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Free Agent Focus: Los Angeles Kings

Originally posted on Pro Hockey Rumors
By Brennan McClain | Last updated Jun 5, 2026 7:55 PM ET

Free agency is now less than a month away, and teams are looking ahead to when it opens. Even with the UFA crop being thinned out in recent months, there will be some quality veterans set to hit the open market in July, while many teams also have key restricted free agents to re-sign. We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Kings.

Key Restricted Free Agents

D Brandt Clarke – If there were any remaining questions about Clarke’s ability to become a top-four defenseman, those have completely subsided. The former first-round pick had an impressive season with the Kings, scoring eight goals and 40 points with a +11 rating in 82 games. It’s not terribly more production than what he had last season, but he proved he could handle nearly 20 minutes of ice time per game. Given that Clarke is the only defenseman in Los Angeles who has yet to enter his prime, it would make the most sense to give Clarke a long-term deal this summer to ensure the Kings have a defenseman to build a defensive corps around.

Other RFAs: F Martin Chromiak, F Francesco Pinelli

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

F Scott Laughton – There wasn’t much hope in Laughton after the Kings acquired him from the Maple Leafs at the trade deadline, given his struggles with Toronto this year. However, Laughton seemingly rediscovered his game in Los Angeles, scoring five goals and eight points in 21 games down the stretch, with a 59.4% faceoff rating while averaging over 15 minutes of ice time per game. Laughton expressed a desire to remain with the Kings at the end-of-season media availability, and the Kings likely won’t have any issue retaining him for a bottom-six role.

F Andrei Kuzmenko – Although Laughton has found a new home with the Kings, Kuzmenko has seemingly lost his. Limited by injuries, the 30-year-old Russian registered only 13 goals and 25 points in 52 games this season. Toward the end of May, Eric Stephens of The Athletic reported that Los Angeles is likely to move on from Kuzmenko this offseason, since he no longer has a spot in the top six. He’s an incredibly streaky scorer, but can provide some offense in a middle-six role. Regardless, he’s likely to join his fifth organization in as many seasons.

Other UFAs: F Mathieu Joseph, F Jeff Malott, D Jacob Moverare, G Pheonix Copley, F Glenn Gawdin, F Logan Brown, F Jan Jenik, F Nikita Alexandrov, D Kyle Burroughs

Projected Cap Space

No pressure, but this offseason has the chance to be a franchise-defining one for the Kings. Yes, the team has a priority to retain Clarke for as long as possible, but they also have an Anže Kopitar-shaped hole down the middle. The team has $18.3MM in cap space, which should leave plenty left over to fill that need. It’s not clear whether Los Angeles is confident in Quinton Byfield assuming that role just yet, so the Kings will likely have to use their available dollars on the trade market to add an impact center this summer.

This article first appeared on Pro Hockey Rumors and was syndicated with permission.

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