The LA Kings just can’t catch a break. First, they got bounced yet again in Round 1, yep, Edmonton Oilers came through and slammed the door shut on their playoff hopes for the third straight year. And just when the dust barely started to settle, another twist drops. At first, it was all, ‘Jim Hiller and Rob Blake are staying put.’ But nope. Rob Blake? Outta here. The team called it a “mutual parting,” but c’mon, let’s call a spade a spade. As for Coach Hiller? He’s still got his seat warm for now, even if fans were side-eyeing his choices after that bench-shrinking, challenge-calling chaos in the playoffs. He’s only had two shots at the postseason wheel, and the regular season wasn’t a total dumpster fire, so he gets a little bit more leash… for now.

But just as LA Kings fans were catching their breath entered chaos mode: Ken Holland. Yeah, the whispers are swirling, and the vibes are tense. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman posted on X: “We will see where things progress over the next few days, but all indications are that the LA Kings are closing in on Ken Holland as their next GM.” The same Holland who stirred the pot in Edmonton and ran the show in Detroit might be trading in snowstorms for palm trees. And after watching four straight playoff dreams go up in smoke, the Kings were lowkey begging for something to change. And now, LA Kings fans are spiraling again as a new update drops.

NHL insider Pierre LeBrun stirred the pot, posting, “As others have reported, all signs point to Ken Holland being hired as GM by the Los Angeles Kings but am told both sides still haven’t finalized a deal. Moving in the right direction but not quite done yet.” And then, Darren Dreger swooped in on X and dropped the mic with, “Press conference to announce Holland is on Thursday.” Just like that. The deal’s not done-done, but it’s basically dressed and ready for the red carpet. And honestly? LA Kings fans were not loving this surprise casting.

One fan just flat-out said what a bunch of others were thinking: “Lol how did they downgrade from Blake?” And while that might sting a little, the sentiment is kinda floating around loud and proud. While Rob Blake didn’t crack the playoff code, sure, but he did build a pretty solid regular-season machine. This season? The LA Kings tied their franchise-best with 48 wins and racked up a juicy 105 points. Second place in the Pacific Division ain’t nothing to sneeze at. But yeah… those Oilers. Again. That postseason curse hit hard, with Edmonton showing them the exit door in six games. Déjà vu, but somehow worse every time.

Let’s not forget, Blake isn’t just some guy. We’re talking Hall of Famer status, No. 4 hanging high in the rafters at Crypto.com Arena, forever a LA Kings legend. Sure, he snagged his lone Stanley Cup ring with the Avs, but LA was always home turf. After retiring in 2010, he stepped into the Kings’ front office during that magical 2013-14 season when they snatched their second Cup. So yeah, fans have history with this him, there’s legacy, there’s emotion. And now? With Holland possibly stepping in, it’s giving big ‘wait, this is our upgrade?’ energy. But this was just the tip of the iceberg!

LA Kings’ fans are not so happy with the new update!

One LA Kings fan didn’t hold back, tossing out, “Do these teams know they don’t have to keep hiring the same failures over and over?” And honestly? That’s the mood right now across hockey social media. After coming this close to the Cup with the Oilers last year, Ken Holland packed up after that soul-crushing 2-1 Game 7 loss in Florida. No contract extension, no surprise hugs, just… see ya. His time was clearly winding down, and when Edmonton didn’t blink at keeping him, fans already knew the book was closing.

Now, with Holland circling the GM chair in LA Kings like it’s musical chairs with playoff dreams, the reactions are mixed at best. The man’s got championship jewelry, sure, but LA fans aren’t exactly lining the streets for a confetti drop. Another fan chimed in, saying, “How can you look at all the people available and be “Yup Holland is our guy” 😭” And yeah, with all the front office shakeups, broken playoff hearts, and now this hiring heatwave… Kings fans are nervously doom-scrolling, just hoping this next chapter doesn’t read like déjà vu.

One fan tossed their hopes into the universe, saying, “Let’s hope the isles hire Marc Bergevin.” And honestly? It looks like quite a possibility. According to reports, Bergevin, who had been working as special advisor to Rob Blake, has been on the Islanders’ radar for quite some time now. But things cooled down a bit with Blake’s position opening up, as Bergevin was reportedly up for that role. But now that it’s only a matter of time before Holland is announced, the former Montreal Canadiens GM could have talks with the Islanders.

This could be another reason why the news of Ken Holland possibly stepping into the GM spotlight wasn’t exactly received with warmth. LA loyalists dropped ice-cold takes, and one summed it up perfectly with, “Absolute nightmare of a hire.” So, while folks dream of Bergevin jumping over to the Isles, LA fans are out here just trying to survive the offseason chaos.