Clif
Super Star
If he doesn’t get a better offer elsewhere I’d expect the next coach to be Woodcroft.
De Boer will not be our coach
- Thread starter K-Man #32
- Start date
DryKing
Power Forward
Another coach with a strong history of player development, so I'm for it. I would like to see how he does without superstars on his team to heavily rely on.
Supposedly he is very good at strategy, but not on the fly adjustments.
Pevsfreedom
somehow in south carolina
No worries!! There will be ZERO changes for this team next season! Smith will be named our full time coach, Holland will continue to be our GM and Luc will for sure still be there…
Hurricanes fandom here I come (until Luc's fired tbh, I don't mind if we suck but I hate our team's management and there's... nobody on the roster I really like either besides maybe Kempe and Clarke).
He still mad from the case with Sutter.
What party?
Taxi Squad
Roy seems like he's one missed med away from biting his own face off.1993, that's why.
In all seriousness, it would be ironic if he wound up on the Kings for that reason alone.
Luc: (early May 2026)
DJ did such a great job getting the team to play during a difficult time of coaching transition.
He single handedly rallied the boys and got them into the playoffs. The entire organization and the fans are gratefully and excited to see the Kings back in contending form once again!!!
:chuckles: Unfortunately, Edmonton had our number again :chuckles:
But DJ and the boys fought hard an won a tough game here at home in front of a very supportive crowd.
As you all know the games were really close. It was tough.
We want fans to know: That excitement you felt during that playoff win at home is what we want to carry forward into next season with DJ at the helm. We know that with a strong offseason this summer, and having a full season with DJ as our head coach, the future will be bright! Kings hockey is back!
DJ did such a great job getting the team to play during a difficult time of coaching transition.
He single handedly rallied the boys and got them into the playoffs. The entire organization and the fans are gratefully and excited to see the Kings back in contending form once again!!!
:chuckles: Unfortunately, Edmonton had our number again :chuckles:
But DJ and the boys fought hard an won a tough game here at home in front of a very supportive crowd.
As you all know the games were really close. It was tough.
We want fans to know: That excitement you felt during that playoff win at home is what we want to carry forward into next season with DJ at the helm. We know that with a strong offseason this summer, and having a full season with DJ as our head coach, the future will be bright! Kings hockey is back!
Clif
Super Star
He out-adjusted Todd that first playoff series. He also enjoyed the 11-7 lineup which makes sense with McDavid and Draisaitl, but I do not want to see that configuration again. I don’t care how successful it was for Hiller on home ice last year.
Otherwise Woodcroft has been a good PP coach for the Ducks and a year tutelage under Quenville can’t hurt.
Dr. Tran
Super Star
No. I can still see him winking at Sandstrom.
Dr. Tran
Super Star
I may be giving them too much credit but I don’t see Smith coming back. If they go on a serious run, maybe. But if we miss or get bounced early from the playoffs then no.
I don’t have any favorites. Whoever they get is going to depend on what direction they see this team going. Also it might be someone that Holland knows or has worked with. But I hope they do their due diligence in the hiring process.
I don’t have any favorites. Whoever they get is going to depend on what direction they see this team going. Also it might be someone that Holland knows or has worked with. But I hope they do their due diligence in the hiring process.
pray4mojo
Top Forward
I have a long standing (admittedly irrational) Edmonton-induced aversion to Woodcroft's face... But of course, if one can learn to appreciate Corey Perry, I suppose anything's possible.
Last edited:
Dr. Tran
Super Star
I heard somewhere that the best coach to hire is the one who’s going for his 2nd head coaching job. Because they now have an idea what to expect from the job. This plus the fact Holland knows him makes him a strong candidate.
Also, here’s a bit of trivia. Only 3 coaches in NHL history have won a Stanley Cup with more than 1 team. And the last one was Scotty Bowman. Does this mean we don’t hire Cassidy or Laviolette? Or does that matter?
Clif
Super Star
Cassidy is still a defensive-minded coach so I’d actually hope we can turn the page a bit on that emphasis. He’ll presumably be target number one anyway and I really don’t care for a long deal it’ll take to get him.
Interesting saying and makes sense. Woodcroft was axed very quickly by the Oilers. He’ll have a chip wherever he goes.
Bollocks
Super Star
There's also the fact that he successfully utilized offense that revolved around two very talented offensive players. Granted, our two very talented offensive players are McD and Drai from Temu, but still...it's important that the next coach doesn't try and stunt the offense by some rigid system. The Kings simply lack the depth that VGK had. Oilers were the opposite...relaitvely bad depth, bad defense, bad goalie...maybe Woodcroft does better with a team that knows how to play D and also has a capable goalie.
santiclaws
I was in the pool!!
You say that like it's a bad thing
Clif
Super Star
That’s exactly it. You have a system, but you configure the lineup so as to properly balance the strengths of individual players. Much easier said than done, and rosters have holes. But it’s the goal.
Panarin is allowed to be himself. It was VAN but look at Clarke being allowed to be himself last night. Gotta let them play as best you can.
DryKing
Power Forward
Agreed, Clarke is definitely starting to emerge and once the team decides to move on from DD as their #1 option, he will take another step forward.
Kempe, though, has been the biggest success story so far post-Hiller.
Dr. Tran
Super Star
I had another thought about Woodcroft that doesn’t bode well for him getting hired. Has a GM fired a coach & then years later when the GM is working for another team hired the same coach he once fired? Regardless I still think he’d be a good choice. But I’d have to stop calling him Woodchuck.
DarkLeftHand
Super Star
Given what DD said on the post game appearance today after the game, it seems like he still wants to play a couple seasons after next. Hopefully the Kings don’t feel compelled to offer him anything more than 5-6 mill per for a farewell contract. Would prefer if they were poised and ready to make a big money offer to a truly elite offensive defender when DD’s 11 mill comes off the books after next season.
DryKing
Power Forward
That would be interesting, and if the Kings are a contender at that time DD is likely a bottom pairing for the duration of that extension. Hard to think the Kings would offer him top dollar, but who knows...they probably would.
Good to hear he still has the fire in him.
VCRW
Classic player
Hiller did his best to make Kempe ineffective. The coach neutering his only superstar should have been enough to get him fired 2 years ago.
What party?
Taxi Squad
As an agent of chaos, even for me this is a bridge too far (and also,f*ck him, fr, f*ck that guy). Especially for a team whose sponsor is mental wellness treatment center. A bit a mixed message, yes?