This season feels like the Los Angeles Kings are going all in to try and win one more Stanley Cup for their core group, most notably Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty. It started a few months ago when the Kings elected to bring in an experienced general manager like Ken Holland, who has previously built Stanley Cup-winning rosters in Detroit and also played a role in building the Edmonton Oilers, which have advanced to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals.
It is clear that Holland came in with a plan, which was to acquire experienced players to build a deeper roster that would give head coach Jim Hiller more players he felt confident relying on, especially in the playoffs. They didn't sign any player who are younger than 30 years old and the future is now for this roster.
However, what if this doesn't work? What if the Los Angeles Kings once again come up short or better yet what if they win the Stanley Cup? Regardless of what the outcome is, the Kings appear headed for a significant roster overhaul next summer.
The LA Kings have clearly built a win-now type roster for one more run at a Stanley Cup
This team was not built for multiple playoff runs and it feels very much one and done for this group. It has been this is Kopitar's final season in the NHL, and that will be the first significant move the Kings will have to address.
However, they also signed Corey Perry but only to a one-year deal, as the 40-year-old is still contributing but it remains to be seen how long he can continue playing.
There is also the looming question of Adrian Kempe, who is in the final year of his contract. This might not be a question by next summer though if they can agree to an extension.
Depending on how the season plays out, these might not be the only players on the move, as the Kings will want to really shake up the roster. This means possibly moving players like Drew Doughty, Phillip Danault, Kevin Fiala, or Trevor Moore.
A majority of the roster has been in place for a few seasons now, and with another failed playoff trip, it might require more heavy lifting from Ken Holland to fix this roster next summer.