When Kings General Manager Ken Holland saw the calendar flip to July 1 last week, he didn’t waste any time getting to work — signing a handful of players on both sides of the puck. Among a group of several veteran forwards added to LA’s roster was 38-year-old Mats Zuccarello.
Per @mayorNHL, Zuccarello gets a $5 million bonus at 10 games played
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) July 1, 2026
He comes to the Kings on a one-year contract that features over $5M in bonuses (including $5M at 10 games played and another $500k in potential playoff bonuses). Because the Oslo, Norway native is over 35, his contract can include performance bonuses, and the deal structure actually helps the Kings short-term, as only his $1M base impacts the salary cap for now.
Last season, he produced 54 points (15G, 39A) in 59 games for the Wild. Zuccarello also averaged 18:39 of ice time in Minnesota. With 936 career regular-season NHL games played thus far — primarily with the Rangers and Wild — he could see milestone game No. 1,000 in a Kings uniform should he get 64 starts next season.
At 5-foot-8, and known for his hustle, he’s been a fan favorite nearly every place he’s played. Now, Zuccarello is tasked with the difficult adjustment of leaving a Minnesota team he loved dearly and starting over again in Los Angeles. During his media call after signing with the Kings, that narrative emerged from the conversation, while Zuccarello also made it abundantly clear he’s ready to turn the page and is excited to join a team that clearly wants him.
Below are key comments from that introductory chat.
Zuccarello on the process of becoming a free agent and ultimately signing in LA:
I think I got an understanding pretty early on that [the Wild] wanted to part ways and try something new. They have some other pieces, and they had to figure that out. And obviously, in the beginning — our family had been there for many years. So that was a little sad in the beginning, but then you realize it’s something you can’t control. Once you start thinking about moving and a new chapter in life, me and my family became very excited.
You’re circling around, you hear some teams are interested, and once things got going, I felt like the Kings were a team that was really interested in me, and showed me that they had a place for me. I’m a simple guy, and that’s really important to me — to feel like the team you’re playing for wants you.
In talking with LA, we really connected. I liked everything they said. I think the Kings are a dream to play for, for any player. I played against them in the [2014 Stanley Cup] Final many years ago. This is a team that’s always been [solid], and when you have a chance to join a franchise like that, it’s really nice. And obviously the players they have right now are really skillful — it’s always hard to play against the Kings, so to be able to join that group of players and that franchise is humbling. It’s an opportunity I look forward to, and hopefully I can find my footing and be some help for this organization.
On his friendship with Kevin Fiala, and the two having played together previously:
I talked to Kev. I have a really good relationship with Kev. He had only good things to say about the team and the city and the fans and the organization. So that was a huge help for sure. He’s a good friend of mine. I’m really excited that he’s a part of the team, but also the top players they have, and the team that they have going into the season — really exciting. So yeah, he was a big factor, one of the ones I talked to for sure.
On signing with the Kings:
I really have — how do I say it in English — admiration for the organization, the team. There were some similar offers from some other teams. It’s exciting when you’re in free agency and a lot of teams want you; it makes you feel really good. But I just had a good feeling about this team, and how they pursued me and really made me feel wanted. That was the ultimate thing at the end. [There is] always a business situation around it, so it was a deal that helped both parties, and a deal I think we’re both happy with. So, it was really nice to get it done, and I was just super excited to be part of the Kings.
On leaving Minnesota after the organization decided to not offer him a new contract:
You know what, I’m going to be honest. I was a little bit disappointed in how it happened. That was the thing. It was a sad moment for my family, especially my girls, who go to school there and everything like that. But once you kind of understood it, you move on and understand that from their side it’s a business, and they decided to move on. I just have to say that I talked to Billy [Guerin, Wild GM], and we squared up and shook on it, so there’s no hard feelings there.
I was a little bit disappointed in the beginning with how the thing was handled, but I’ve seen some reports that I was “pissed” or “ticked” or whatever they used — which is not true. I have respect for the Wild organization. I spent seven really good years there, which I’ve addressed before. There are no hard feelings. Obviously when you spend a lot of time in a place like that, you get relationships on and off the ice and around the community that are always sad to leave behind, but I do have respect for their decision. I had seven good years. I feel like I played some of my best hockey and helped the team in certain ways. We would’ve liked to win a Stanley Cup, but everyone wants to do that. At the end, I have no hard feelings. I’m super excited to get to LA, meet the guys, and create a new chapter in my hockey life and our family life.
Once everything is all sorted out, I’m really happy about this decision. Obviously, I’ve seen a lot of talk about me and Kirill [Kaprisov], and we’ve been really good friends for a long time. He’s going to be fine; I’m going to be fine. We’re going to move on, still be good friends. That’s part of the business, the hockey life. Sometimes it comes with new beginnings and new opportunities — an opportunity now that I’m super excited about and eager to get going.
On the conversation with Guerin:
Bill and I had an understanding, once we finally got to talk. He expressed his side, I expressed my side, we shook hands, left there as friends. No hard feelings. That was it. I wasn’t pissed at the situation or the answer I got. I respect that. That’s their choice, and I gotta live with that and look forward.
So me and Bill squared up. He agreed with what I said, and I agreed with what he said. It was — for a minute there I was just a little disappointed in how it happened, how the situation went. So let’s just leave it at that. You can ask Billy if they want to elaborate on that, but it’s not for me to create any bad situations, because me and Billy are in a good spot. We talked it out; we hugged it out. Yeah, I’m just excited that I got to spend seven years with the organization and the fans in Minnesota, which was really great to me and my family. But now we’re looking ahead and hopefully get that same feeling here in LA. Really excited about that. … I have no anger or bitterness toward the [Wild] team or the organization. I wish them all luck. I’m just happy that I got to move on to an organization like the Kings, where you really feel wanted. At the end of the day, for us humans, you want to feel wanted, and that’s really good.
On how Kaprisov is taking the news of him leaving for LA:
I’ve talked to him throughout this process. We both know it’s part of the business. Obviously, he’s going to have to lose one of his best friends, who he spent almost every day with and talked to on the phone. That’s just part of it. That’s the sad part. But we’re still going to remain friends, and I’ll be cheering for him — except when he plays the Kings.
On his previous comment about LA having a spot for him, and if Laviolette or Holland happened to share more details on what that would be next season:
I think I’m going to be the captain and the GM and the President. [laughs]
No — there’s no guaranteed spot. It’s the NHL, you have to prove yourself. I know there’s a good opportunity for me to prove myself, and that’s the most important thing. I like Lavi’s vision on how to play, how to go about the business every day in practice, how to manage games. We had a really good talk — even Kenny too — about how the Kings want to play this year, which I really enjoyed and am excited about.
I think you have to earn your spot, which everyone else has to do too. But I’m going to get a good opportunity to do that, and hopefully I have a chance to earn my spot. There’s no guarantees in hockey. We have to come prepared. It’s a team sport — we need 20 guys to pull the rope for us to be successful. So, I’m just happy to be a part of that and trying to help out.
On if he can explain more about what he meant referring to himself as a simple guy:
You know what? Probably not a simple guy. I have feelings like everyone else, but I try to take it — it probably looks like I like the bright lights, playing in New York and LA. But I just want to play on a good hockey team with good people who all pull in the same direction. That’s something special about hockey: the team spirit you have, playing with good players, a good organization, coaches and fans that are supportive.
I just think the whole thing is — I’m simple in that way, that when you feel like people want you, you want to give everything for those people. And I feel the Kings were probably the first team that pushed for me. I felt really wanted the whole way, and that means a lot to me. I’ve been in the game for many years now, and hockey is a lot about confidence, feeling good when you go on the ice. That’s a big thing for me, and that’s a really good vibe I got from them — a good start, when you feel like you’re wanted.
We’re all complex guys, but it’s simple in that I try not to take everything so serious. When it’s game time and serious, you’re serious. But trying to keep the room light, keep some positivity, some lightness, some jokes to relieve the pressure a little bit. We hockey players live under a lot of pressure, and sometimes that can go to your head. So trying to keep it exciting, come to the rink every day, have fun with it, and once it’s time to get down to business, then you’re a serious guy. But keep it light every day and have fun about it.
On what it is about the Kings that made him think he’d be a good fit on this team:
I think, from the conversations I’ve had, they feel like they could play a little bit more offensive-minded at times. Hopefully I can contribute with that. Obviously we have to play a hard defensive game — that’s a given — but that was the understanding I got: try and play a little bit more in the offensive zone, and hopefully I can help with that. Just talking to the team and the organization, you’re gonna get a really good opportunity to prove yourself, and that’s all you can ask for. So hopefully I can take that and help the team grow here, get to the postseason, and move on from there.
I’m always excited for new chapters. I appreciate the chapter I had, but hockey goes fast, and now it’s a new chapter I’m super excited about. Hopefully we can grow this team. There are some new key guys — even Panarin, he’s fairly new, and Kevin [Fiala] was out for a little bit last year. He’s coming back…so there’s some excitement there for us to start something new.
Sad to see Kopitar leave. I played with him in the World Cup many years ago. One of my favorite guys in hockey. So, it’s sad, I wish he was still here. But hopefully we can fill his void and be a strong team this upcoming season.
On if he could share a little bit about what was discussed with Laviolette, and what excited him the most about his new coach’s vision for the team:
I’ve never played for him. I’ve heard really good things about him. He was a positive guy to talk to. And Kenny and Luc also made me really feel like this is a team you’ll give it all for and be excited to come to. Obviously, he has a vision — I’m not going to spill his vision, I’m sure he’s going to tell you guys how he feels. But a lot of the things we talked about are things I really cherish in hockey as well: playing both ways, both sides of the puck, work hard and have fun every day, and create a team that can work for each other and hopefully go all the way. That’s his goal. That’s my goal. Hopefully we can create something here in LA.
For an early look on how the Kings lineup might come together in training camp, be sure to check out the article linked below.
Lead photo by Matt Krohn
MORE LA KINGS NEWS:
FIRST LOOK: LA Kings 2026-27 Line Combos, Plus Salary Cap Outlook After July 1 Signings
5 Things We Learned From Ken Holland’s Free Agency Availability
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