Over the course of the summer, the Los Angeles Kings added Corey Perry, Erik Gustafsson, Mats Zuccarello, Erik Haula, and Scott Perunovich. Both Haula and Zuccarello add playmaking ability as it gives the Kings more options and versatility. Perry brings veteran experience and a net-front presence, while Gustafsson adds depth on defense. Perunovich has yet to play a regular season game with the Kings as he spends his time currently with the Ontario Reign.
Together, these additions give Los Angeles more experience and flexibility. But how will this impact the season? Let’s take a closer look at these five players’ contributions and areas to improve on their game.
Perry’s Experience Around the Net
The 41-year-old veteran returned to the Kings after his stint with the Tampa Bay Lightning, adding bottom-six scoring depth and a net-front presence on the power play. His experience and leadership can help serve as the team’s mentor for the younger forwards and provide valuable guidance during tight games. He can also contribute by winning battles along the boards, creating opportunities in front of the net. To boost his impact, he will need to improve his skating pace and defensive consistency, particularly when tracking back into his own zone. Once that’s cleaned up, the Canadian native can be more effective at creating traffic in front of goaltenders.
Perunovich Looks to Make an Impact
Although Perunovich was competing for a spot on the roster, unfortunately he didn’t make it out of training camp. Instead, he was assigned to the American Hockey League affiliate of the Kings, the Reign. There, he continues to build consistency in his game while working to secure a call-up to the professional league. In the 2025-26 seasons with the Tucson Roadrunners, the AHL affiliate of the Utah Mammoth, the Minnesota native recorded 49 points in 64 games. For the current 2026-27 season, he has four assists in four games.
Mar 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; LA Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) leads players onto the ice against the New York Islanders at the Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
He has showed strong offensive play and continues that this season. The next step for him is to earn a call-up to the NHL.
Zuccarello Must Stay Healthy
One of the most interesting acquisitions this offseason was the signing of Zuccarello. He brings plenty of valuable experience and recorded 54 points in 59 games with his previous club, the Minnesota Wild. Staying healthy would be important for the notable veteran as he missed 23-regular games last season. As of late, he’s missed one game and is placed on injured reserve (IR).
As he recovers from an undisclosed injury, getting Zuccarello back to full health will be necessary for improving the Kings’ offensive consistency.
Haula Shines
Haula has made a solid start as a two-way forward, making an early impact. As of Oct. 15, he has recorded one goal and two assists for three points in four games. He can continue to contribute by scoring consistently and using his physical presence to make an impact on the ice. If the Finn can continue to produce points and score consistently, then he’ll remain an important part of the team.
Gustafsson Looks to Strengthen the Blue Line
Gustafsson has recorded one assist for one point in three games with the Kings. He can improve by making stronger plays on the defensive side and by scoring more, especially from the blue line. I would like to see him limit turnovers and make smarter decisions, especially in moments that seem critical and to be a lot of pressure. If he could build chemistry with his linemates and move the puck effectively, then he’ll become an essential contributor to the lineup.
Who’s Making the Most Impact?
Out of the five players who signed with the team this offseason, the one who made the strongest impact is Erik Haula. Yes, it’s still early in the regular season, and there is plenty of hockey to be played. However, based on his stats, he has stood out with his contributions to the team, while the other additions continue to find their roles. As the season progresses, overall impact and consistency will depend on which players make the biggest difference for the Kings.
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