2025-26
Record: 35-27-20, 90 points, 4th in Pacific Division
Playoffs: Lost to Colorado in First Round
Key Losses
F – Anze Kopitar (Retired), F – Andrei Kuzmenko (PIT)
Key Additions
Head Coach – Peter Laviolette (Hired), F – Erik Haula (Signed via FA), F – Mats Zuccarello (Signed via FA), D – Erik Gustafsson (Signed via FA), F – Corey Perry (Signed via FA)
2026-27 Preview
Entering a New Era
The Los Angeles Kings enter the 2026-27 season at the beginning of a new era, one defined by change both on the ice and behind the bench. For the first time in nearly two decades, the Kings will take the ice without longtime captain Anže Kopitar, whose retirement closes the book on one of the greatest careers in franchise history. Adding to the transition, Los Angeles has turned to veteran coach Peter Laviolette to guide the team through its next chapter.
Behind the bench, Peter Laviolette brings a wealth of experience to a team with postseason aspirations. Having coached multiple franchises to deep playoff runs, including a Stanley Cup championship, Laviolette is known for demanding structure, accountability, and a fast-paced style of play. His challenge will be maintaining the Kings’ defensive identity while maximizing the offensive talent already on the roster.
The expectations in Los Angeles remain high. Although Kopitar’s retirement marks the end of one of the most successful periods in franchise history, the Kings believe they have the talent to remain competitive in a loaded Western Conference. How quickly the team adapts to life without its longtime captain—and how effectively it embraces Laviolette’s system—will go a long way toward determining whether this new era begins with another trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Who Will Step Up in Kopitar’s Absence?
Kopitar’s departure leaves a void that extends far beyond the scoresheet. Over the course of his career, he was the face of the franchise, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, a perennial Selke Trophy contender, and one of the NHL’s premier two-way centers. His leadership and consistency set the standard for the organization, making his retirement the end of an era that helped define Kings hockey for nearly 20 years.
Replacing a player of Kopitar’s caliber is impossible for any one individual, meaning the responsibility will fall on the entire roster. Veterans will be expected to assume larger leadership roles, while the team’s younger core must continue its development. Players such as Quinton Byfield and Brandt Clarke will be counted on to take another step forward, while the Kings’ established stars will need to shoulder more of the offensive and defensive workload.
Perhaps no player will face greater expectations than Byfield. Viewed as the franchise’s future No. 1 center since being selected second overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, he now has the opportunity to establish himself as the focal point of the Kings’ offense. Kopitar’s retirement creates an opening for Byfield to assume a larger role in all situations, from matching up against opposing top lines to becoming a fixture on the top power-play unit. How quickly he embraces those responsibilities could go a long way toward determining how successful Los Angeles is during this transition. At the same time, the Kings will need contributions throughout the lineup, as replacing Kopitar’s leadership, two-way play, and consistency will require a collective effort rather than relying on a single player to fill the void.
Projected Lineup
Offense
Artemi Panarin — Quinton Byfield — Adrian Kempe
Kevin Fiala — Erik Haula — Mats Zuccarello
Trevor Moore — Scott Laughton — Alex Laferriere
Joel Armia — Samuel Helenius — Corey Perry
Defense
Mikey Anderson — Drew Doughty
Joel Edmundson — Brandt Clarke
Brian Dumoulin — Cody Ceci
Goalies
Darcy Kuemper
Anton Forsberg