Welcome To The New LA Kings Insider

Insiders, we’ve got some news about…..well, LA Kings Insider!

From an LA Kings press release this afternoon –

The LA Kings announced new changes to better serve their growing fans for this unique season, highlighted by updates to contributors to LAKingsInsider.com and the addition of Mayor’s Manor.

LA Kings Insider, a website created more than 10 years ago with the goal to provide the club’s fans a direct line of communication that delivers editorial content detailing the day-to-day activities of the LA Kings, has undergone a series of changes leading up to the opening of the 2020-21 NHL season.

The website this season will further evolve into a platform that will now feature multiple content contributors and a varied multi-media approach that not only includes daily coverage of the team, but also original writing, podcasts and videos that will work in synch with a number of other Kings editorial platforms.

“We feel this is a great opportunity to explore new ways re-energize and evolve LAKingsInsider.com. This led to a decision to utilize a number of voices and more of a multimedia approach to service this passionate on-line community – The LA Kings Insiders – who are so dedicated about this platform and our hockey club,” said Michael Altieri, Kings Senior Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Content. “It is imperative we deliver team news but more importantly delivering this news through diverse and compelling content.”

Zach Dooley, who served as the editor of Ontario Reign Insider the past two years in addition to front office duties with the Reign, now serves as Manager of Editorial Content for the Kings and his work will primarily be featured at LAKI. Other regular contributors will include Kings personalities and content specialists such as Jack Jablonski, Jesse Cohen and – in his 40th season with the Kings – Nick Nickson. LAKI will now debut the club’s LA Kings Legends Series, which so far has featured former fan favorites as Tony Granato, Larry Robinson, Brian Kilrea, Mattias Norstrom and Butch Goring, and an overall emphasis on Heritage with the Kings having been in Los Angeles for more than 50 years. LAKI will also feature regular LA Kings in the Community stories.

In addition, the Kings and John Hoven, editor of the popular Mayor’s Manor website, have entered in an exclusive Content Partnership in which MayorsManor.com will remain independent but also be integrated into LAKingsInsider.com. The first of its kind in the history of LAKI, Hoven will also contribute exclusive content to LAKingsInsider.com on a monthly basis, as well as continue daily updates on MayorsManor.com.

Said Hoven, a long-time member of the local chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association: “Since the inception of Mayor’s Manor in 2009, we’ve had one goal in mind – to provide the most in-depth content surrounding the LA Kings organization. We take pride in using an independent voice to cover every aspect of the team’s activity, on and off the ice – from the Draft, to the AHL, and every bit of NHL action. Through the years, nothing has been more satisfying than being universally recognized as the go-to source for Kings prospect information and rankings. Now, as the team is on the verge of entering what should be an exciting chapter and another successful phase, we felt this was a great time to partner with the Kings and open up our coverage to an expanded audience via the LA Kings Insider platform. I look forward to interacting with a whole new community of fans and sharing in our combined passion for hockey. The future is beyond bright in Los Angeles and we’re proud to be part of it in such a big way.”

Note From Zach Dooley –

I’m not one for long-winded intros, but with the changes over the past 10 months, and the new ones that occurred here today, I think this is a great way to kick off the regular season.

You’ve seen the note at the bottom of stories throughout the summer and fall –

“Our organization understands the importance of LAKI to you and we remain committed to evolving the platform and providing exciting new content once we resume our usual operations.”

While it felt generic, I believe that this message was honest. The LA Kings Insider platform is an important part of the Kings organization. The interest and passion shown by readers here has made a significant impression on many on the inside, and it’s is a big reason why the platform will continue to run as a primary source of Kings coverage.

Moving forward, LAKI will no longer have one “Insider”. Both Jon and Rich contributed tremendously in their time as THE Insider. Moving forward, the site will have several people contributing, myself included, which should open up our possibilities for creating not only more content for LAKI, but also a wider range of content. I’m excited to see what John Hoven, Jack Jablonski, Jesse Cohen, Nick Nickson and others have in store.

My role with the site will be the lead on day-to-day coverage of the team, while also providing a look into some more feature-based stories. I think I’ve been able to show this so far throughout training camp. My goal will be to put my own spin on things here, and I’m hopeful that will be received well. I also think that these additional contributors will offer their own unique perspective.

One thing that I have most respected about what has been created here on LAKI is the community that was built. You guys are the true “Insiders”. Whether it’s myself or someone else sharing the news, my hope is that this community will embrace that person’s work, and continue to engage with the same fervor and intensity that you have since I’ve started here. I’m excited to see the Insiders not only continue, but also continue to grow.

With that, we move on to the 2021 LA Kings. The regular-season starts tomorrow, with camp coverage expected on a daily basis throughout. Let’s have some fun!