2024-25
Record: 48-25-9, 2nd in Pacific Division
Playoffs: Lost in Western Conference First Round
Key Losses
Vladislav Gavrikov (D – Signed with NYR), Jordan Spence (D – Trade with OTT), David Rittich (G – Signed with NYI), Tanner Jeannot (F – Signed with BOS), and Rob Blake (General Manager – Fired)
Key Additions
Corey Perry (F – Signed via FA), Joel Armia (F – Signed via FA), Cody Ceci (D – Signed via FA), Brian Dumoulin (D – Signed via FA), Anton Forsberg (G – Signed via FA), and Ken Holland (General Manager – Hired)
2025-26 Preview
Looking for a Breakthrough
Four years of making the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Four years of being eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round. Something’s got to give for the Los Angeles Kings to finally breakthrough and make it to the second round. One hope is to just avoid the Oilers all together in the playoffs, but realistically, if they don’t see each other in the first round, they’ll most likely see each other in the second round given how the current format is.
One thing the Kings did do is move on from general manager Rob Blake, and hired Ken Holland to replace him and give the Kings front office a fresh new set of eyes on the team. Immediately, Holland began to tinker to the roster by adding veteran forwards Corey Perry and Joel Armia, veteran defensemen Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin, and signed goaltender Anton Forsberg to become the new back up to Darcy Kuemper.
Speaking of Kuemper, his first season back with the Kings was a successful one, but the Kings are going to be looking to him to keep this past season’s form, and maintain and improve upon it throughout the 2025-26 season, and play at that high level in the playoffs. Against the Oilers, the Kings were dominant in the first two games, but then Kuemper and the Kings fell flat the last four games. Adding a player like Perry, who played for the Oilers the past two seasons, and Dumoulin, who won two Stanley Cups in Pittsburgh, will give the Kings some more playoff experience that they could use in helping mentor the younger players in the lineup.
Swan Song for Kopitar
Kings captain Anze Kopitar will be 38-years old when the 2025-26 season begins, and entering the last year of his contract. Having played 1,454 games with 1,278 points, Kopitar’s production has remained consistent throughout his career. However, with reports coming out that the Kings and Kopitar have not talked about an extension, there are thoughts that this could be Kopitar’s last season with the Kings and/or in the NHL.
While Kopitar will be overshadowed by Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, who is also entering the last year of his contract, many should expect the Kings to play hard for their captain and to have him go out a Stanley Cup champion for the third and final time in his career. An appropriate ending for the consummate professional Kopitar has been his entire career.
Only time will tell what both Kopitar and the Kings decide to do, but one thing is for sure. The number 11 will be in the rafters one day in LA.
Projected Lineup
Offense
Andrei Kuzmenko — Anze Kopitar — Adrian Kempe
Kevin Fiala — Quinton Byfield — Alex Laferriere
Trevor Moore — Phillip Danault — Warren Foegele
Joel Armia — Alex Turcotte — Corey Perry
Defense
Mikey Anderson — Drew Doughty
Joel Edmundson — Brandt Clarke
Brian Dumoulin — Cody Ceci
Goalies
Darcy Kuemper
Anton Forsberg
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