The Los Angeles Kings officially ended their coaching search by hiring former New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette. He steps in after a year away from coaching following his stint with the Rangers.

From a fantasy hockey perspective, this should be viewed as a net positive for most of the Kings' key offensive pieces. Laviolette has consistently leaned toward an aggressive, attack-first system built around quick transitions, active defensemen, and giving his top players the green light to create offense. While there still is structure and accountability in his game plans, his track record shows that his best teams tend to produce strong fantasy environments for top-six forwards and offensive defensemen.

We saw that clearly in New York with Artemi Panarin, who was given full freedom to drive offense and responded with a 120-point season. While that level is not something to bank on every year, the more important takeaway is that Laviolette does not suppress elite offensive talent. Panarin has been over a point-per-game player for most of his career, and there is nothing in Laviolette's system that should prevent that level of production from continuing. Adrian Kempe game is built on speed, transition play, and finishing off the rush, all of which tend to be emphasized in a Laviolette system. That combination should keep him firmly in strong fantasy territory and potentially push him closer to another step forward offensively. Kevin Fiala also fits the mold as a creative offensive winger who thrives when given space and puck touches. The only real question with Fiala is consistency and health, but the system itself should be supportive of his skill set.

Quinton Byfield is one of the more interesting fantasy variables. Laviolette has historically leaned on veterans, but Byfield's role should ideally trend upward as Anze Kopitar is no longer in the picture. The key question is how quickly he earns full trust in a top-line and power-play role. If that happens, there is legitimate breakout potential given how well his speed and puck-carrying ability fit an up-tempo system. Laviolette has a long history of trusting offensive defensemen and allowing them to activate in the offensive zone and drive power-play production. Brandt Clarke's offensive instincts already make him one of the most intriguing young blueliners in the organization, and this type of system only strengthens his path to becoming a full-time offensive driver.

The one area where there may be some downside is in goal. A more aggressive system can lead to slightly more high-danger chances against, which can put some pressure on goalie ratios. That risk is most relevant for Darcy Kuemper, who had a tough go last season. His fantasy value may become more volatile even if win totals remain steady due to stronger offensive support. If Kuemper faulters there may be a even split between he and Anton Forsberg in order to stabilize the backend.

Players this might help:

Players this might hurt:

Drew Doughty

Darcy Kuemper