Kings hire Laviolette, add Haula, Perry, Zuccarello

The Los Angeles Kings head into the 2026-27 season with a new identity following the retirement of franchise icon Anze Kopitar. After twenty seasons of leadership, the team enters a transition period that centers on veteran acquisitions and a coaching change to maintain competitive standing in the Pacific Division.

Peter Laviolette takes over as head coach to guide this group. His experience includes three Stanley Cup Final appearances and a championship victory in 2006. The organization bolstered its roster on July 1 by signing several seasoned players to replace outgoing talent. Mats Zuccarello, Erik Haula, and Corey Perry join the fold to provide depth and offensive production. Zuccarello arrives after a strong performance with the Minnesota Wild, where he ranked in the 96th percentile for offensive zone time percentage.

While the loss of Kopitar represents a major shift, general manager Ken Holland prioritized maintaining a presence down the middle. Scott Laughton remains with the team after a successful stint last season, bringing stability to the center position. The front office also looks toward younger prospects such as Henry Brzustewicz and Koehn Ziemmer to push for roster spots throughout the coming months.

Defensive output remains a focus for the squad. Brandt Clarke is expected to see increased responsibilities on the first power play unit following a career-high point production last season. With a projected lineup that mixes established veterans with young playmakers, the Kings aim to move beyond their first-round exit from the previous year. The regular season gets underway on September 29, marking the official start of this new chapter for the franchise.