Kyle Garcia 
With training camp just around the corner, we are previewing each player on the LA Kings roster. Up next: Brian Dumoulin!
Brian Dumoulin
Birthdate: September 6, 1991
Birthplace: Biddeford, Maine
Height: 6’4
Weight: 210 lbs
Position: Defense
Shoots: Left
Draft: 2nd round, 51st overall, 2009 NHL Draft
2025-26 season
Like his defensive partner Cody Ceci, Dumoulin’s 2025-26 campaign was a woeful one. The first three games with the two free agent pickups paired together proved to be disastrous, so then-head coach Jim Hiller had to break the two up briefly.
Like Ceci, general manager Ken Holland brought Dumoulin into the mix on the backend for his veteran presence and to play on the penalty kill. Dumoulin, I thought, was a decent signing, although his price tag was high at age 34, because of his ability to play on his off side and being able to transport the puck up ice somewhat.
According to Natural Stat Trick, Dumoulin played the fourth most minutes on the penalty kill for Kings defensemen, and when paired with or without Ceci, his numbers were a mixed bag. What we do know, and could tell, the third pair of Dumoulin–Ceci was an expensive one ($8,500,000) that was unplayable.
Brian Dumoulin!!!!! pic.twitter.com/dsa11iPUuJ
— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 9, 2026
2026-27 outlook
As I mentioned in Ceci’s training camp preview, Holland hasn’t made any changes — minor or significant — on the backend, so we are expecting to see Dumoulin back in a Kings jersey for now. It will be interesting to see who new head coach Peter Laviolette pairs Dumoulin with on the second or third pair.
The new head coach will have his hands tied with the lack of depth and expensive contracts tied into the left side of an aging and lack-of-upside defensive unit. Will he be on the second pair? Or do we get another rollercoaster of him and Ceci together?
Featured image credit: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Booth must play
I’m a big fan of Angus Booth as LD3 for his mobility, gap control, and slightly more upside over Dumoulin and Edmundson. But he falls victim to being blocked from a lineup spot by both at this moment.
I didn’t know what to think of Holland when he became GM for Kings. The signing of Dumo/Ceci is and was a debacle ! Seriously…. crappy players, crappy AAV, and crappy term ! That said, I like practically other move he’s made. The Kings could be pretty decent with offseason signings. But if for any reason they aren’t…. kings could move several players at trade deadline and pickup some great draft picks and maybe start a rebuild the following year.