TEAM EDITORIAL

The Kings enter the 2026 offseason with a roster that looks deeper and more veteran-heavy after a busy July, but still with some unanswered questions about fit and upside. The most notable additions were Mats Zuccarello, Erik Haula, Corey Perry, Joel Armia, Scott Laughton, Erik Gustafsson and Scott Perunovich, moves that add skill, versatility and experience around core players such as Adrian Kempe, Kevin Fiala, Quinton Byfield, Trevor Moore, Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Mikey Anderson and Brandt Clarke.

Darcy Kuemper remains the established starter in goal, with Anton Forsberg and Pheonix Copley providing depth as camp approaches. On the blue line, the Kings appear built for structure more than flash, with Doughty, Anderson, Joel Edmundson, Brian Dumoulin and Cody Ceci forming the veteran spine while Clarke is expected to be a key swing piece in how much offense the defense can generate. Up front, the mix of scoring, checking and penalty-killing depth suggests a team trying to support its top six without overextending its stars.

The offseason also appears to have prioritized flexibility and competition rather than a single headline move. With no preseason opener until Sept. 19 at home against Vegas, the main story is how this reshaped roster settles in, which younger forwards can force their way into the lineup, and whether the new arrivals can help push the team toward a more complete identity under its current leadership.