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Peter Laviolette

Peter Laviolette is an American ice hockey coach and former player.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Peter Laviolette is an American ice hockey coach and former player. He has coached multiple National Hockey League (NHL) teams, including the Carolina Hurricanes, with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2006, and as of June 2026 he was named head coach of the Los Angeles Kings.

Playing career

Laviolette played as a defenseman after a college career at Westfield State College. He also played for the United States internationally and appeared at the Olympic Games, including serving as captain of the 1994 U.S. Olympic team.

NHL coaching career

He began NHL head coaching with the New York Islanders in 2001–02 and later coached the Hurricanes, Flyers, Predators, Capitals, and Rangers. His teams reached the Stanley Cup Final three times, and he won the Cup with Carolina in 2006.

Notable achievements

Laviolette won the Jack Adams Award with Carolina and became one of the winningest U.S.-born coaches in NHL history. NHL records sources also note that he has coached six different NHL teams and accumulated extensive regular-season and playoff experience.

Later career

After his tenure with the Rangers ended in April 2025, Laviolette was named head coach of the Los Angeles Kings in June 2026. This made him the latest in a long line of NHL coaching appointments for his career.

Key facts

  • Laviolette coached the Carolina Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup in 2006.
  • He also reached the Stanley Cup Final with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010 and the Nashville Predators in 2017.
  • He has coached several NHL teams, including the New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals, and New York Rangers.
  • He was hired by the Los Angeles Kings in June 2026.
  • As a player, he was a defenseman and represented the United States internationally, including at the Winter Olympics.
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Canadian context

Laviolette’s career is relevant to Canadian readers because he coached in the NHL against Canadian teams and won the Stanley Cup, the league’s championship trophy, with Carolina in 2006. His career also intersects with Canada through Olympic hockey and repeated playoff matchups involving Canadian NHL markets.[1][6]

Frequently asked questions

Who is Peter Laviolette?
Peter Laviolette is an American former hockey player and longtime NHL head coach known for leading the Carolina Hurricanes to the 2006 Stanley Cup title.
What teams has Peter Laviolette coached?
He has coached the New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, and Los Angeles Kings.
Did Peter Laviolette win the Stanley Cup?
Yes. He won the Stanley Cup as head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006.
What position did Peter Laviolette play?
He played as a defenseman during his playing career.
Where did Peter Laviolette go to college?
He attended Westfield State College, where he played college hockey.
What is Peter Laviolette known for in NHL coaching records?
He is among the most experienced U.S.-born coaches in NHL history and has led multiple franchises to the playoffs and the Stanley Cup Final.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Laviolette
    Supports: Career overview, teams coached, Stanley Cup win, and Rangers tenure through 2025.
  2. Olympedia — https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/89467
    Supports: Birth details, playing career, Olympic participation, and U.S. national team background.
  3. NCAA — https://www.ncaa.org/news/2014/1/29/from-a-small-school-to-the-world-stage
    Supports: Westfield State background, college hockey, and Olympic coaching context.
  4. NHL.com — https://www.nhl.com/kings/news/peter-laviolette-named-la-kings-head-coach
    Supports: Appointment as Los Angeles Kings head coach and summary of NHL coaching career.
  5. NHL Records — https://records.nhl.com/coaches/peter-laviolette-74
    Supports: Coaching records, teams coached, award, and historical NHL coaching achievements.
  6. Westfield State University — https://westfieldstateowls.com/hall-of-fame/bios/Peter_Laviolette
    Supports: Westfield State graduation, hockey career recognition, and coaching achievements.