The Los Angeles Kings have asked the Edmonton Oilers for permission to discuss their vacant head-coaching position with Todd McLellan, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports.

The Oilers fired McLellan and replaced him with Ken Hitchcock in November. LeBrun reported at the time that McLellan is still under contract for the rest of this season and 2019-20 at $3 million per campaign.

The Kings aren't bringing back interim bench boss Willie Desjardins for next season. He took over after Los Angeles dismissed John Stevens a couple of weeks before Edmonton's move last fall.

McLellan spent parts of four seasons behind the Oilers' bench after seven with the San Jose Sharks, arguably the Kings' biggest rival.