Laviolette Lands in L.A., Player Power in Edmonton, Babcock's Limbo and Staal's Surge

The Los Angeles Kings have turned to Peter Laviolette as their new head coach, a move that feels like a logical short-term fit for a team looking to remain competitive while its young core continues to develop. In Edmonton, reports that several Oilers stars played a major role in interviewing Mike Babcock have sparked debate about how much influence players should have in coaching hires and where…