At the outset of free agency this summer, general manager Ken Holland and the Los Angeles Kings were really busy reshaping the roster in key areas of need for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
Adding key and proven veterans like former Minnesota Wild winger Mats Zuccarello, Nashville Predators center Erik Haula, and winger Corey Perry helped the Kings get more experience at key positions in the forward group this offseason.
The Kings' roster lineup is mostly filled for this upcoming season, especially with the forward group. Holland and the Kings really loaded up on veteran talent and depth on Day 1 of the free agent window on July 1.
The LA Kings still have low-risk options to strengthen the blue line late this offseason
The blue line is really the only position group left where the Kings have room to add at least one player late this summer. And there is still a looming need for Holland and the Kings to add a puck-moving defenseman before the start of training camp and the preseason this fall.
Here are three under-the-radar free agents still remaining available this offseason that the Kings could sign late this summer.
Nick Blankenburg, D
Former Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nick Blankenburg could give new head coach Peter Laviolette and the Kings a big depth boost hypothetically with another puck-mover with offensive upside on the blue line.
Blankenburg entered free agency this summer as an intriguing depth option because of his mobility and offensive skill set, but he remains unsigned a few weeks into the open market. He scored eight goals and over 20 total points in 61 games played between his time with the Predators and Avalanche this past regular season.
There haven't been many rumors or reports coming out in this past couple of weeks that concretely indicate where Blankenburg could be ahead going into the upcoming 2026-27 season.
Blankenburg would theoretically be an impactful, low-risk and low-cost addition to the Kings' blue line to bring more speed and offensive upside to the blue line on a short-term contract going into the 2026-27 season.
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