The Kings added a familiar kind of piece this offseason in Erik Haula: a veteran forward who may not grab headlines, but can steady a lineup in a lot of useful ways. Los Angeles brought in the 5-foot-11 Finnish center for depth and for the kind of two-way game that can hold up in different spots down the lineup. Coming off 24 assists and 38 points in 81 games, Haula arrives with a case for being more than just a placeholder.
His track record stretches back to being drafted by the Minnesota Wild in 2009, when he went in the seventh round at 182nd overall. Since then, Haula has put together 167 goals, 208 assists and 375 points across 840 career games. He debuted in the NHL in the 2013-14 season with Minnesota and spent four seasons there before moving through several other teams and cities over the course of his career.
Los Angeles signed Haula to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $3.6 million after he spent the 2025-26 season with the Nashville Predators. Even if the last season’s numbers don’t jump off the page, there’s still value in what he brings. More than 10 years in the NHL gives him the kind of experience that can matter in a room full of younger players, especially when it comes to handling the day-to-day grind and helping set a professional tone.
There’s also a built-in comfort level with one teammate in particular. Haula and Joel Armia grew up in Pori, Finland, went to school together, and have known each other since childhood.
Their connection deepened even more during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, where they were teammates and roommates. It’s not clear whether the Kings will pair them together, but the familiarity could make that worth exploring.
At the very least, Armia gives Haula a face he already knows as he settles into Southern California.
On the ice, the most natural fit looks like a middle-six role, with the third line standing out as a logical landing spot. Haula’s two-way game should make him dependable there, and he still has enough playmaking touch to create chances for others. He’s the kind of player who can handle tougher matchups, especially on the road, and keep Los Angeles competitive when the opposition ramps things up.
The offense shouldn’t be overlooked either. No one is expecting Haula to turn into a 70-point scorer, but his speed and strength can help him move the puck and generate looks for linemates.
As a secondary scoring option, that has real value. If he settles in and gives the Kings something in the 40-50 point range, that would be a strong outcome for a player whose game is built on consistency rather than flash.
At 35, Haula is in the later stage of his career, but that doesn’t read like a red flag here. His 38-point season with Nashville suggests there’s still something left in the tank, and for a Kings team looking to keep moving forward, this feels like a practical, well-targeted addition.
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What still determines whether any of it matters is how the Kings core responds. Adrian Kempe, Quinton Byfield and Brandt Clarke remain the players most likely to tilt the teams ceiling, and the changes around them were designed to make that support structure sturdier. The roster looks different now, but the real question hanging over the club is whether those upgrades are enough to change the same familiar ending. [Read more 🡒]
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The timing also gives the Kings a useful marker in a system that has been built around finding upside without rushing it. Goljer was one of the younger players in Los Angeles recent draft class, and his arrival in Kingston should make him far easier to track over the coming season. If he adapts quickly, it will only strengthen the case that his path is moving in the right direction, even if the real payoff remains a ways off. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Fans Suddenly Have A Bigger Reason To Doubt This Core
The Kings have spent the last several seasons living in the same frustrating place: good enough to reach the playoffs, not good enough to stick around. Since returning to the postseason five years in a row, Los Angeles has never gotten past the opening round, and the most recent exit was another reminder of how thin the margin has become for a roster that still wants to be taken seriously as a contender.
Ken Holland has already put his stamp on the organization since taking over as general manager in May 2025, from hiring Peter Laviolette behind the bench to bringing in Artemi Panarin. Even with those moves, the bigger questions have only grown louder around the Kings, with concerns about an aging core, depth, contract clutter and a prospect pool that does not look ready to rescue the future anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]