L.A. Kings Add Zuccarello and Haula as Free Agency Kicks Off. Are They Finally Done?

The Los Angeles Kings walked into NHL free agency with a familiar problem. Five straight first-round playoff exits. A center depth chart that looked thin after Anze Kopitar’s retirement and Philip Danualt’s departure. And a front office that needed to show fans it was serious about getting over that hump.

So they didn’t waste time. Within hours of the market opening, the Kings signed two veteran forwards — Erik Haula and Mats Zuccarello — according to multiple reports.

ESPN’s Emily Kaplan was first on the Zuccarello news, posting that all signs pointed toward the Norwegian winger landing in L.A. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun later confirmed it was a one-year, $1 million deal with incentives baked in. That’s a low-risk move for a 38-year-old who’s still got plenty of hockey IQ and passing touch left.

Then came Haula. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the Finnish forward signed a two-year deal worth $3.6 million per season. Haula will be playing for his eighth NHL team in 14 years, but he’s carved out a reputation as a reliable middle-six center who can kill penalties and chip in on the power play.

Last season in Nashville, Haula put up 38 points in 81 games. Nothing flashy. But steady production from a guy who knows how to play in his own end. With Kopitar gone and Danualt out the door, the Kings needed bodies down the middle. Haula gives them someone who can take important faceoffs and handle defensive assignments without getting caved in.

The Zuccarello Element

Zuccarello spent seven years in Minnesota, where he became a key part of Kirill Kaprizov’s rise to stardom. The Wild let him walk because they couldn’t fit his salary under the cap after Kaprizov’s monster extension. They brought back Bobby Brink on a one-year deal hoping he can grow into a similar role on the wing.

In L.A., the question is whether Zuccarello can help unlock Artemi Panarin. The two never played together in New York, but they’re both creative playmakers who thrive on the half-wall and in tight spaces. Panarin signed a three-year extension with the Kings after the team traded for him, but the playoff results were ugly. L.A. got blown out in the first round.

Could Zuccarello be the guy who sets Panarin up for more clean looks? It’s not crazy. Zuccarello made a living finding soft spots in coverage and feeding Kaprizov in Minnesota. If he can build that kind of chemistry with Panarin, the Kings might finally have a top line that scares people.

Lots Still Unknown

New head coach Peter Laviolette is walking into a roster with real questions up front. The Kings aren’t done yet, according to reports, but they’ve made their first two moves. Haula slots in as a steady third-line center. Zuccarello adds veteran savvy to the wing group. Whether that’s enough to get past the first round is anyone’s guess.

But it’s a start. And after five straight years of watching the playoffs from home after a week, the Kings had to do something.