Kings
A preview of the 2025-26 NHL season for the Los Angeles Kings, including predictions from VSiN NHL Expert Jonathan Davis. For all other NHL team previews, check out our NHL page.
Key Additions: Ken Holland (GM), Corey Perry, Joel Armia, Cody Ceci, Brian Dumoulin, Anton Forsberg
Key Departures: Rob Blake (GM), Vladislav Gavrikov, Trevor Lewis, Jordan Spence, Tanner Jeannot, David Rittich
Overview
The Kings’ 105 points in 2024-25 tied the franchise record for most points in a season. For the fourth consecutive year, they were bounced in the first round by the Oilers and have not won a playoff series since winning the Stanley Cup in 2014. LA added five new players in the offseason including Corey Perry, who Kings fans have had hatred for since he started his career for the rival Ducks. LA had the league’s best home record going 31-6-4 and were an impressive 6-1 as a home underdog.
Offense
The Kings scored 249 goals last season, good enough for 11th-best, but finished 27th on the power play. A trade deadline deal acquiring Andrei Kuzmenko instantly turned their power play struggles around, highlighted by a 40% success rate in the playoffs.
For the first time in 17 years, the Kings had a pair of 35-goal scorers in the same season with Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala. Captain Anze Kopitar finished second in scoring with 67 points as he enters what will be his final NHL season. Quinton Byfield took another step forward in his progression in 2024-25 with 23 goals and 19 at even strength, besting his previous season, while his 54 points was one fewer than the year prior. Perry will slide up and down the lineup, including spending time on the power play, when he gets back from knee surgery.
Defense
Only Winnipeg gave up fewer goals than the 203 surrendered by the Kings last season. The Under hit in 47 of their 82 games and their combined 5.56 goals per game were the fewest in the league. They were especially stingy at home, leading the league with an average of fewer than two goals per game (1.98). Four of the Kings six projected starters are 31 years of age and older, leaving Mike Anderson and Brandt Clarke as the only starters in their 20s. The Kings will sorely miss Vladislav Gavrikov (signed with the Rangers) on the penalty kill, where he led all Kings defenseman in time on ice. LA gave up a league-low 45 first period goals last season.
Goaltending
Darcy Kuemper posted a 31-11-7 record, 2.02 GAA, and .921 SV% and was a Vezina Trophy finalist. His performance was a significant rebound from a tough 2023-24 season with Washington (13-14-3, 3.31 GAA, .890 SV%). However, his playoff performance against Edmonton was inconsistent, as both his goals against and save percentage went in the wrong direction (3.74 GAA, .889 SV%). The Kings decided not to bring back David Rittich and signed Anton Forsberg to serve as the backup.
Player to Watch
It’s time for the team to take the “training wheels” of defenseman Brandt Clarke, the eighth overall pick in 2021. Clarke led all Kings defensemen in points last season with five goals and 33 points. But when it came to the playoffs, Clarke did not have the trust of the coaching staff and was used sparingly. If he is the team’s heir apparent to Drew Doughty, then this season is the time to find out or you might as well move on.
Outlook
Kings fans have said, “If we faced a team other than the Oilers, we would escape the first round.” At some point, you must be the team that others don’t want to face and not their punching bag. It wouldn’t shock me if the Kings missed the playoffs this year.
My best bet is Adrian Kempe Over 70.5 points. Kempe is in the final year of his deal and has gone Over this number each of the last two seasons.
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 98.5
To Make the Playoffs: -400
To Miss the Playoffs: +300
To Win the Pacific Division: +320
To Win the Western Conference: +1000
To Win the Stanley Cup: +2000
2024-25 Recap
Record: 48-25-9, 105 points (2nd Pacific)
Over/Under: 31-47-4
Home Favorite: 23-9 // Home Dog: 6-1
Road Favorite: 9-10 // Road Dog: 6-12
Win Score 4 or more: 30 of 48 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 16 of 34
Puck Line Wins: 32 of 48 // Puck Line Losses: 21 of 34
Front End Back-to-Back: 8-6 // Back End Back-to-Back: 8-6
Points Leader: Adrian Kempe – 73
Goal Leaders: Adrian Kempe – 35, Kevin Fiala – 35
Assist Leader: Anze Kopitar – 46
Shots on Goal Leaders: Kevin Fiala – 244, Adrian Kempe – 237
Blocked Shots Leader: Vladislav Gavrikov – 140
Depth Chart
Forwards
Andrei Kuzmenko / Anze Kopitar / Adrian Kempe
Kevin Fiala / Quinton Byfield / Alexis Laferriere
Warren Foegele / Phillip Danault / Trevor Moore
Corey Perry / Alex Turcotte / Joel Armia
Defense
Mikey Anderson / Drew Doughty
Joel Edmundson / Brandt Clarke
Brian Dumoulin / Cody Ceci
Goalies
Darcy Kuemper / Anton Forsberg
Power Play Unit 1
Andrei Kuzmenko, Anze Kopitar, Quinton Byfield, Kevin Fiala, Adrian Kempe
