The Insider Show | Q&A July 14, 2026
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What are the main offseason changes and new coaching staff introduced for the Kings?
You're listening to an LA Kings podcast. For more episodes of this and every other Kings program, visit LAKings.com slash podcast. Hey Kings fans and insiders. Jared Chafferin and Zach Dooley with you for another episode of The Insider Show. Today we have a QA edition. Was great getting everybody's questions over the last couple days on LA Kings Insider. And it's time to answer some of these questions here in the offseason. Zach, I I think when you look at it. Uh it's been an eventful offseason for the Kings, but not a ton of roster turnover. We got a new head coach in Peter Laviolette, his staff in place, couple free agent additions and eleven draft picks in. So certainly uh a plenty of things that people should be interested in.
And we get the schedule coming up around the corner here this week. So a lot of news and information still kind of trickling out as we get closer to the season.
Extremely eventful for sure. You know, Peter La Violette, obviously a big change. The things that he's been saying and talking about, very different than I think we've heard here in the past, which is exciting. Uh a new staff, three new members of the coaching staff under Peter La Violette, um, all with different strengths and all with maybe different specialties. And I I think that that's encouraging as well. You look at the moves the Kings made, uh, and we'll get into that, you know, a lot of changes coming up front. Um with an eye on special teams. And like you said, eleven draft picks, the most the Kings have had. In a seven round draft era. Um, and it was much needed, right? The pool's been kind of depleted over the years.
They they add a couple players in the early rounds of the draft. Um, a lot going on and excited to dive into a few of these questions.
All right, let's get to it here. The first question is from Mr. Peabody. He asks, Does Ken Holland have a card to play to fix the defense in line with Peter Laviolette's new offensive geared system before the season starts?
You know, I I think the Kings are still looking at that area. Um, in my opinion, and you know, I've I've said this since the season ended. I I think that the mobility and the puck movement. with that unit is still a bit of a weakness. Um, it was unaddressed in free agency. Um, but I don't think well, I I wouldn't say that the Kings did add Eric Gustafson and and Scott Perunovich, who are both puck movers, but it was unaddressed in terms of the six players who were on that unit last year are all still here. And I think that to to truly make a change in that area, it always had to be two cards played, not just the one. It had to be a player going out and a player coming in. Um I think it does require probably two moves to to make a true impact in that area.
Um, I think that you have to now see, okay, who went through free agency, who still has a hole on the blue line, who might be able to use a player. like what the Kings might be be trying to get away from. And then who might have a player in surplus as a result of what they did in free agency that might now be a fit for the King. So I I think it is a couple of moves that would need to be made. And I don't want to create false expectations. No guarantee at all that that happens. It it is harder to make moves at this time of the year. But yeah, I do still think the Kings are looking at it. And with that being said, uh Gustafson and Perunovich are interesting players. You know, Gustavson specifically, he played under Laviolette in New York and Washington.
He played every playoff game for the 2024 Rangers, a team that went to the Eastern Conference final. Um, but he also spent all of last year in the AHL. He's 34 years old. He's interesting because of the relationship and the familiarity with Peter Laviolette. He plays the style of hockey that Laviolette and Phil Housley likes their blue lines to play. So I don't know exactly how he fits in, but you wonder with a guy like that, is he here just to to compete to be the seventh D? Or is he maybe here to compete for a job in the opening night six?
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