Oilers Had Eyes on Laviolette Before Kings Snatched Him Up

The Oilers were kicking the tires on Peter Laviolette before the Kings got to him first, which is the kind of behind-the-scenes nibble that never stays quiet for long. That kind of flirtation says plenty about where Edmonton’s head was at and how seriously it was weighing its coaching options. In this league, a front office can have a target in mind and still watch the market move faster than a neutral-zone turnover.