The Los Angeles Kings have signed veteran defenseman Brian Dumoulin to a three-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $4 million. The deal, totaling $12 million, was announced on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
Dumoulin, 33, brings a wealth of experience and a championship pedigree to the Kings' blue line. He is a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Pittsburgh Penguins, having won back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017. Throughout his 12-year NHL career, Dumoulin has played 706 regular-season games with the Penguins, Seattle Kraken, Anaheim Ducks, and New Jersey Devils, amassing 28 goals and 149 assists for 177 points with a plus-95 rating.
Last season, Dumoulin split time between the Devils and the Ducks, recording 3 goals and 19 assists in 80 games. He also averaged a league-high 29:21 minutes of time-on-ice in five playoff games for the Devils.
Dumoulin is known as a strong shutdown defenseman who can play a significant role on the penalty kill. While he may not provide a ton of offensive upside, he is a reliable player in his own zone and can be counted on to log important minutes. In the Kings' defensive lineup, he is expected to fill a No. 4 or 5 role but can move up if needed.
Prior to his NHL career, Dumoulin played college hockey at Boston College, where he won three consecutive Hockey East Championships and two NCAA National Championships in 2010 and 2012.
The Kings have been active in free agency, also signing defenseman Cody Ceci to a four-year contract and goaltender Anton Forsberg to a two-year deal. These moves are aimed at bolstering the team's defense and adding depth in net. The Kings also signed forwards Joel Armia and Corey Perry. With the departure of Vladislav Gavrikov, the Kings hope that Dumoulin can help fill the void on the blue line.
Some analysts believe that the Kings' defense may have become less well-rounded with these changes, but perhaps more suited for the playoffs. The team appears to be prioritizing players with a "playoff build," as Dumoulin, Ceci, and Joel Edmundson all fit that description.
Dumoulin's contract has a $4 million cap hit and expires at the end of the 2027-28 season.
