Brian Dumoulin, D
The Kings and current general manager Ken Holland signed veteran defenseman Brian Dumoulin to a three-year, $12 million contract in the 2025 offseason. This signing generated a pretty controversial and mixed reaction from the Kings' fan base, given the length and base value of the deal handed to an aging defenseman with pretty limited upside.
Holland and the Kings wanted to add more proven experience and grit on the blue line this past offseason to try to get this team over the hump in the postseason in the Western Conference. Adding veteran defensemen with playoff experience, like Dumoulin and Cody Ceci, gave the Kings the added presence and grit they wanted to portray on the blue line in the Pacific Division.
The defensive pairing of Dumoulin and Ceci ranked last in the NHL among eligible pairings in goals for percentage (38.9%) in the 2025-26 regular season (per Natural Stat Trick). That result is particularly concerning for the Kings because LA committed a combined $8.5 million in annual cap room to Dumoulin and Ceci in unrestricted free agency.
Rather than giving the dependable veteran presence the Kings front office was hoping for, the pairing became one of the team's biggest weaknesses on the blue line.
Yet, Dumoulin was the more effective of the two analytically and he remained durable. He played all 82 games during the regular season, while recording two goals, 15 assists, and 17 total points for the Kings. But with two years remaining on his current contract, and at a $4 million annual cap hit, the Kings will need considerably better production from the veteran defenseman moving forward.
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