The Los Angeles Kings have opened the season with a confident pace, blending familiar structure with fresh arrivals who have quickly settled into meaningful roles. Their start hasn’t been flashy, but it has been measured and controlled, the kind of base a team can build on as the months get tougher. The mix of veteran additions and internal growth has given the lineup a distinct rhythm compared to last year.
With new voices in management and experienced players stepping into targeted roles, the Kings appear to be a group trying to redefine their edge. That shift sets up a natural question about how these changes came together and why one particular veteran has earned special praise from the new general manager.
Why Is Ken Holland So Impressed With Corey Perry?
When Ken Holland stepped into the general manager role in Los Angeles, he inherited a roster with plenty of potential but also apparent gaps that needed experienced solutions. His offseason approach focused on adding depth, fostering the right attitude, and identifying players who could influence games without needing to dominate every shift. That mindset made Corey Perry an immediate fit for what the Kings wanted to build.
Perry arrived on a one-year, $2 million contract, a straightforward and low-risk deal for a 40-year-old who has played nearly every possible role in the NHL. His history is long, including a Stanley Cup win with Anaheim, a Hart Trophy season, Olympic gold medals, and several trips to the Stanley Cup Final with different teams.
But Holland’s interest wasn’t tied to Perry’s past achievements. It came from the belief that Perry still knew how to shape key moments and raise the intensity when his team needed it.
Through the first stretch of the season, Perry has rewarded that trust with seven goals and five assists for 12 points in 15 games. He continues to play his disruptive, competitive style, helping the Kings in the tight, low-margin games that have defined their early schedule. His presence on the fourth line has given Los Angeles more bite and more confidence, especially in situations where a slight push can turn into momentum.
That impact is exactly what Holland highlighted when speaking with NHL insider James Murphy about the team’s progress. He pointed to the group’s improved rhythm and made clear that Perry has been part of that upward shift.
“We’re rolling four lines, we’re rolling three pairs of defense, we’re checking, we’re comfortable in tight games, and we’re getting offense up and down the lineup. Obviously, Corey Perry’s been a good story for us. He’s almost at a point a game,” Holland said, via RG Media.
His praise came while describing how the Kings have worked through a slow start and begun to build their identity.
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Holland wasn’t isolating Perry from the rest of the team. He was acknowledging that Perry’s influence fits exactly with what the Kings are trying to create. His ability to battle inside the hard areas, win pucks, and frustrate opponents has been a valuable extension of what the coaching staff wants from the lineup. His recent playoff runs with Edmonton also bring experience that can help Los Angeles take the next step when the games tighten later in the year.
Since Perry is on a one-year deal, he will hit unrestricted free agency next summer. For now, he remains one of the quieter success stories of the Kings’ season.