Kings Should Hire Bruce Cassidy To Be Their Next Head Coach – Hockey Writers – Los Angeles Kings

Since the 2017 offseason, the Los Angeles Kings have remained in a state of rebuilding and restructuring their entire roster. Season after season, the Kings have struggled to advance to Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Some pointed to the management; on the other hand, others look to the coaching staff and the 1-2-2 system used within the organization. However, the truth is that this structure does not fit the skill list. While the system was designed to build a playoff contender, more often than not, it wasn’t. Let’s take a closer look at former Vegas Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy’s hiring prospects and whether he’s a good fit for the Kings.

Is Hiring a Former Vegas Coach the Right Choice?

Whether hiring Cassidy is the right move depends on whether the Kings are ready to move away from the 1-2-2 system. In his first season with Vegas, Cassidy led the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup in the 2023 postseason against the Florida Panthers. After several consistent playoff appearances with the Golden Knights and Boston Bruins, Cassidy is known for having a reputation for structure, accountability, and discipline.

Judging by Cassidy’s recent runs, I would say that he can build the Kings’ roster to be a physically strong and dangerous team. Alternatively, Amakhosi may use a coach who is not afraid to voice his concerns in the changing room and criticize the players if necessary. The 2026 Kings exit talks left a sour taste as X fans and commentators criticized general manager Ken Holland and defenseman Cody Ceci for not taking responsibility for the Kings’ disappointing performance against the Colorado Avalanche in Round 1.

The Cassidy Era Ends in Vegas

Effective March 29, 2026, the Golden Knights relieved Cassidy of his duties as head coach and replaced him with John Tortorella. The surprise came unexpectedly, sending the NHL media into a frenzy as people questioned why Vegas was moving on so quickly from a Stanley Cup-winning coach. Many in the league viewed Cassidy as one of the best coaches after leading the Golden Knights to success during his tenure. Blog posts quickly surfaced, suggesting tensions may have contributed to the organization’s decision to move on from Cassidy. During that time, speculation quickly began linking him to numerous coaching vacancies throughout the NHL, including the Kings.

Cassidy spoke to the media about his thoughts and said, “He’s going to play 74 games and he wants to be there at the end… His comments have fueled many discussions about the Kings, a team that is looking for a coach who can elevate the team from a contender to a dangerous favorite for the Stanley Cup.”

A notable aspect of Cassidy’s coaching style is his tough nature. Coaches like Tortorella, Daryl Sutter, and Joel Quenneville have “old school” traits built on a strong foundation and accountability. For the Kings, that approach could directly address some of their recurring problems in their matchups. His programs tend to strengthen the formation of the team quickly, making it difficult to play against them in the play-offs.

Cassidy could also elevate the Kings’ existing core by pushing for higher execution standards. Players like Adrian Kempe, Kevin Fiala, and Quinton Byfield are expected to play with more urgency and shift-to-shift responsibility, showing a high level of consistency, discipline, and commitment in all three positions, especially defensively.

Cassidy Hires to Show Win Now Mind in LA

Under president Luc Robitaille, Amakhosi have not passed the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That continued frustration has kept the organization searching for the right program to break into the postseason. Despite registering 90 points in the 2025-26 regular season, Los Angeles has struggled to translate that success into deep playoff runs. The pressure to increase the current total (and the entire system) only increases with each early exit.

Because of this, the coaching decision appears to be an important step in determining whether or not the Kings can jump into contention and become a contender to win the Stanley Cup. To answer this question, did Cassidy make the right choice to be the Kings’ next coach? Yes, that is if they are ready to fully commit to a winning streak now and embrace a demanding, structured system designed for deep playoff success, leaving the 1-2-2 system behind.