2026-27 Off Season Thread

[Kings4OT]

Good lord, is there any ex King who DOESN'T work for the franchise?

Nostalgic, thankful Dion Phaneuf reveals 2004 contract heartbreak

All these years later, Dion Phaneuf can finally tell the story. Eric Francis checks in with the NHL legend on what exactly went down in 2004.

www.sportsnet.ca

I had no idea he was employed by LA.

I think even Richards is in charge of imports or something

 

[xis]

I think even Richards is in charge of imports or something

Yup. Import/Export actually. Making 600k a year

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Yup. Import/Export actually. Making 600k a year

View attachment 433701

Dude will have made $10.5 million for not playing hockey between 2016-2031.

Bummer how his career deteriorated so quickly.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

TA on 9 of the best UFA contracts signed so far.

They updated this article after it was disclosed that Suckarrello will get a $5M bonus after only 10 games played but originally they were slobbering over it thinking the Kings signed him for only $1M:

Mats Zuccarello, Los Angeles Kings

Contract: $1 million x 1 year (with up to $5.5 million in potential performance bonuses)

Zuccarello will hit a $5 million performance bonus after he reaches the 10-game mark next season, so this is really more like a $6 million AAV than the $1 million headline figure. (The other $500K in potential bonuses only kicks in if the team wins playoff rounds.) However, even with that context, this is a sharp signing.

Zuccarello is 38 and there are some durability concerns, but he’s still a bona fide top-six player. The undersized playmaking winger was nearly a point-per-game producer (54 points in 59 games) in 2025-26. He’s a very smart, crafty playmaker, and his three-game absence in the middle of Round 1 was also a reminder of how impactful he still is as a first-unit power-play weapon. Minnesota’s power play was firing on all cylinders to start the series, fell off a cliff when Zuccarello got hurt, and then got back on track when he returned.

With Zuccarello, a full year of Artemi Panarin, and a healthy Kevin Fiala (who suffered a season-ending injury at the Olympics), the Kings’ 28th-ranked power play should get a notable boost. The key to this Zuccarello signing was also limiting the term to one year, which significantly minimizes the risk.

I still don't think this will pan out well because of the contract, hope I'm wrong.

 

[xis]

TA on 9 of the best UFA contracts signed so far.

They updated this article after it was disclosed that Suckarrello will get a $5M bonus after only 10 games played but originally they were slobbering over it thinking the Kings signed him for only $1M:

Mats Zuccarello, Los Angeles Kings

Contract: $1 million x 1 year (with up to $5.5 million in potential performance bonuses)

Zuccarello will hit a $5 million performance bonus after he reaches the 10-game mark next season, so this is really more like a $6 million AAV than the $1 million headline figure. (The other $500K in potential bonuses only kicks in if the team wins playoff rounds.) However, even with that context, this is a sharp signing.

Zuccarello is 38 and there are some durability concerns, but he’s still a bona fide top-six player. The undersized playmaking winger was nearly a point-per-game producer (54 points in 59 games) in 2025-26. He’s a very smart, crafty playmaker, and his three-game absence in the middle of Round 1 was also a reminder of how impactful he still is as a first-unit power-play weapon. Minnesota’s power play was firing on all cylinders to start the series, fell off a cliff when Zuccarello got hurt, and then got back on track when he returned.

With Zuccarello, a full year of Artemi Panarin, and a healthy Kevin Fiala (who suffered a season-ending injury at the Olympics), the Kings’ 28th-ranked power play should get a notable boost. The key to this Zuccarello signing was also limiting the term to one year, which significantly minimizes the risk.

I still don't think this will pan out well because of the contract, hope I'm wrong.

I think Holland signed 3 pieces that he'll be able to trade at the deadline if things aren't looking good. I think at least one of Perry, Haula Zuccarello will be traded deadline for future assets. If the team is out of early all 3 can bring a decent return. Defiantly a better offseason than last year.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I think Holland signed 3 pieces that he'll be able to trade at the deadline if things aren't looking good. I think at least one of Perry, Haula Zuccarello will be traded deadline for future assets. If the team is out of early all 3 can bring a decent return. Defiantly a better offseason than last year.

All these signings were stop gaps, I think Holly goes big game hunting next summer.

I agree with you, I think that is the plan. If things go south every signing minus Laughton basically will be flipped.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Per TA Alfredsson left Ottawa as an AC the last three years for provincial rival Toronto. He felt this was the next step towards being a HC in the league and why he chose TO:

“I think it was the philosophy in the game he has,” Alfredsson said of Hiller. “His values. Obviously, he’s been a coach for a long time. And I think I just felt that it’s something I can learn a lot from. As we kept talking, it kind of felt that this would be a great next step for my coaching career.”

Sure, if you want to blow PO series, mismange your roster deployment, fail to adapt in game management and stress passive, antiquated structure and systems that other teams figure out quickly and squash.

Godspeed on your coaching career sir if that is one of the reasons you took this position.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Lot of backlash going on that Ton Dundons kids (like 6) got their name on the Cup but a guy who played games during the RS (minimum is 41, Joel Nystrom played 38) was left off and not petitioned for. The Dundon kids are all college age and do not work for the Canes.

Having children is not unusual on the Cup (Panthers did it) but they generally hold some type of position within the organization. These 6? Nada.

I believe the Kings petitioned to have Drewiske and Westgarth put on the 2012 Cup but did not petition to have Loktionovon the 2014 Cup.

This Dundon crap? Nonsense. X those trust fund babies out.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Wouldn't let me edit - it's minimum 41 games or 1 game in the SCFs.

That's how Gagne got his name on the Cup although he only played 34 RS season games because he was injured as usual and only played 4 during the Cup run in 2012 but 1 was in the SCF.

He was useless AF that entire season.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

The drawback to watching Lightning Habs PO games on NHLN is I don't know which time Perry was playing there, early 2020s or now.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

None, we are LA Kings fans.

No offense but glad the World Cup is coming to an end, it was annoying having it dictate TV for almost 2 months.

Hockey does the same with the Stanley Cup playoffs but it's a much more exciting sport. Soccer is boring and I hate seeing players writhe around like a sniper hit them when it was just a collision and someone went down.

Soccer players are extremely well conditioned but in a bar brawl the hockey player is the guy I'd pick to throw hands with.

X - you need to find the basketball retractable roof and medivac helo meme from like 25 years ago.

 

[xis]

None, we are LA Kings fans.

No offense but glad the World Cup is coming to an end, it was annoying having it dictate TV for almost 2 months.

Hockey does the same with the Stanley Cup playoffs but it's a much more exciting sport. Soccer is boring and I hate seeing players writhe around like a sniper hit them when it was just a collision and someone went down.

Soccer players are extremely well conditioned but in a bar brawl the hockey player is the guy I'd pick to throw hands with.

X - you need to find the basketball retractable roof and medivac helo meme from like 25 years ago.

This?

 

[PuckinUgly57]

This?

I can't remember if it was him or not but you made an awesome Photoshop job of some dude in a wheelchair, the retractable roof is open and there is a medivac dropping a cable down with a gurney.

We were all ripping on how weak most sports athletes are compared to hockey, may have been on the ESPN boards.

 

[xis]

I can't remember if it was him or not but you made an awesome Photoshop job of some dude in a wheelchair, the retractable roof is open and there is a medivac dropping a cable down with a gurney.

We were all ripping on how weak most sports athletes are compared to hockey, may have been on the ESPN boards.

Ohhhhhhhh hell who knows where that file is now lol

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Ohhhhhhhh hell who knows where that file is now lol

I just remembered it was an NBA player who had cramps, was basically crying and they busted out a wheelchair to get him off the court.

 

[histkng23]

None, we are LA Kings fans.

No offense but glad the World Cup is coming to an end, it was annoying having it dictate TV for almost 2 months.

Hockey does the same with the Stanley Cup playoffs but it's a much more exciting sport. Soccer is boring and I hate seeing players writhe around like a sniper hit them when it was just a collision and someone went down.

Soccer players are extremely well conditioned but in a bar brawl the hockey player is the guy I'd pick to throw hands with.

X - you need to find the basketball retractable roof and medivac helo meme from like 25 years ago.

While I do agree with you Puck about how Soccer players act when the slightest breeze ruffles their sleeve, I have been watching the World Cup almost in its entirety. The major tournaments (World Cup & Euro Championship which are each 4 years apart, but offset, so every 2 years one of them is happening during the summer months - which helps because is during the dog days of the baseball season). Soccer can get boring at times, dictated by the low scoring (especially in the knock-out stages, when everything is decided by penalty kicks which is the same as the shootouts anymore these days). The sport could really benefit in championship matches by playing sudden death, and having the "Golden Goal" to settle tournaments. But I played 7 years of soccer as a kid growing up, and my wife played up through her high school years, which has equaled my daughter playing it since she was 6, and has been on a club team since Covid, and will now be in her 3rd season on varsity at her high school.

But, a few years ago, after finally being sick of the modern athletes, in particular from the NFL & NBA, I ventured into becoming more focused on different sports (F1 and in particular Premier Soccer). Now, soccer in Europe is way better than anything on this side of the hemisphere, and the $$ that is paid for players is beyond anything in any of the major sports here. For example, Mbappe (France) alone was offered a 1 year $750 million (TAX FREE!!!!) contract to play in a league in Saudi Arabia that they're trying to legitimize on the world stage, and he turned it down!?!

But I do understand your sentiment about how soccer players act. The one I remember as being the most egregious was Neymar (Brazil) rolling on the sideline in both matches against Serbia & Mexico during the 2018 World Cup. Both instances can be found on YouTube by simply searching "Neymar Rolling". They have tried to clean up some of the flopping that happens, by making more plays reviewable by video. So you have seen players get the boot for blatantly flopping during a match, but should happen more to put some real teeth in the rules.

On the flip side, Erling Haaland (Norway) is a beast, 6'4" and just shrugs off defenders at will. I first became aware of him a couple years ago, and has created my fandom for Manchester City. Jude Bellingham (England) is quickly becoming the best player for the Limeys. But Messi is a bitch!!

What has made this years World Cup enjoyable, has been the respective countries fans celebrations. The way the Scottish fans took over Boston & Miami during the lead up to their matches. Plus their passion for their national anthem rivals how the national anthem is sung at Blackhawk home games. Then, how the Norwegian fans celebrated victories with the players beating a drum and everyone doing a Viking "row" was pretty cool to watch.

**I think whoever posted that message that you were responding to, must have been on the wrong team thread, as it had no baring on anything we discuss here...not that we're afraid to discuss off-topics.

 

[xis]

I just remembered it was an NBA player who had cramps, was basically crying and they busted out a wheelchair to get him off the court.

That's right. It was Labron James. Wonder if I can find it on the server.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

While I do agree with you Puck about how Soccer players act when the slightest breeze ruffles their sleeve, I have been watching the World Cup almost in its entirety. The major tournaments (World Cup & Euro Championship which are each 4 years apart, but offset, so every 2 years one of them is happening during the summer months - which helps because is during the dog days of the baseball season). Soccer can get boring at times, dictated by the low scoring (especially in the knock-out stages, when everything is decided by penalty kicks which is the same as the shootouts anymore these days). The sport could really benefit in championship matches by playing sudden death, and having the "Golden Goal" to settle tournaments. But I played 7 years of soccer as a kid growing up, and my wife played up through her high school years, which has equaled my daughter playing it since she was 6, and has been on a club team since Covid, and will now be in her 3rd season on varsity at her high school.

But, a few years ago, after finally being sick of the modern athletes, in particular from the NFL & NBA, I ventured into becoming more focused on different sports (F1 and in particular Premier Soccer). Now, soccer in Europe is way better than anything on this side of the hemisphere, and the $$ that is paid for players is beyond anything in any of the major sports here. For example, Mbappe (France) alone was offered a 1 year $750 million (TAX FREE!!!!) contract to play in a league in Saudi Arabia that they're trying to legitimize on the world stage, and he turned it down!?!

But I do understand your sentiment about how soccer players act. The one I remember as being the most egregious was Neymar (Brazil) rolling on the sideline in both matches against Serbia & Mexico during the 2018 World Cup. Both instances can be found on YouTube by simply searching "Neymar Rolling". They have tried to clean up some of the flopping that happens, by making more plays reviewable by video. So you have seen players get the boot for blatantly flopping during a match, but should happen more to put some real teeth in the rules.

On the flip side, Erling Haaland (Norway) is a beast, 6'4" and just shrugs off defenders at will. I first became aware of him a couple years ago, and has created my fandom for Manchester City. Jude Bellingham (England) is quickly becoming the best player for the Limeys. But Messi is a bitch!!

What has made this years World Cup enjoyable, has been the respective countries fans celebrations. The way the Scottish fans took over Boston & Miami during the lead up to their matches. Plus their passion for their national anthem rivals how the national anthem is sung at Blackhawk home games. Then, how the Norwegian fans celebrated victories with the players beating a drum and everyone doing a Viking "row" was pretty cool to watch.

**I think whoever posted that message that you were responding to, must have been on the wrong team thread, as it had no baring on anything we discuss here...not that we're afraid to discuss off-topics.

Appreciate the insight and back story, lot of cool information - thanks for sharing.

Growing up in sub zero cold climate weather in Ohio soccer wasn't really a thing. It was football, baseball and of course hockey. I didn't really become aware of soccer until we moved to CA in 1986 since the weather permitted it to be played year round.

I just could never get into it because of the speed of the game, especially if you're coming from a high speed sport like hockey. My oldest son did play one year of JUSA in 2018 and he was good, but he's also been good at every sport he's played (tackle football, flag football, roller hockey, ice hockey, soccer and baseball which has turned up as his main sport now - his great grandfather played in the Angels organization, his uncle was a great ball player growing up so it's in the blood from that side of the family. He just completed his first season on the HS team and had a solid season) and I did enjoy watching him that season. He played goal and had experience doing that in hockey so he played his position well, the team did well but just fell short in the championship game.

I think everyone just has their preferences, I just can't get into it. I literally watched maybe 1 minute total of all the games this World Cup combined as I was flipping through channels. If it's high speed and violent, I'm all in.

I do agree it was great to see all the world come together, we needed something like that with the way everything is now.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

That's right. It was Labron James. Wonder if I can find it on the server.

That would be awesome haha.

I'm sure I have it somewhere too on an external drive.

 

[LAKINGSFAN]

While I do agree with you Puck about how Soccer players act when the slightest breeze ruffles their sleeve, I have been watching the World Cup almost in its entirety. The major tournaments (World Cup & Euro Championship which are each 4 years apart, but offset, so every 2 years one of them is happening during the summer months - which helps because is during the dog days of the baseball season). Soccer can get boring at times, dictated by the low scoring (especially in the knock-out stages, when everything is decided by penalty kicks which is the same as the shootouts anymore these days). The sport could really benefit in championship matches by playing sudden death, and having the "Golden Goal" to settle tournaments. But I played 7 years of soccer as a kid growing up, and my wife played up through her high school years, which has equaled my daughter playing it since she was 6, and has been on a club team since Covid, and will now be in her 3rd season on varsity at her high school.

But, a few years ago, after finally being sick of the modern athletes, in particular from the NFL & NBA, I ventured into becoming more focused on different sports (F1 and in particular Premier Soccer). Now, soccer in Europe is way better than anything on this side of the hemisphere, and the $$ that is paid for players is beyond anything in any of the major sports here. For example, Mbappe (France) alone was offered a 1 year $750 million (TAX FREE!!!!) contract to play in a league in Saudi Arabia that they're trying to legitimize on the world stage, and he turned it down!?!

But I do understand your sentiment about how soccer players act. The one I remember as being the most egregious was Neymar (Brazil) rolling on the sideline in both matches against Serbia & Mexico during the 2018 World Cup. Both instances can be found on YouTube by simply searching "Neymar Rolling". They have tried to clean up some of the flopping that happens, by making more plays reviewable by video. So you have seen players get the boot for blatantly flopping during a match, but should happen more to put some real teeth in the rules.

On the flip side, Erling Haaland (Norway) is a beast, 6'4" and just shrugs off defenders at will. I first became aware of him a couple years ago, and has created my fandom for Manchester City. Jude Bellingham (England) is quickly becoming the best player for the Limeys. But Messi is a bitch!!

What has made this years World Cup enjoyable, has been the respective countries fans celebrations. The way the Scottish fans took over Boston & Miami during the lead up to their matches. Plus their passion for their national anthem rivals how the national anthem is sung at Blackhawk home games. Then, how the Norwegian fans celebrated victories with the players beating a drum and everyone doing a Viking "row" was pretty cool to watch.

**I think whoever posted that message that you were responding to, must have been on the wrong team thread, as it had no baring on anything we discuss here...not that we're afraid to discuss off-topics.

Well said!!!

I to played soccer my whole childhood through high school. I loved it so much. The whole diving thing has been something that was added well after i played and it has just become a joke. If there was one thing that I dislike is exactly that.
I dont watch an\y of the premier league and really only love watching Olympic and World Cup Soccer.
I am wrinting this as Spain just beat France. The Spanish look really good.