The Kings’ opening night picture for 2026-27 is starting to come into focus, and the biggest changes this summer came with veteran additions down the middle. General manager Ken Holland attacked unrestricted free agency with a clear goal: add experience, deepen the center group and bring another playmaker into the top six. That work gave new head coach Peter Laviolette a roster that already looks largely mapped out before training camp even begins.
The forward group has a clear headliner at the top. Artemi Panarin, Quinton Byfield and Adrian Kempe are projected to open as the first line, with Kempe and Panarin set to spend a full season together in the top six for the first time in 2026-27. Byfield is stepping into a much bigger role after the retirement of Anze Kopitar this offseason, and the Kings are asking him to handle the first-line center job right away.
Behind that, the middle six still has one spot that could be decided in camp. Erik Haula and Scott Laughton both arrived as proven two-way centers, and one of them could end up anchoring the second line.
Haula’s versatility and experience make him a natural fit between Kevin Fiala and Mats Zuccarello, while Laughton offers a veteran option for the third line. There’s also a chance Alex Laferriere gets another look at center.
The projected forward lines look like this:
Artemi Panarin - Quinton Byfield - Adrian Kempe
Kevin Fiala - Erik Haula - Mats Zuccarello
Trevor Moore - Scott Laughton - Alex Laferriere
Joel Armia - Alex Turcotte - Corey Perry
The defense still carries its biggest question mark. Holland and the Kings wanted to reshape the blue line earlier in the offseason, but the summer didn’t bring any major additions that changed the top six.
Brandt Clarke, fresh off his new extension, stands out as the player with the most room to grow. Laviolette could give him more responsibility, both in transition and on the power play, and that would be a key step for a blue line that needs to push play more effectively.
The top pair remains Mikey Anderson and Drew Doughty, with Joel Edmundson paired alongside Clarke and Cody Ceci lined up with Brian Dumoulin.
Defensemen
Mikey Anderson - Drew Doughty
Joel Edmundson - Brandt Clarke
Cody Ceci - Brian Dumoulin
In net, the biggest battle may be the cleanest one to watch. Anton Forsberg and Darcy Kuemper are competing for the opening-night crease, with Forsberg having finished last regular season as the starter. Kuemper, though, was a Vezina Trophy finalist for the Kings in the 2024-25 campaign just one year ago.
In Other News...
Kings Still Have One Blue Line Decision Left Before Camp
The Kings have already done plenty of offseason work under new general manager Ken Holland, but the blue line still looks like the one area where there is room for another move before training camp. Los Angeles has veteran depth in place, so any addition at this point would likely come on a low-cost deal or a professional tryout, with the idea of creating a little more competition rather than forcing a major roster change.
One name worth watching is Nick Blankenburg, a defenseman who could fit that exact kind of depth role if the Kings decide to keep shopping the free-agent market. He would not need to arrive as a splashy signing to matter, and for a team that already has some experience on defense, the appeal is straightforward: another option, another push for jobs, and one more way to keep the back end sharp heading into camp. [Read more 🡒]