The Los Angeles Kings added a cheap piece this offseason who could end up looking like one of Ken Holland’s sharpest moves.
Mats Zuccarello, who spent the past seven seasons with the Minnesota Wild, signed a one-year contract in free agency to join Los Angeles. He’s one of the older players headed into the upcoming 2026-27 season, but the offense he’s still bringing to the table makes him a name worth watching.
Sportsnet included Zuccarello this week among 12 under-the-radar acquisitions who could surprise next season, and it’s easy to see why. For the price the Kings are paying and the role he can fill in the top six, he has a chance to deliver real value right away.
Zuccarello put up 54 points in 59 games last regular season with Minnesota, then added nine points in eight postseason games. That kind of production is exactly why he could matter so much in Los Angeles, especially on a power play that struggled badly in the Western Conference last season.
His passing and his ability to carry the puck into dangerous areas should give new head coach Peter Laviolette and his staff a better-looking power-play unit. The Kings do not need him to reinvent himself or carry the offense. With forwards like Artemi Panarin, Adrian Kempe, Quinton Byfield, and Kevin Fiala already doing the heavy lifting, Zuccarello only needs to be a dependable playmaker in the top six.
He can still chip in secondary scoring, too, and that’s where the fit becomes even more appealing.
Los Angeles took heat all offseason for leaning on older veterans and stacking the roster with aging players in important spots. Zuccarello is the signing who could do the most to quiet that criticism. There is risk because of his age, but the recent numbers say he still has plenty left to offer.
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