2026-27 Los Angeles Kings Season Preview

The Los Angeles Kings enter the 2026–27 season with a reshaped roster. They hired a new head coach, added veteran scoring depth, and said goodbye to their longtime captain, Anze Kopitar. The Kings are hoping the addition of experienced pieces will be enough to push them into playoff contention.

Key Additions

Peter Laviolette (Head Coach) – Hired on June 26th to replace D.J. Smith. The 61-year-old brings a wealth of experience, including a Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2006, and is expected to implement a more offensive-minded system.

Mats Zuccarello (LW) – Signed a one-year, $1 million deal on July 1st. The 38-year-old scored 54 points in 59 games last season with Minnesota, bringing elite playmaking, power-play quarterbacking, and top-six scoring punch.

Erik Haula (C) – Signed a two-year, $3.6 million AAV deal on July 1st. The 35-year-old scored 38 points in 78 games last season with Nashville, bringing two-way play, middle-six depth, and versatility. He’s expected to play a third-line role.

Corey Perry (RW) – Signed a one-year, $1 million deal on July 1st, returning for a second stint. The 41-year-old brings grit, playoff experience, and a knack for scoring timely goals, adding a necessary physical edge to the bottom six.

Erik Gustafsson (D) – Signed a one-year, $1 million deal on July 1st. The 34-year-old brings puck-moving ability, power-play utility, and third-pairing minutes.

Scott Laughton (C) – Re-signed to a three-year, $3.5 million AAV deal after being acquired at the 2026 trade deadline. The 32-year-old provides depth, physicality, and penalty-kill prowess, expected to play a fourth-line role.

Key Subtractions

Anze Kopitar (C) – Retired at the conclusion of the 2025–26 season. The 39-year-old future Hall of Famer had 20 goals and 40 assists in 78 games last season, a significant loss of elite two-way play, leadership, and middle-six scoring.

Andrei Kuzmenko (LW) – Departed in free agency. The 29-year-old had 15 goals and 25 points in 68 games, removing forward depth.

D.J. Smith (Interim Head Coach) – Replaced by Laviolette after a first-round playoff exit.

Core Retained

Los Angeles kept its veteran core intact, with Artemi Panarin, Adrian Kempe, Quinton Byfield, Trevor Moore, Drew Doughty, Mikey Anderson, Brandt Clarke, and Darcy Kuemper all under contract.

Impact on 2026–27

The Kings’ offseason moves signal a clear push toward competitiveness. Laviolette brings a new offensive mindset, while Zuccarello, Haula, and Perry add veteran scoring and depth. The departure of Kopitar removes elite two-way play and leadership, but the additions should push Los Angeles up the standings. Expect the Kings to be in the playoff hunt, with a deeper, more balanced lineup pushing for another deep playoff run.

Salary Cap Situation

Projected cap hit – $102,225,000
Roster – 23/23
Projected cap space – $1,775,000
Deadline cap space – $8,198,810

Los Angeles Kings Depth Chart

Los Angeles Kings Depth Chart from PuckPedia.com – Aug. 23rd