To preview the upcoming training camp and season, the latest episode of The Insider Show features the insights of former forward and current NHL Network analyst Mike Rupp.
Rupp is consistently featured on the league network’s panel and frequently gives his opinions on club’s moves with game analysis.
Coming into a new season with a new head coach in Peter Laviolette, Rupp feels it’s going to be important for the Kings group of players to get up to speed on the new system quickly so they can add the necessary offense that will be required to compete without sacrificing the defensive principles they’ve relied on for years.
As someone who previously played with new forward additions Erik Haula and Mats Zuccarello in Minnesota, Rupp was very high on what those players can bring to the LA lineup with their versatility and experience. For Zuccarello specifically, Rupp highlighted the value of his bonus-laden contract and his ability to find his linemates on the ice, ultimately making them better and more productive.
When looking at the Pacific Division and how the makeup of some teams has changed, Rupp said he expects Edmonton and Vegas to continue to compete for the top of the table, and San Jose may take a step forward, while Anaheim could struggle to maintain the level they were at last season after losing some key pieces of their team, including multiple veteran defenders.
Below are some transcribed excerpts from our conversation, which can be watched and listened to in full on the Kings YouTube channel as well as on all major podcast networks on the LA Kings Insider Audio feed.
His overall outlook on the Kings going into the 2026-27 season
I think this is a team that just – they need to score more goals, but you don’t want to do that at the cost of playing good team defense and this team, over the years, that’s been their MO is they’re pretty structured in what they do, but you’ve got to find some more goals in that lineup. There’s been injuries with this team, we know that, but you also need to try to find a way to unlock some players and I think that’s where Artemi Panarin comes into last year. It’s tough coming over and I thought he looked really good as an LA King. It’s tough coming over midseason and getting accustomed to things up and running and making it where you’re not really thinking, you’re just playing. I think he’ll be better this upcoming season, getting into training camp and reuniting of him and Peter Laviolette and Lavy kind of speaks the language of Artemi Panarin, not Russian offense. It’ll allow him to maybe get going and maybe it’ll help unlock Quinton Byfield a little bit more. When I think of the LA Kings, I’m looking for Quinton Byfield to pop here. I love him, I love what he’s done, but it’s time now. It’s time for him to take a huge step with the departing of Anze Kopitar.
On the additions of Erik Haula and Mats Zuccarello to the roster
I played with both Erik Haula and Mats Zuccarello, so I’ll try to give you my most unbiased opinion, but I might not be able to because I love these two guys. I think these guys are fantastic. I’ll start with Haula, he’s a bit of a ‘What do you need’ player. He can play center, he can play wing, he can kill penalties, he’s fast, he’s just hard to play against. You can’t have too many of those types of players. I think he’s a good guy as far as a gut-shot to the lineup addition. And then Mats Zuccarello, one of the best teammates I’ve ever had and that’s kind of universally across the board. And with that deal he signed with the Kings, honestly, I think it might be one of the most impactful, discounted contracts in the National Hockey League. I think that’s how much he can impact this team. That’s where the offense comes into play. His numbers aren’t gaudy, but he can spark things, he can get things going. That power play needs to be better, and he can do that. I remember playing with him in New York, and that was right at the beginning of his career. He came over, and he was playing on the fourth line with me, and I remember the first practice I was like, ‘Why is this guy on my line?’ He’s too talented. He just finds you, you’ve just got to get open. With his ability to see the ice, he makes players around you better. I remember thinking to myself, not comparing the two as players, but as far as their vision on the ice, I played with Sidney Crosby, and I’m like, honestly, when you practice and you get into games with him, you get open, he’ll find you. You don’t think he sees you, but he’ll find you. He had a lot of Crosby-esque vision, and I thought it was spectacular. I love those two additions, and we’ll see how it solidifies this lineup as far as depth, and also it maybe gives them a little bit more of a spark offensively.
On the Kings defensive makeup and Laviolette’s system
I think Lavy, just thinking back to his career in coaching. He’s pretty good at giving the green light to guys. Maybe as fans, sometimes you’re like, ‘I don’t know if I want that guy to have a green light’. But it’s really important to have that green light because if I’m the opposing team’s winger and you’re out there looking at personnel, you’re clearly going to pay attention when Brandt Clarke is on the ice. You’re going to have to keep your head on a swivel and look around. But there’s something to be said for a Brian Dumoulin, where that defender might be like alright, I still have to keep my head on a swivel, but I can cheat a little bit more, kind of multitask. If he’s got the green light, that’s now where the pro in him has to come through and pick his spots to jump in when he can. I think Lavy’s done a good job of that, of allowing defensemen to make reads. It’s not like ‘you can go and you can’t’, everyone go, just make the right timing with it. Some guys like Brandt Clarke should go all the time, and they’ll live with the consequences of maybe some negative reads, but that’s something where I’m okay, I don’t think you need to have a ton of offensive defensemen to have a good offensive team, I just don’t. These guys are all in the National Hockey League, and Brian Dumoulin was that at times in his career. He and Kris Letang were an incredible pair in Pittsburgh. These guys have the ability, let them make the proper reads, and I think Lavy will allow them to do that.
On the age of the team and how they can use it to their advantage
Speed is certainly a huge element of the game nowadays, but you have some high-end talent that can still do that and play that way. As dumb as it sounds, I think you’ve just got to be hard to play against. That can mean 100 different things, but just to be dogging pucks, just getting on it and making it hard to have success for the opponent and you play with the puck more in your control. There’s some teams in the league that aren’t speed demons that are pretty good hockey clubs. One that comes to mind is just the success of the Florida Panthers over the years. That’s not a very fast team. They might have a couple burners over the years but so do the LA Kings, they’ve got some guys who can scoot out there. I think just the way they play connected, hard to play against. Florida’s example is that they dumped the puck and they forechecked hard and created turnovers. If the D is still the foundation, which I believe it will be, I think the goal here is to fight to get the puck back and, when they do, just be patient and play the game. I think they’ll be okay. There’s always going to be some mismatches, you’re going to come across a team that is maybe quicker and gives you some problems, but I think you can have success in this league with an older lineup as long as you can have your identity for what you do.
The Insider Show – Mike Rupp
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