We’ll have plenty more from this week’s player exit interviews in the days to come. After all, there’s quite a bit to pour over to provide a deeper dive. In the meantime, below are some of the top highlights spread across comments from players like Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Adrian Kempe, Warren Foegele, and many more.
For those interested, we have the full exit interview videos posted here:
Exit Interviews: Jim Hiller’s Comments to the Media on Monday
Exit Interviews: Kings Players Answer Final Round of Questions
10 Tidbits from 2025 Exit Interviews
1. Doughty believes the loss to Edmonton is on the players
This loss is on the players, not the coaches. — Doughty
— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) May 5, 2025
2. Kempe wants to stick around
Adrian Kempe shared this morning he wants to be in LA for “as long as possible”.
Extension eligible on July 1. Admitted he hasn’t thought about it a ton just yet but reiterated he loves it here and seems to want to stay.
— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) May 5, 2025
3. Byfield won’t sleep well this summer
Quinton Byfield on the end of Game 4.
"I'll think about that all summer."— Dennis Bernstein (@DennisTFP) May 5, 2025
4. Foegele the recruiter
Asked Warren Foegele what he would say to a UFA as to why they should sign with the Kings.
"There's a hunger in this dressing room."
— Dennis Bernstein (@DennisTFP) May 5, 2025
5. Kopitar isn’t retiring early
Kopitar plans to play next season, the final year of his contract.
— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) May 5, 2025
6. Lewis doesn’t want to retire either
Not the end for Trevor Lewis. Tells me on exit meetings he wants to continue playing.
— Dennis Bernstein (@DennisTFP) May 5, 2025
7. Doughty has high praise for LA’s 2024-25 squad
This year hurts more than the others because this was the best team we've had here in a long, long time. — Doughty
— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) May 5, 2025
8. Details on Jeannot injury
Tanner Jeannot specified he had a groin injury that kept him out of the lineup.
Was doing “everything he could” to get back was skating on his own during Round 1. Felt he might’ve been an option had the Kings advanced to Round 2.
— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) May 5, 2025
9. Gavrikov and other free agency notes
UFA Takeaways –
"We'll see" from Gavrikov and Kuzmenko. 84 made clear he is in no rush, no specific deadline for him. 96 liked his time in LA, but too soon to comment.
On Jeannot, his focus was on getting healthy & back into the lineup, hadn't thought much about free agency.
— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) May 5, 2025
10. Laferriere interested in remaining with Los Angeles
https://twitter.com/DooleyLAK/status/1919454714405781518
Much more to come later this week.
MORE LA KINGS NEWS:
Exit Interviews: Jim Hiller’s Comments to the Media on Monday
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I am iffy on Luc, perhaps he should also go. For the same reasons as Mr Blake.
Hire Helene Elliott as one of their outside consultants.
Dave
Adrian for Capitan.
Answers favor keeping Hiller for at least one more season.
Ruskys wanna get paid, if they want too much, I say let them walk.
Kuz was a little less impressive towards the end of the series and Gav is not a point producer.
Love those guys but they set the tone with business like reply’s.
Please not Bargin Bin, Marc for GM
Do not acquire Marner, look for a big add after next season.
Gav is not a point produce, that’s not his game. That’s Spence and Clarke. The two that saw their ice time dwindle in the playoffs.
Wasn’t it 4 years ago when Doughty was hurt that Spence ate a ton of minutes? Imagine if they still allowed him to succeed as hes physically grown and developed.