2026-27 Boston Bruins Opponent Preview: Los Angeles Kings

Boston Bruins On SI is doing a dive into all of the Bruins’ opponents in the upcoming season. Next up on the list is the Los Angeles Kings. 

Both teams will be looking to have an improved season after getting bounced in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2025-26. 

Last season, the Kings boasted a 35-27-20 record, earned 90 points, and picked up the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference before being swept by the Colorado Avalanche. 

The Bruins logged a 45-27-10 record for 100 points and gained the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference before being eliminated by the Buffalo Sabres in six games.

Quick Facts:

Team: Los Angeles Kings

Home Arena: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, Calif. 

Conference/Division: Western/Pacific

General Manager: Ken Holland

Head Coach: Peter Laviolette

Captain: Vacant

Colors: Black, silver, and white

Stanley Cup Championships: 2- 2012 and 2014

Minor League Affiliate Teams: Ontario Reign (AHL) and Greenville Swamp Rabbits (ECHL)

2025-26 Stats:

Record: 35-27-20

Points: 90

Standings: No. 4 in Pacific Division, No. 8 in Western Conference

Stanley Cup Playoffs: Wild Card 2- Swept by Colorado Avalanche in first round. 

Record vs. Bruins: 0-2

Nov. 21: L 2-1 (OT)
March 10: L 2-1 (OT)

Offseason Moves:

Additions:  forward Mats Zuccarello, forward Corey Perry, forward Erik Haula, defenseman Erik Gustafsson, forward Lane Pederson, defenseman Scott Perunovich.

Departures: forward Anze Kopitar (retired), defenseman Kyle Burroughs (Dallas), goalie Pheonix Copley (Columbus), forward Glenn Gawdin (New York Rangers), forward Mathieu Joseph (Edmonton), forward Andrei Kuzmenko (Pittsburgh), forward Jeff Malott (Anaheim), defenseman Jacob Moverare (EV Zug, Switzerland). 

Extensions/Re-signs: forward Scott Laughton, forward Jan Jeník, defenseman Brandt Clarke, forward Francesco Pinelli, forward Martin Chromiak, forward Aatu Jämsen. 

Unrestricted Free Agents: forward Logan Brown, forward Nikita Alexandrov.

2026 NHL Draft: forward Elton Hermansson (No. 19 overall, 1st round), forward Liam Lefebvre (No. 46 overall, 2nd round), defenseman Adam Goljer (No. 49 overall, 2nd round), forward Blake Zielinski (No. 80 overall, 3rd round), goalie Yegor Rybkin (No. 89 overall, 3rd round), forward Thomas Vandenberg (No. 103 overall, 4th round), defenseman Vertti Svensk (No. 145 overall, 5th round), defenseman Giorgos Pantelas (No. 153 overall, 5th round), forward Alex Kostov (No. 177 overall, 6th round), forward Tobias Krestan (No. 209 overall, 7th round), defenseman Lucas Ambrosio (No. 223, 7th round). 

2026-27 Projected Lineup: