In this episode of Summer Coolers, Neil Smith and Vic Morren dive into the offseason developments for the Los Angeles Kings after another frustrating playoff exit. For the fourth consecutive year, the Kings were eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round—this time after holding multiple leads and letting key games slip away. With Rob Blake out and Ken Holland in as GM, the Kings are attempting to retool—but are they reloading or regressing?

The hosts break down the impact of Holland’s veteran-heavy signings—Corey Perry, Cody Ceci, Joel Armia, and Brian Dumoulin—all of whom push the Kings’ roster deeper into “win-now” territory. But with an aging core that includes Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar, and a first-time head coach in Jim Hiller, there are real questions about whether this team can make it out of the first round, let alone compete for the Cup.

They also revisit LA’s playoff series against Edmonton, highlighting how close the Kings were to taking control—and how costly breakdowns and coaching decisions may have sealed their fate.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] A fourth straight playoff loss to the Oilers — what went wrong again?

[01:00] Ken Holland takes over as GM — will he be the answer?

[01:33] Offseason additions: Perry, Armia, Ceci, Dumoulin — average age over 34

[02:40] Perry’s Stanley Cup Final curse — five different teams, five losses

[04:15] Game-by-game recap: blown leads, failed challenge, poor puck decisions

[06:00] Byfield’s development, Fiala’s upside, and depth up front

[07:15] Defensive drop-off: losing Gavrikov, aging Doughty, concerns with Ceci

[08:10] Coaching hot seat: how long is the leash for Jim Hiller?

[09:15] Could Peter DeBoer be an option if things go south early?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

The Kings continue to stumble in the postseason, despite holding multiple leads over the Oilers in key games.

Ken Holland's first offseason as GM focused on experience, but at the expense of speed and youth.

The blue line took a hit with the loss of Vladislav Gavrikov, and the replacements (Ceci, Dumoulin) raise concerns.

Jim Hiller is not Holland’s hire, and with big expectations and a veteran group, a slow start could trigger changes.

Quinton Byfield's second-half surge and the continued consistency of Kempe and Danault offer hope—but the pressure is building.

RESOURCE LINKS:

🎥 YouTube: NHL Wraparound

🐦 Twitter/X: @NHLWraparound

📸 Instagram: @nhlwraparound

🎵 TikTok: @nhlwraparound

👤 Neil Smith: @NYCNeil

👤 Vic Morren: Vic Morren on LinkedIn

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