The Los Angeles Kings employed Ken Holland as their new common supervisor on Wednesday. Holland brings a wealth of expertise to the job, together with three Stanley Cups as a common supervisor with the Detroit Crimson Wings. His job is to win a Stanley Cup, however he additionally has a a lot less complicated process in Los Angeles: keep away from a first-round playoff defeat, notably by the hands of the Edmonton Oilers.
Holland is aware of all concerning the postseason historical past between Los Angeles and Edmonton. In actual fact, he was the final supervisor of the Oilers from 2019 till the top of the 2024 Stanley Cup Closing. The veteran govt was on the helm for 3 of the 4 straight playoff matchups between Edmonton and Los Angeles, with Edmonton successful all of them.
Holland is seeking to assist the Kings attain the subsequent stage. And that work begins this offseason. Los Angeles might go fairly daring because the summer season months unfold. With this in thoughts, listed here are three commerce targets for the Kings to think about.
Matias Maccelli might make sense for Kings
The Utah Hockey Membership lately turned the Utah Mammoth. The title has been a very long time coming for Utah, which had some surprising difficulties because it tried to discover a new identification. However, the Mammoth have discovered this identification. However their offseason method seemingly hasn’t modified a bit.
Utah is hoping to make some large strikes this summer season. They’ve the monetary functionality to focus on the likes of Mitch Marner in free company. They may commerce for Elias Pettersson in the event that they so wished, as properly. Nonetheless, they could must make some room on the roster ought to they land an enormous fish. Matias Maccelli could possibly be the odd man out.
Maccelli emerged as a star with the now-defunct Arizona Coyotes in 2022-23. He adopted up with an excellent higher season in 2023-24, changing into one of many workforce’s higher playmakers. Nonetheless, he struggled in 2024-25, scoring simply eight targets and 18 factors in 55 video games.
Maccelli may be very a lot a developmental commerce goal for the Kings. The 24-year-old is coming into the ultimate season of his contract and shall be a restricted free agent in 2026. Los Angeles is in want of some offensive depth on the wing. If the Mammoth are keen to commerce, Maccelli is sensible as a participant who might develop with the Kings.
Anders Lee is an skilled commerce goal
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The New York Islanders handled commerce rumors all through the 2024-25 marketing campaign. Nonetheless, one participant who did not function a lot in these rumors is captain Anders Lee. The Islanders are looking for a brand new common supervisor, although. And this might put Lee’s future on Lengthy Island in query shifting ahead.
Lee remains to be a top-six ahead, having scored 29 targets and 54 factors this previous season. He’s a free agent in 2026, although. If the brand new Islanders common supervisor decides to rebuild, the veteran ahead is sensible as a commerce candidate. The Kings, in flip, make sense as a possible touchdown spot for the Islanders captain.
Los Angeles wants depth on the wing. Greater than that, they might use some added management up the lineup. Lee would carry each to the Kings, and he could possibly be a key cog in any deep playoff run. Los Angeles shouldn’t have an excessive amount of hassle taking over his cap hit, both. A commerce with the Islanders could merely come right down to the acquisition value.
Alex Tuch can be a large addition for Ken Holland
The Buffalo Sabres have missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for 14 straight seasons. That is the longest energetic streak within the NHL, and the one streak lasting greater than 10 years. The Sabres are underneath stress to return to the postseason. Nonetheless, they might nonetheless shake up their roster in a serious means.
Alex Tuch is one in all Buffalo’s greatest offensive level producers. The previous first-round choose has posted three straight seasons of fifty+ factors. And in two of those final three seasons, he scored 60+. In 2024-25, Tuch scored 36 targets and 67 factors whereas enjoying all 82 video games. Solely Tage Thompson had extra targets than Tuch amongst Sabres skaters.
Like Maccelli and Lee, Tuch is a free agent after the 2025-26 season. This brings a ton of danger to the Kings as they attempt to compete for a Stanley Cup. Nonetheless, Holland is seeking to make a splash in his first summer season in control of the Kings. This might put a Tuch commerce on the desk, particularly in the event that they miss out on any targets in NHL Free Company.
Buffalo is perhaps hesitant to commerce Tuch this summer season given their playoff drought. However holding Tuch and letting him stroll for nothing will not assist Buffalo a lot in future seasons. Making him out there for commerce permits them to higher construct for the long run. And the Kings could possibly be the commerce companion they’re in search of.