LA Kings General Manager Ken Holland addressed the media today in a pre-draft availability at Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Vladislav Gavrikov<\/strong> 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\u2019s arrived, the Kings have upped that offer twice. He didn\u2019t detail complete specifics but said that the difference is with regards to \u201cdollars\u201d not term. The Kings have issued a \u201clong-term\u201d contract offer to Gavrikov\u2019s camp. Still six days to go until July 1, so there\u2019s time. Certainly sounds like Holland wants Gavrikov to stay, but seems more of a toss up at this point on if he actually will.<\/p>\n KH added that his offers were \u201cextended\u201d from the original offer. <\/p>\n Kings are prepared to offer a \u201clong-term\u201d deal and the gap is more in terms of \u201cdollars\u201d than term. https:\/\/t.co\/IPj5xOxN33<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) June 25, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Andrei Kuzmenko<\/strong> Holland said today that there\u2019s 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\u2019t 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. <\/p>\n Lots of discussion between Kings & Andrei Kuzmenko.<\/p>\n KH said both sides would prefer a short-term deal. A big factor in wanting to stay is his relationship with Jim Hiller. The player appreciated still being relied on even after going scoreless in his first 7 games. Meant a lot.<\/p>\n \u2014 Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) June 25, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Tanner Jeannot<\/strong> If Jeannot does leave, Holland made it pretty clear that he will look to add to the fourth line. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve talked to the coach and I\u2019ve 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n This sounds likely, per KH.<\/p>\n Reason being, Jeannot would like to seek a larger role than he had in LA. Kings loved him on the fourth line but he deserves the chance to find a better opportunity if available. https:\/\/t.co\/amIVSleDIM<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) June 25, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Alex Laferriere<\/strong> There\u2019s no pressing deadline here, as Laferriere cannot sign an offer sheet this summer. <\/p>\n \u201cWe have had communication,\u201d Holland said of Laferriere. \u201cThere\u2019s 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\u2019re going to find a solution. I can\u2019t tell you exactly when, but he wants to be here, he likes it here.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n
The Kings have had lots of contact with Gavrikov\u2019s camp and it\u2019s believed that Los Angeles remains on a short list of teams Gavrikov is interested in playing for. Sportsnet\u2019s Elliotte Friedman reported earlier this week that were Gavrikov to leave the Kings, there\u2019s a belief that it could be for the New York Rangers. The key, though, is the word \u201cif\u201d. The Kings have made multiple, substantial offers to Gavrikov\u2019s camp and the two sides remain in discussion. There\u2019s at least some semblance of mutual interest in an extension, but for both sides, the numbers have to match.<\/p>\n\n
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\u2019s got a track record of providing instant offense but also hasn\u2019t carried over that production into Year 2 in past stops. During his exit interview, Kuzmenko says he \u201cgets it\u201d now, after four teams and five coaches. If he does, he\u2019d be a great fit. But there is risk there, for sure, and with that comes careful consideration with regards to a contract. <\/p>\n\n
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\u2019t arise, it certainly wouldn\u2019t be the most surprising thing if Jeannot came back. <\/p>\n\n
The Kings have made initial contact with Alex Laferriere\u2019s camp as a restricted free agent.<\/p>\n\n