In the summer for the 2025 offseason, new general manager Ken Holland and the Los Angeles Kings were one of the busiest teams in free agency, adding grit and proven experience in key areas of the roster where it was needed. Holland and the Kings added a couple of proven and experienced players to the bottom-six forward lines and brought in more experience and depth on the blue line, with signings like veterans Brian Dumoulin and Cody Ceci.
Corey Perry and Brian Dumoulin highlighted the Los Angeles Kings and Ken Holland's veteran free agency haul in the 2025 offseason
The Kings lost some younger players from the roster this past free agent cycle, especially on the blue line depth chart. Top-four defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov didn't resign with the Kings, opting to sign a long-term deal with the New York Rangers in the East earlier this offseason in free agency.
LA also lost young defenseman Jordan Spence this past free agency cycle in the summer. Spence signed a short-term contract with the Ottawa Senators.
Other places on the roster, the Kings lost depth players in their 20s, like physical forward Tanner Jeanot and defenseman Caleb Jones to free agency earlier this offseason.
On the forward lines, the Kings brought in players who each have over a decade over experience playing in the NHL in veterans Corey Perry and Joel Armia.
Meanwhile, every player Holland and the Kings signed in free agency this summer, and going into the 2025-26 season in the West were over 30 years of age. The Kings clearly traded younger and more promising long-term pieces on the projected roster for more experienced and physical players who can help this team get over the postseason hump against the Edmonton Oilers.
Alex Chauvancy of The Hockey Writers predicts that the Kings will "regress" from the 105-point mark that LA and head coach Jim Hiller reached in the standings in the West this past season.
"If there’s a candidate for worst offseason in the NHL, it’s the Los Angeles Kings. Ken Holland’s first summer as the Kings’ GM could not have gone worse. A net of 2.6 wins lost may not seem significant, but it’s possible they could be worse than the numbers suggest."Alex Chauvancy-The Hockey Writers
Chauvancy points out that the Kings got significantly older with the projected roster for this upcoming season.
"Not only did the Kings get slower this offseason, but they also got much older. The only plus is Anton Forsberg, who should be an upgrade over David Rittich in net. Perhaps it’s all about the system in LA, and there won’t be much of a dropoff despite the poor offseason."Chauvancy-The Hockey Writers
The goal for the Kings this postseason is getting past the first-round hurdle against the Oilers in the West. There's too much talent on this roster for the Kings projected for this upcoming season in the Pacific Division to not get a good position in the playoff picture for this postseason.