It was a busy 24 hours in El Segundo. By the time the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline came and went Friday afternoon, GM Ken Holland had shipped forward Warren Foegele to Ottawa, sent Corey Perry back to Tampa Bay, acquired center Scott Laughton from Toronto, and signed Mathieu Joseph as a free agent.
Both Holland and interim head coach D.J. Smith spoke to the media when the dust had settled a bit. Holland walked through the deal-making, and Smith laid out how the new pieces fit.
Perry Departure: “It Was His Decision”
Early Friday morning, Perry was dealt to the Lightning for a 2028 second-round pick. Holland said the conversation started earlier in the week when Tampa GM Julien BriseBois reached out.
“When Tampa called, it was really — I’d give him up if it was his decision,” Holland said. “And he wanted to go there, so we got a second-round pick.”
Perry, who had a no-trade clause, ultimately chose to waive it and head back to Tampa Bay for a second stint with the organization.
When asked about the possibility of re-signing Perry in the summer, Holland shared: “We’ll get to the summer, we’ll see if he re-signs there, we’ll see what he’s thinking.”
More on what could be next for Perry and the Kings can be found here in today’s trade article.
Why Laughton? “He’s a Centerman.”
The buzzer-beater deal of the day was the acquisition of Scott Laughton from the Maple Leafs for a conditional third-round pick — which becomes a second-rounder if the Kings qualify for the playoffs this season. Holland was clear about what Laughton brings and why the Kings targeted him.
“He’s a centerman and, obviously, Kopitar is retiring at the end of the year; it’s an opportunity for us to look at him,” Holland said. “The coach knows him, but I’d like to see him. We’re still trying to get in [to the playoffs]. He can kill penalties, win draws, he’s competitive, and just gives us more depth.”
Holland added: “He’s a really good third-line center. He’s greasy, he’s gritty. So, I made a decision — it’s a third-round pick.”
LA’s GM was sure to point out that Laughton can also play left wing; an important point to keep in mind as the team looks to piece together a new third line, while also possibly finding ways to give Kenny Connors some playing time down the stretch.
The ‘coach knows him’ part is notable — Smith coached Laughton during his time behind the bench of the OHL’s Oshawa Generals. That familiarity played into the deal, as it did with another Friday addition.
Full details on the Laughton trade can be found here:
Mathieu Joseph: Another D.J. Smith Connection
Here’s what Holland had to say about the signing:
“Matt Joseph agreed to terminate his contract with St. Louis and I talked to him yesterday. D.J. had him in Ottawa. Lots of speed, plays fast, can get in on the forecheck, and he kind of gets what we’re trying to do.”
Smith was even more detailed about what Joseph brings — and where he’ll slot in right away.
“He can really skate. He can penalty kill. He works. He’s one of these guys that can do a little bit of everything. And if he can get his confidence, I think he can really help us.”
He followed that up with: “He’ll go right into Perry’s spot with Connors and Wright, and I think you’ll notice he can really skate, and that is going to make that line really fast. I would expect that they’re going to continue to forecheck and track and make it hard for the other team.”
Still Pushing for the Playoffs
Despite the sell-off of Perry and Foegele, Holland was emphatic: the Kings are still trying to win.
“With the win last night, I think we’re four points back. We lose every tiebreaker, so we need to continue to push,” he said. “Tomorrow night, the coach is going to dress a lineup that he thinks gives us the best chance to win the game.”
Exactly what that means for Connors and Wright remains to be seen — especially if Quinton Byfield is available — remains to be seen.
Overall, Smith echoed the message being delivered: “Regardless of what happened, my job is to go in, provide structure, energy, and try and win every game possible. The management — and Kenny’s done this for a long time — makes the decisions as to which way we’re going, which players are going to be here, and then my job is to coach them.”
We posted more on this signing here earlier today.
Evaluating the D.J.
Asked whether this stretch doubles as an audition for his interim coach, Holland acknowledged the obvious.
“For sure. He’s been a head coach in the National Hockey League in Ottawa, he’s been around the league a long time — assistant coach in Toronto, assistant coach here,” LA’s GM said of Smith. “We’ll see at the end of the year. We’re hoping he drives the team and gets us in.”
Additional Notes
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