After dispensing with the formalities of the preseason, the Kings were ramping up toward Wednesday’s season-opening visit to the opponent that punted them from the playoffs, the Colorado Avalanche.
While there existed few hotly-contested battles in camp, there were a couple surprises in terms of both roster spots and positional battles.
Say hello to the 2026-27 Kings.
CORE VETS
Adrian Kempe, wing
The Kings’ leading scorer for three seasons running is in the first year of a maximum-term extension, which nearly doubled his previous $5.5 million salary. He broke into the NHL as a center but has excelled on the wing, and he’s even logged some shifts on defense. Wherever he lines up, he has the deepest all-around impact on the silver and black.
Artemi Panarin, wing
Though he’ll turn 35 early in the coming campaign, Panarin will be counted as the driving force for the Kings, offensively and on the power play. He arrived after the Olympic break last season when the team was in disrepair due to injuries and departures. Now, his first full cycle as a King reunites him with Peter Laviolette, under whom he had a career year with the New York Rangers in 2023-24.
Kevin Fiala, wing
No post-Olympic absence was felt more than that of Fiala, a balanced threat in terms of shooting and playmaking. In Milan, broke the same leg he broke in 2017 while playing for Laviolette as a Nashville Predator, requiring surgery in February and another procedure earlier this month. Uncertainty surrounds the health and form of Fiala, who trails only Kempe in terms of points per game since joining the team in 2022.
Drew Doughty, defense
Doughty has missed 62 games in the past two seasons, something that was unthinkable in his prime, but still played in two major tournaments for Canada during that span. Though his game had the feel of a bald tire at times, he has appeared rejuvenated in the small sample size of training camp and a pair of exhibition games. An invigorated Doughty would be an enormous boost to the NHL’s oldest roster, one that the 36-year-old will captain for the first time this season.
ALSO
Quinton Byfield, center
The time is now for Byfield, who has developed into an elite defensive player with athleticism to spare but still needs to produce offensively on more consistent and prolific bases. The only natural top-six center on the club, he should receive every opportunity, presently centering Panarin and Kempe on the top line.
Brandt Clarke, defense
Clarke took strides yet again last year in terms of not only offensive output but also defensive contribution and the bottom line. He led all Kings defensemen in goals, assists, points, power-play points, blocked shots and goals-for percentage, and by wide margins. He should flourish in Laviolette’s system after being shackled often under Jim Hiller.
Alex Laferriere, wing
Laferriere has essentially posted the same numbers two seasons in a row but did so last year playing more center on a team that struggled to score –– goals have dipped across four straight campaigns and last year the Kings had a negative goal differential. He appears settled on the wing and should also benefit from a more offensive-minded approach behind the bench.
CONSISTENT CONTRIBUTORS
Mikey Anderson (D), Trevor Moore (W), Darcy Kuemper (G), Anton Forsberg (G), Joel Edmundson (D), Brian Dumoulin (D), Joel Armia (W).
Anderson became a fixture on the top pairing with both Doughty and the since-departed Vladislav Gavrikov, but a downturn last year and a new coach this season had him getting looks on the third pairing during camp. He and Dumoulin switched spots, though in over 250 minutes of ice time with Doughty last year, the D&D pairing underwhelmed. Kuemper and Forsberg entered last season as a No. 1/No. 2 tandem, but now might be considered more of a 1A/1B as the gap between them narrowed. Moore remains a system-suited Swiss Army knife. Armia’s physicality and penalty killing were assets before his back injury last season, from which he healed over the summer. Edmundson set career highs in games played in back-to-back seasons and has been a stable partner for Clarke.
ON THE FRINGE
Cody Ceci (D), Samuel Helenius (C).
GM Ken Holland has been enamored with Ceci for some time, bringing him into both Edmonton and Los Angeles, but Ceci rewarded his trust less than ever last season. It was hard to discern where his value lied given his lack of tangible production, poor underlying numbers and the overall decline of both the penalty kill (they plummeted from eighth to 30th in the league) and defense (second to eighth). Helenius brings loads of size to the table and will stick up for teammates, but his lack of speed and agility have made him a difficult player to utilize in many matchups.
WILD CARDS
Alex Turcotte (F), Andre Lee (W).
Turcotte, 2019’s fifth overall pick whose expectations were reset after concussions and other injuries ravaged his development years, could be the most intriguing player on the roster. He improved in the faceoff circle last season and showed promise between Fiala and Andrei Kuzmenko, who is now a Pittsburgh Penguin, before all three players got hurt. With a massive void in the middle following Anže Kopitar’s retirement, Turcotte could ascend to the 2C role that was envisioned for him when he was drafted. Lee is another player in his mid-20s who’s had a steep development curve, but he could make the most of the roster spot opened up by Fiala’s injury.
NEWCOMERS (AND A RETURNER)
Mats Zuccarello (W), Erik Haula (F), Erik Gustafsson (D), Scott Laughton (F), Corey Perry (W).
Zuccarello was Holland’s biggest acquisition of the offseason with the 39-year-old joining the Kings on a one-year deal jam-packed with bonuses. He had 54 points in 59 games last year for Minnesota in a productive effort that was hindered by multiple injuries. Haula also signed over the summer and Laughton, who was acquired in the dying gasps of trade-deadline day, re-signed. Both are capable of plugging holes in the middle or on the flank. Gustafsson and AHL-bound Scott Perunovich also came aboard in the offseason, with Gustafsson having played for Laviolette in two previous stops. Longtime Kings nemesis Perry, 41, returned after splitting last year between his first stint with the Kings and his second with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
