Veteran Corey Perry among slew of free agent signings by Kings - ESPN

In their bid to get beyond the first round and possibly further, the Los Angeles Kings signed five free agents Tuesday in a haul that was headlined by former Hart Trophy winner Corey Perry.

Perry signed a one-year contract worth $2.5 million. The Kings also signed forward Joel Armia (two years, $2.5 million AAV), defenseman Cody Ceci (two years, $4.5 million AAV), defenseman Brian Dumoulin ($4 million AAV) and goaltender Anton Forsberg (two years, $2.25 million.)

Getting eliminated in the first round for a fourth consecutive postseason to the Edmonton Oilers led to changes in the Kings' front office with the club moving on from GM Rob Blake.

They would then hire Ken Holland, who was inducted into the Hall as a builder after constructing a dynasty with the Detroit Red Wings that saw them win three Stanley Cups, five Western Conference titles, three Presidents' Trophies and 10 Central Division titles.

Holland sat out the 2024-25 season after his contract with the Oilers was not renewed. In Holland's final season as GM of the Oilers, the club reached the Stanley Cup Final where they lost to the Florida Panthers in seven games.

In hiring Holland, the Kings expected he would strengthen the roster and help the franchise get out of the first round for the first time since the 2014-15 season.

Entering late June, the Kings were rumored to be linked with practically every marquee pending unrestricted free agent top-six forward with the belief they could still have the remaining salary cap space to re-sign pending UFA defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov.

Many of those forwards had already re-signed or were traded elsewhere with Gavrikov opting to sign with the New York Rangers.

That prompted Holland and his front office staff to add in