Los Angeles Kings News
The Los Angeles Kings acquired Laughton in a trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs before the trade deadline last season. The 32-year-old forward's eight points (5G / 3A) in 21 games with the Kings were enough to earn him a three-year contract extension worth $10.5 million ($3.5M AAV).

Gustafsson has seen notable success at the NHL level, primarily when given an opportunity on the powerplay, but fell out of favour last season with the Detroit Red Wings, spending most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL. The 34-year-old veteran defenseman has 240 points (47G / 193A) in 517 career NHL games.

Jenik was a third-round pick of the Arizona Coyotes in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and has played 24 career NHL games, but has spent most of his career in the AHL. The 25-year-old Czech forward scored 17 points (9G / 8A) in 43 AHL games last season.

Pederson is an undrafted forward who has never made his presence felt at the NHL level, playing just 76 career games, but has become a reliable depth piece who performs well in the AHL. The 28-year-old Pederson scored 48 points (23G / 25A) last season in 63 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL).

Perunovich was a high-pedigree prospect, drafted 45th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, but has not been able to translate his talents to the NHL level. The 27-year-old defenseman scored nine points (2G / 7A) last season in 35 games split between time with the Blues and the New York Islanders.

Perry signed with the Los Angeles Kings last offseason on a one-year contract before being dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the trade deadline. The 41-year-old forward will return to the Kings to start the 2026-27 season on a one-year contract worth $1.0 million. Last season, he scored 37 points (17G / 20A) in 72 combined games.

After seven successful seasons in Minnesota, Mats Zuccarello will start a new adventure in his 17th NHL season after signing a one-year, $1 million contract with Los Angeles on Wednesday. The 38-year-old Norwegian winger has surpassed 54+ points in each of his last five seasons and is expected to provide an offensive spark to Los Angeles who finished 4th worst in the NHL in goals for in 2025-26.

One of the dominos of free agency has dropped after it was announced moments after the signing window that Los Angeles has signed Erik Haula to a two-year, $3.5 million AAV ($7.0M total). The 35-year-old is entering his 14th NHL season with his eighth organizations after spending last season with Nashville where he had 14 goals and 38 points in 81 games played.

Fresh off a career season which saw him post highs in goals (8), assists (32), points (40), PIMs (63), PPP (13) and SOG (159), Brandt Clark has signed a five-year deal worth $7.4M AAV ($37.0M total) with Los Angeles. The 23-year-old was Los Angeles' 2021 1st round pick (8th overall) and is entering his third full season with the Kings. He is expected to run their top powerplay unit and improve on his 19:48 TOI from 2025-26 next season.

After three strong seasons in Ontario (AHL), Los Angeles has decided to keep Francesco Pinelli in the organization for another season after the forward signed a one-year, two-way contract on Thursday. The 23-year-old was Los Angeles' 2021 2nd round pick (42nd overall) but has yet to make his NHL debut. In 65 games with Ontario in 2025-26, he had 14 goals, 35 points and 50 PIMs. He is expected to be a key part of the Reigns' roster yet again to start 2026-27.
