General manager Ken Holland spent his second offseason with the Los Angeles Kings making moves that added depth and kept the roster flexible. The Kings brought in veteran centers Scott Laughton and Erik Haula to strengthen the middle of the lineup, and they also found help on the wing and blue line in free agency.
A lot of the contracts Los Angeles handed out this summer already look like solid value. Some could end up being even better bargains as the salary cap continues to rise, and one of the clearest examples is Mats Zuccarello.
The former Minnesota Wild winger signed with the Kings for one year at a $1.0 million AAV, though bonuses could push the deal north of $6 million for the 2026-27 season. Even with that possibility, the base number is a major win for Los Angeles. Given Zuccarello’s offensive production over the past few seasons, landing a top-six producer on that kind of short-term deal stands out as one of the best free-agent bargains of the summer.
The fit matters too. Zuccarello gives the Kings another top-six playmaker without forcing the team into a long commitment, and he does it while preserving cap flexibility. He’ll be 39 years old during the upcoming season, which makes the one-year structure even more appealing for Los Angeles.
The Kings’ deal for Zuccarello looks even sharper now that the Chicago Blackhawks have signed Patrick Kane to a two-year contract worth $8 million in average annual value. Against that backdrop, Los Angeles came away with a far better value on a player who can help bolster the forward core right away.
In Other News...
Kings Pipeline May Finally Be Improving In One Crucial Area
The Kings prospect pool has been getting a little more interesting in one area that has long felt like a safe bet: goaltending. Hampton Slukynsky and Carter George give the organization two of its most promising young netminders, and the recent addition of Yegor Rybkin only adds to the sense that this part of the pipeline may finally be moving in the right direction.
Center, though, remains the glaring concern. Even with the goaltending depth looking healthier, the Kings still do not have the kind of pipeline strength down the middle that teams lean on for long-term stability, which means future drafts and trades are likely to stay in the conversation as the organization tries to solve its most important developmental problem. [Read more 🡒]
Reign Add Three More Depth Pieces To Strengthen Kings Pipeline
The Ontario Reign added three more depth pieces to their roster mix this week, signing forward Ryan O'Hara and goaltenders Mattias Sholl and Owen Flores to one-year AHL contracts. It is the kind of low-profile business that matters for a development system, giving the Kings organization another layer of options as it keeps building out the pipeline in Ontario.
O'Hara arrives after a productive run with Greenville and a strong NCAA career at Bowling Green, while Flores brings promising goaltending depth after showing well in limited AHL action. Sholl is back in the fold after spending time with both Ontario and Greenville last season, a familiar move for a Reign team that continues to value players who can move between levels and fill needs without much notice. [Read more 🡒]
Former Kings Blueliner Suddenly Sits At Center Of Troubling Trade Buzz
A familiar face from the Kings recent blue line is back in the rumor mill, and this time the spotlight is on the New York Rangers long-term plans. Vladislav Gavrikov left Los Angeles for a seven-year deal in New York, and his name is now surfacing in reports tied to questions about where the Rangers are headed and how quickly they can get back on track.
The intrigue only grows because Gavrikov is not the only expensive piece drawing attention. Alexis Lafrenire is also part of the conversation, with the Rangers facing the kind of salary-cap and roster decisions that can turn early-season pressure into something much bigger if the team gets off to a rough start. For a club trying to balance expectations with a pricey core, even a whisper about one major move can quickly open the door to another. [Read more 🡒]