When July 1 comes around, it is always the best time of the year. July 1 is NHL Free Agent Frenzy Day where teams can finally sign players off of other teams that are unrestricted free agents.
This is the day where some teams massively overpay players because they want to try to seriously improve their team and make them better.
Well that was the case for the LA Kings and their gm Ken Holland. He handed out 2 massive deals to 2 defenseman that played for the Penguins in years past.
He signed Brian Dumoulin to a three-year 4 million-dollar contract and Cody Ceci to a four-year 4.5 million-dollar contract. Both of these players are way past their primes and are not good defensively yet got bags.
Cody Ceci has signed a four-year, $4.5M AAV contract with the LA Kings, per @reporterchris pic.twitter.com/8jeNll3UEv
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) July 1, 2025
Instead of retaining their top defenseman on the market, they added two worse players
The Kings had Vladislav Gavrikov as a UFA and knew that he was testing free agency come July 1, but he was the best defenseman on the market and they let him walk.
Instead of trying to actually improve their defense, Ken Holland went out and spent crazy money on two defenseman who do not play defense well anymore.
Dumoulin and Ceci both got walked and embarrassed in this past year's Stanley Cup Playoffs and for whatever reason Holland is betting on them to bounce back.
They should have retained Gavrikov instead of signing them both and Holland is going to regret it.
Take it from Pens fans this was a mistake by Holland
Penguins fans could tell you that signing Dumoulin and Ceci was a massive mistake and should have been avoided at all costs.
When they were last with the Penguins, lots of anger and frustration and sadness were the emotions that were felt.
Pens fans are now sitting back laughing at Ken Holland.