The Los Angeles Kings have a deal in place to hire Darryl Sutter as coach of the offensively challenged team, a source familiar with the situation has confirmed.
Sutter, 53, is still working on immigration issues, but is expected to be behind the bench when the Kings play their next home game Thursday against the visiting Anaheim Ducks, who also went through a coaching change this season, firing Randy Carlyle on Nov. 30 and hiring Bruce Boudreau.
Sutter, Boudreau and Ducks general manager Bob Murray were one-time teammates on the 1985-86 Chicago Blackhawks team, with Sutter and Murray serving as co-captains.
Until Sutter can officially take over the Kings, interim coach John Stevens has been chosen to lead the way Saturday night in Detroit and Monday in Toronto.
The Kings are last in the league in scoring and set a franchise record Thursday in a 2-1 victory in Columbus by scoring two goals or less for the 10th consecutive game.
Sutter has been a head coach for 11 seasons in Chicago, San Jose and Calgary, leading his teams to 10 playoff appearances, including a Stanley Cup final berth in 2004 with the Flames. He has an overall head coaching record of 409-320-131.
He left the coaching ranks in July 2006 to focus solely on his general manager responsibilities with Calgary, then resigned in December of last season.
His teams are known for their structured defense. Only once in his coaching career have his teams allowed more goals than they scored.
Sutter will return to San Jose on Dec. 23 and Calgary on Jan. 14.
Dan Arritt covers the NHL for ESPNLosAngeles.com.