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3 Big Questions the LA Kings Face This Season

Quinton Byfield, Los Angeles Kings (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

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3 Big Questions the LA Kings Face This Season

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Sharlette Shahbazyan | Last updated Nov 10, 2026 9:25 AM ET

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There are three important questions the Los Angeles Kings face this season, as they have faced different kinds of challenges. After five consecutive playoff appearances without moving past the first round, the organization has taken a step forward under a new head coach and an era without Anze Kopitar. However, questions have emerged about the team’s identity, scoring production, and ability to compete consistently. Let’s examine each question and dissect how the team could propel forward.

Is Byfield Ready as the No. 1 Center?

Perhaps the biggest question of this piece is whether Quinton Byfield can establish himself as the No. 1 center this season. Navigating a season without their long-time captain poses challenges, but taking over as the organization’s primary center brings an entirely different set of expectations. The 24-year-old has demonstrated his potential over the past several seasons, but being the primary center involves more than producing points.

In the 2025-26 season, Byfield came off a career-best run, as he recorded 24 goals and 49 points in 79 games. Furthermore, he averaged 20:01 of ice time per game. His opportunity this season is significant due to the players surrounding him. Playing alongside Adrian Kempe and Artemi Panarin gives the 6-foot-5 Canadian two established talents who can drive the puck. Los Angeles may need Byfield to develop his on-ice identity while providing the leadership and consistency required from a first-line center. This season, he’s posted four goals and six points in 13 games. Continuing with consistency and making fewer mistakes would give the Kings a strong foundation to build on.

Offense Could Use Improvement

Offense remains an area that could influence the Kings’ success this season. Despite having a roster filled with several talented offensive players, Los Angeles struggled to find their footing on offense in the 2025-26 season. The Kings finished 29th in the league in goals per game, coming in around 2.68. It explains why a new head coach, Peter Laviolette, was brought in, who has experience coaching successful teams before his arrival in Los Angeles.

Then you have Panarin, who provided another kind of dimension to the offense. His hockey IQ, vision, and playmaking ability offer the Kings a dangerous scoring threat. Kempe remains an important contributor who can score consistently, while Alex Laferriere is given more opportunities and has succeeded in doing so. Through the first 15 games of this season, the Kings have shown signs of improvement in their offense, averaging 3.07 goals per game. Their power play also sits at 23.1 percent, a nice improvement from last season.

However, there’s the penalty kill that raises concern. It sits at 62.5%, leaving the Kings near the bottom of the league. The recent 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Nov. 7 highlighted their struggle with defensive consistency. Despite a power-play goal from Laferriere, the Kings couldn’t hold back Pittsburgh’s offense. For Los Angeles to become a strong competitive team, offense is key, and consistency must be maintained every game.

Is Goaltending Reliable?

The final question comes down to goaltending. Can it provide the consistency necessary to compete through an 84-game season? Darcy Kuemper and Anton Forsberg share the net this season, which gives the team two veteran netminders with plenty of experience. Through the first 14 games, Kuemper has recorded a .885 save percentage (SV%) and a 3.46 goals-against average (GAA). Meanwhile, Forsberg has recorded a .902 SV% and a 2.51 GAA in six games. This highlights an area worth looking closely at as the season further progresses.

Kuemper is an important part of the Kings’ foundation, and his experience performing under pressure makes him a valuable asset. But there is more reliability in net needed. At the same time, Forsberg’s performances could become a significant priority if the coaching staff decides to hand more ice time to him. The question isn’t whether one or the other can make crucial saves. It is whether the tandem can provide steady performances over an extended period of time and give the Kings an opportunity to win on nights when their offense in some areas could use improvement.

Overall Thoughts

There are several reasons to remain optimistic about the 2026-27 season and to continue following along on the Kings’ journey, but there is work to be done. Individual talent alone does not determine the outcome of this season, as consistency is needed across all four lines and stronger saves from their goaltending unit. The team’s success this season will depend on their ability to show up for each game fully, address their weak spots, and establish themselves as serious contenders in the Western Conference.

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.

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