant coach.

Laviolette, meanwhile, is ninth all-time in head coaching wins, most recently spending the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons with the New York Rangers. He’s spent 23 years behind NHL benches with the Nashville Predators, Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, New York Islanders, and the Rangers. Laviolette has reportedly interviewed with the Oilers for their vacant head coach spot.

Kings general manager Ken Holland would know Woodcroft well, promoting him to head coach of the Oilers, so he could make sense. The Kings were reportedly after Bruce Cassidy at some point, but like the Oilers, have been barred from interviewing him.

Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s managing editor, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the Daily Faceoff DFS Hockey Report. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

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