Los Angeles Kings general manager Ken Holland had his first shot at creating the team he wants to take the ice with for the 2025-26 season.
He started by re-signing forward Andrei Kuzmenko to a one-year, $4.3 million deal. After being acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers, Kuzmenko had 17 points in 22 games. However, it is what Holland did on day one of free agency that had people talking.
After Holland traded promising young defenseman Jordan Spence to the Ottawa Senators for two draft picks, most thought he would direct his attention to grabbing a young, right-handed defenseman.
He did grab two defensemen in free agency, but he may have overpaid for two aging defensemen.
Holland did pick up forwards to shore up his fourth line in adding Joel Armia and Corey Perry, yes, that Corey Perry. Armia was signed to a two-year, $5 million deal, and Perry agreed to a one-year deal worth $3.5 million. Armia is coming over from the Montreal Canadians, and Perry is coming over from the Pacific Division rival, the Edmonton Oilers.
Holland picked up defenseman Cody Ceci on a four-year deal worth $18 million and veteran Brian Dumoulin to a three-year deal worth $12 million. Holland also signed goaltender Anton Forsberg to a two-year deal worth $4.5 million in hopes he grabs the backup position behind starter Darcy Kuemper. The thinking may be that Forsberg and Kuemper will be the duo to start the season, with either Phoenix Copley or Erik Portillo coming up to spot start or fill in due to an injury.
The Kings and Holland wanted to make an impact during free agency. They may have just put the team further behind.
Replacing Spence with two aging defensemen who shoot left was a bad decision. Armia is a solid addition and should make a difference in the bottom six. Perry is out for debate.
Most Kings fans still do not like him, but if he can contribute and help them advance past the first round, and possibly even the Stanley Cup, it will look like another solid addition.
The jury is out about these additions, and it may take time to see how they fit in.
PHOTO: Sergei Belski/Imagn Images
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