LA Kings General Manager Ken Holland addressed the media today in a pre-draft availability at Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo.

Holland spoke on a number of topics heading into the draft, as they Kings prepare for what will likely be their busiest stretch of the summer. Personally, I thought it was a really insightful conversation and provides some real direction into what the Kings are looking at over their busiest couple weeks of the offseason.

At the forefront of the discussion was the status of pending unrestricted free agents, as well as several other players in the organization. Starting here with key updates on NHL-roster players below.

Vladislav Gavrikov
The Kings have had lots of contact with Gavrikov’s camp and it’s believed that Los Angeles remains on a short list of teams Gavrikov is interested in playing for. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported earlier this week that were Gavrikov to leave the Kings, there’s a belief that it could be for the New York Rangers. The key, though, is the word “if”. The Kings have made multiple, substantial offers to Gavrikov’s camp and the two sides remain in discussion. There’s at least some semblance of mutual interest in an extension, but for both sides, the numbers have to match.

Holland said that the defensemen are his biggest priority this summer. He detailed that the Kings made Gavrikov an offer when Rob Blake was the general manager and that since he’s arrived, the Kings have upped that offer twice. He didn’t detail complete specifics but said that the difference is with regards to “dollars” not term. The Kings have issued a “long-term” contract offer to Gavrikov’s camp. Still six days to go until July 1, so there’s time. Certainly sounds like Holland wants Gavrikov to stay, but seems more of a toss up at this point on if he actually will.

Andrei Kuzmenko
On Kuzmenko, the situation is a bit different. Gavrikov represents the largest financial commitment the Kings need to make this summer among internal free agents. Kuzmenko was a terrific fit with the Kings for what he was asked to be. He produced offensively as a top-six forward is expected to and he injected life and production into a power play that badly struggled before his arrival. He’s got a track record of providing instant offense but also hasn’t carried over that production into Year 2 in past stops. During his exit interview, Kuzmenko says he “gets it” now, after four teams and five coaches. If he does, he’d be a great fit. But there is risk there, for sure, and with that comes careful consideration with regards to a contract.

Holland said today that there’s been a lot of conversation between the two sides and that both are in agreement on preferring a short-term deal. Essentially, Kuzmenko wants to bet on himself, showcase what he can do and then, on the next deal, potentially sign for a longer term. Kuzmenko wants to be in Los Angeles, per Holland, and placed a lot of value on the trust Kings Head Coach Jim Hiller showed in him down the stretch. After he didn’t collect a point in his first seven games, Hiller and the coaching staff kept playing Kuzmenko in an elevated role, which was something that was important to him. Certainly sounds like it could happen, but might not be the first domino to fall. Still, sounds like that door is open and that the discussions have been quite positive.

Tanner Jeannot
With Tanner Jeannot, I really like Jeannot for the role he filled but if he has an opportunity to make more elsewhere, or to fill a larger role, then he should take it. Per Holland, the sense he has is that Jeannot will head to the market, in search of a larger role than the Kings have to offer. Jeannot was a good fit with the Kings and the Kings liked him for the role he played, but he was brought in last summer to play in the Top 9. Ultimately, he settled in as an effective fourth-line player. If he can find a bigger role or more money elsewhere, he deserves to do that. If that doesn’t arise, it certainly wouldn’t be the most surprising thing if Jeannot came back.

If Jeannot does leave, Holland made it pretty clear that he will look to add to the fourth line.

“I’ve talked to the coach and I’ve got to try to figure out a fourth line that maybe the coach wants to put out there a little bit more than what he did.”

Pretty telling there that the deployment of that line in the playoffs is not suitable going forward and that Holland has spoken with Hiller about pieces that would make him more comfortable in using that line more than he did. Both are important and that has to change for next season. With or without Jeannot, it sounds as if the Kings will add in that area of the lineup.

Alex Laferriere
The Kings have made initial contact with Alex Laferriere’s camp as a restricted free agent.

There’s no pressing deadline here, as Laferriere cannot sign an offer sheet this summer.

“We have had communication,” Holland said of Laferriere. “There’s a number of players of players that are kind of in a similar experience, trying to find a fair deal, a short-term deal for both sides this is fair. We’re going to find a solution. I can’t tell you exactly when, but he wants to be here, he likes it here.”

Good news on that front. A shorter-term deal likely means a lower AAV up front, with the possibility of needing to pay more down the road when the cap goes up. It would, in theory, allow the Kings to allocate more resources elsewhere now, to improve the roster, while taking care of Laferriere with a long-term deal down the road when the time comes.

Jordan Spence
Despite rumors currently going around, Holland said that defenseman Jordan Spence has not requested a trade.

What he has asked for, though, is to play every day and play a role that is more than he played in the 2024 postseason. Which I think is fair.

“I’ve talked to his agent multiple times, he’d like to be here, but he wants to play, he wants to be in the lineup every night,” Holland said. “He’s 24-year-old and if he’s not in the lineup every night, I think he’d like to be somewhere where he could be in the lineup every night. That’s part of what we have to decide between now and Tuesday.”

Holland added that Spence doesn’t want to be a seventh defenseman and he doesn’t want to move at all backwards. Nor should be and nor should the Kings have him on the roster in that type of role. He’s better than that and deserves to play every game. So that’s where we’re at with Spence.

Would it be surprising to see him stay and utilized? No. Would it be surprising if he were moved? No. We’ll see where that one goes.

Adrian Kempe
Holland was also asked about the contract status of Adrian Kempe, who is eligible to sign a contract extension as of July 1.

At his exit interview, Kempe said clearly he would like to stay here and be a part of the solution in advancing further in the postseason. It’s not priority one, with much closer deadlines coming, but Holland made equally clear the Kings want Kempe to stay also. He said that he communicated that to Kempe’s agent and that once July 1 passes, he would like to start working away on an extension to keep Kempe with the Kings for the long haul.

“I met with [his agent] at the combine and I told him I want to sign him to an extension and we’ll probably get to it sometime in July. We’re not going to trade him and he loves it here. He wants to be here, we want to keep him. Let me get some of this other stuff done and then we’ll get it.”

Anze Kopitar
Holland did not have a firm answer to provide on whether the 2025-26 season would be Kopitar’s final season with the Kings.

“I don’t know. I’ve heard rumors, that he’s going to retire or that he’s going to stay. My hope is that we have a great year and he’s having so much fun that he wants to keep doing it. I haven’t really gone down that yet.”

Holland reaffirmed that Kopitar will play this season, certainly, the final season of his current contract. He added that Kopitar is a guy who will “either be an LA King or he’s not going to play hockey” so he isn’t pressing for any sort of an answer there until even into training camp. So, status quo there and we’ll keep monitoring that situation.

Alex Turcotte
Another name that has popped up in trade conversations a bit is Alex Turcotte.

Personally, I don’t see that as being quite as likely because of Turcotte’s versatility and current contract. He’s definitely an NHL player and, per Holland, “the coaching staff really likes him.”

Holland spoke to Turcotte’s lineup versatility in being able to play all three forward positions on all four lines as being something that the organization values. Holland pointed to having that type of a player as being important, but also spoke to the current center depth the Kings have with Kopitar, Byfield and Danault down the middle, which has limited his opportunity at center. Holland also said that teammates like playing with Turcotte and like having Turcotte on the team, with the way that he plays the game.

Holland admitted that Turcotte’s ultimate placement on the team right now is difficult to see, either at center or wing. It could be a fourth-line role to start, while knowing that he’s in a “first man up” situation. Could potentially be higher if other moves are made. Will have to wait and see, but it was good to hear a few of the positive things related to Turcotte.

David Rittich
One thing that came from Holland’s availability is that the Kings will sign a veteran goaltender this summer.

Holland said he has spoken with David Rittich’s camp multiple times about a possible return but also said that the replacement could come externally, either via free agency or a potential trade. Adding one more veteran gives the Kings four goaltenders with NHL experience, alongside Darcy Kuemper, Erik Portillo and Pheonix Copley. Might be Rittich returning, might be someone else. But the Kings won’t be shortstaffed in net, that’s for sure. One to keep an eye on heading into July 1.

I think that’s all for today? Holland spoke for around a half hour so there was certainly more, but wanted to first share the immediate updates provided with regards to players on the active roster. Once the full video is posted, I will add that in for everyone to listen to and watch to make their own assessments, but hopefully this provides a good base.

Much more to come, Insiders, as it continues to get busy here in LA!