The Kings spent the summer adding experience and options, and early on the new group is already giving Los Angeles a different look. Corey Perry, Erik Gustafsson, Mats Zuccarello, Erik Haula and Scott Perunovich all came in with specific jobs to do, and each one arrives with a different level of opportunity.
Haula has made the cleanest immediate impression. Through four games as of Oct. 15, he has one goal and two assists for three points, and he’s looked like a forward who can help in more than one way.
The Finn’s value isn’t just in the scoring line, either. His physical presence gives the Kings another dimension, and if he keeps producing at this pace, he’ll stay firmly in the mix as a useful two-way piece.
Perry, meanwhile, brings the kind of veteran profile the Kings clearly wanted. The 41-year-old returned after his stint with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and his role is straightforward: provide bottom-six scoring depth, help on the power play around the net, and serve as a steady voice for younger forwards. He can still help create chances by winning battles along the boards and hanging around the crease, but he’ll need cleaner skating pace and more defensive consistency when he’s tracking back into his own zone.
Zuccarello is another addition who can change the shape of the offense if he stays available. He put up 54 points in 59 games with the Minnesota Wild last season, which is the kind of production that gives a team real playmaking juice.
The catch is health. He missed 23 regular-season games last year, has now missed one game this season, and is on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury.
For the Kings, getting him back to full strength matters if they want more offensive consistency.
Gustafsson has had a quieter start but still fits a need on the back end. In three games, he has one assist.
The Kings are looking for more stability from him defensively, along with better puck decisions and fewer turnovers. If he can move the puck cleanly, build chemistry with his linemates, and chip in more offense from the blue line, he can become a meaningful part of the rotation.
Perunovich is the one still waiting for his chance at the NHL level. He was in the mix for a roster spot, didn’t make it out of training camp, and was assigned to the Ontario Reign.
There, he’s continuing to work on consistency and push for a call-up. In the 2025-26 season with the Tucson Roadrunners, the AHL affiliate of the Utah Mammoth, the Minnesota native had 49 points in 64 games.
This season, he has four assists in four games.
For now, the early edge among the Kings’ offseason additions belongs to Haula. It’s still very early, and the season has plenty of runway left, but his production has stood out while the others settle into their roles.
In Other News...
Kings Face A Huge Goalie Decision As Slow Start Changes Everything
The Kings slow start has already pushed their front office into a familiar but uncomfortable place: evaluating whether a big swing in goal is worth the cost. According to Sportsnets Frank Seravalli, general manager Ken Holland has explored the possibility of bringing in Connor Hellebuyck from the Winnipeg Jets, a reminder that Los Angeles may be thinking beyond short-term fixes as it tries to steady its season.
Hellebuycks availability gives the idea real weight, especially with the Kings still sorting out whether that kind of move fits their current strategy. Winnipeg is also monitoring the situation closely if the veteran goalie decides he wants to return, which leaves Los Angeles balancing urgency against the kind of price tag that can shape a franchises future. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Suddenly Face Two Roster Questions They Can't Ignore
The goaltending market keeps hovering over the Kings, and Connor Hellebuyck has been one of the names to watch as Los Angeles weighs whether to push harder for an upgrade. No move has been made, but the interest alone says plenty about where the Kings see themselves, especially with a chance to pursue a player of that caliber rarely coming without a heavy cost.
Any serious swing would almost certainly require a major package, the kind of return that can start with a future first-round pick and grow from there. For the Kings, that puts the conversation at the intersection of urgency and patience: a possible crease-changing addition is out there, but the price tag and the timing still leave plenty unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Offense Issues Could Force A Bigger Lineup Shakeup
The Kings went through practice ahead of their meeting with Boston, and the session offered another look at a lineup still searching for answers offensively. Peter Laviolette acknowledged the scoring issues have become a real concern, and the team is weighing adjustments that could help jump-start a group that has not produced enough at key moments.
Mats Zuccarello was on the ice, a sign he is getting closer to a return from injury, but he was not quite a full participant yet. The larger question for Los Angeles remains how far the changes might go if the offense keeps sputtering, with center-ice options and the top line among the areas that could be affected. [Read more 🡒]