logo
OilersNation has no direct affiliation to the Edmonton Oilers, Oilers Entertainment Group, NHL, or NHLPA
Making the case for Peter Laviolette as the next Oilers coach
alt
Photo credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
Michael Menzies
May 28, 2026, 11:00 EDTUpdated: May 27, 2026, 23:52 EDT
Comments
Interest in long-time NHL head coach Peter Laviolette is growing across the league, including from the Edmonton Oilers.
But there’s been so little reporting on who the Oilers have reached out to in this coaching search. As The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta said on Oilersnation Everyday, Edmonton is keeping things very quiet, but little tidbits are slowly starting to filter out.
“I think Peter Laviolette would get some strong consideration for the coaching job for the Oilers,” said Oilersnation‘s Jason Gregor on his show on Sports 1140 on Tuesday.
“I know that they’re not in any massive rush here. There have been interviews. I’m pretty confident and certain that the Laviolette’s being interviewed by the Edmonton Oilers.”
If it’s true that the Oilers are prioritizing experience and a Stanley Cup champion in their search, Laviolette’s name makes a lot of sense.
With the Vegas Golden Knights advancing to the Stanley Cup Final, the Oilers would have to wait at least another couple of weeks to speak to Bruce Cassidy — and there’s no guarantee whatsoever that Vegas will suddenly grant permission.
The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun wrote on Tuesday that a couple of teams have had “preliminary discussions” with Laviolette, and confirmed one of them as the Los Angeles Kings, so there’s action on that front. The Kings appear to mirror the Oilers in the type of head coach they’re after. With Ken Holland at the helm, there’s a push for experience or familiarity.
Laviolette has been there and done that, which makes him a strong candidate for the Oilers and their “win-now” mentality heading into 2026-27.

Immediate results

The 61-year-old has coached the ninth-most games in NHL history with six different teams, beginning in 2001-02 with the New York Islanders. He’s only one season removed from the league, ousted after his second year with the New York Rangers, an admittedly disastrous season.
But here are Laviolette’s results in his first seasons with a team:
  • New York Islanders – 2001-02: 42-28-8-4  (Lost in 1st round) 
  • Carolina Hurricanes – 2003-04: 20-26-2 (mid-season replacement, missed playoffs)
    • Next season won the Stanley Cup. 
  • Philadelphia Flyers – 2009-10: 28-23-5  (mid-season replacement, lost in Stanley Cup Final)
  • Nashville Predators – 2014-15: 47-25-10 (lost in 1st round)
  • Washington Capitals – 2020-21: 36-15-5 (lost in 1st round)
  • New York Rangers- 2023-24: 55-23-4 (Presidents Trophy, Lost in Eastern Conference Final)
Laviolette’s Stanley Cup came in his first full season behind the Carolina bench, and he’s been to the Final with three teams. It’s encouraging that he carries a strong record out of the gate, with a 228-140-8-30 record (.561 win percentage) in his first season with a new team.
The stat that only three coaches have won Stanley Cups with multiple teams (Tommy Gorman, Dick Irvin Sr., and Stan Bowman) has been used as a deterrent from hiring Laviolette, or any other Cup winner.
In my eyes, having a ring isn’t an absolute prerequisite, but you can’t deny having a former winner because of this factoid. John Tortorella could be added to that list in a couple of weeks. It would be silly grounds to not hire a coach.

‘Very detailed’

Chris Pronger, who was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2010 Final, was on Oilers Now last Friday talking about how Laviolette’s teams play and what he demands.
“He’s very detailed,” Pronger told Bob Stauffer, talking about an aggressive forechecking game. 
“He’s got an offensive system, which, when you look at the Oilers, a lot of the commentary is around they need secondary scoring, they need more than the big guys carrying the load offensively. His system will help that from an offensive standpoint, and how they get on the grind game, and how they play below the blue line and below the dots.”
Pronger then talked about how Laviolette’s teams play without the puck in the defensive zone.
“It’s aggressive, but it’s layers. It’s man-on-man, but there’s layers. If you’re coming out of the corner and you get beat, there is another layer there,” he said. “There’s got to be communication and things of that nature, and there will be a learning curve. Let’s just say he gets hired, and he comes in. There’s going to be a learning curve for these players.”
That sounds like a system that may work with the Oilers.

Can he still do it?

But is Laviolette still a good coach who can generate results?
His second season with the Rangers was as bad as the first was good, but you can’t ignore a Presidents’ Trophy regular season as recently as 2023-24.
If you’re hoping for youth to make big leaps under his tutelage, that’s not automatic, either. Kaapo Kakko couldn’t cut it with Laviolette, but Alexis Lafrenière had a career-high 57 points with Lavi his first season.
He’s coached great players before, but never had the trump card like McDavid. Perhaps Laviolette could help Evan Bouchard continue raising his floor of defensive play, and be the true number one with no caveats that great teams need.
These Oilers are in between where the Rangers and Capitals franchises are at when they hired Laviolette: they’ve learned a thing or two more than that Rangers core, but aren’t too old or roster-comprised like the Caps to still do something about it in the playoffs.
Ultimately, the Oilers need a bricklaying coach who keeps a group focused on the now, building a process through the regular-season and not anxious about the pressures of what failure means, so they are ready to battle for 16 playoff wins.
Laviolette’s MO suggests he is capable of doing that, but I’m a little concerned with how short his last two tenures have been, with three seasons in Washington and just two in Manhattan.
“He’s going to push you to get the most out of you he can possibly get,” said Pronger. “And as you’ve seen, that grinds on players. That wears players down, and they start to tune him out.” 
Laviolette should have every player’s ear if they so choose. While he has a ring, it’s been 20 years. It wouldn’t be lost on him that Edmonton could be his last chance.
Cassidy would still be my number one option, but that’s an unknown. The Oilers must consider Laviolette for the job, which could be a good time, not a long time.
Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of PreGaming and Oilersnation After Dark. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4. 

PRESENTED BY SOUTHVIEW ACURA

At Southview Acura, luxury isn’t just what you drive, it’s how you’re treated. Family owned and operated, we’re proud to offer an exceptional selection of new and certified pre-owned Acuras, backed by a service experience built on trust and precision. Whether it’s your first visit or your next, our team is committed to excellence every step of the way. Visit Southview Acura today or online at www.SouthviewAcura.com, where luxury meets reality.
Editorials
MORE NEWS. IN YOUR INBOX.
CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Breaking News