What Kind of Team Are the Kings? Right Now, Even They Don’t Seem to Know
The Los Angeles Kings came into the 2025-26 season with the pieces in place for a transition-a passing of the torch from the old guard to a promising new core. But 51 games in, what’s unfolded isn’t a smooth handoff. It’s more like a team caught in two timelines, unsure which direction to fully commit to.
This was supposed to be the next chapter. Anže Kopitar, the face of the franchise for nearly two decades, is nearing the end of his storied career.
Drew Doughty, another pillar of the Kings’ championship years, remains a key presence. But around them, there’s a new wave: Brandt Clarke, Quinton Byfield, Kevin Fiala, and Adrian Kempe-all players with the talent to define the next era.
The front office has invested accordingly. The expectation was clear: forward momentum.
Instead, what we’ve seen is a team stuck in neutral.
Between Two Identities
The Kings aren’t just trying to evolve-they’re trying to do it without letting go of who they used to be. And that’s where the trouble starts. The franchise that once won with suffocating defense and structure now finds itself flirting with a faster, more skill-driven style-but only in flashes.
One night, they’re aggressive, moving the puck with purpose, generating quality chances. The next, they’re playing cautious, passive hockey-dumping and chasing, settling for perimeter shots, and spending long stretches hemmed into their own zone.
There’s no consistent style, no reliable identity to fall back on when the game gets messy. And in the NHL, when you don’t know who you are, the game tends to expose that.
Living in Overtime
Nothing illustrates the Kings’ identity crisis better than their overtime record. With a 22-16-13 mark through 51 games, they’re among the league leaders in games going beyond regulation-right up there with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Now, overtime isn’t inherently a bad thing. Good teams end up there.
But when it becomes a pattern, it starts to say something deeper. For the Kings, it suggests a team that can’t close when they’re ahead, can’t start on time when they’re behind, and can’t dictate the tempo for a full 60 minutes.
They’re reacting instead of initiating.
And when every night feels like a coin flip in overtime or a shootout, that’s not a sign of a team with a clear plan. That’s a team searching for answers.
The Disappearing Details
The Kings used to be defined by the little things-tight gaps, clean breakouts, hard-nosed forechecks, and a commitment to protecting their own net. Right now, those habits are missing.
Too many stick penalties in bad spots. Too many blown coverages in front of the crease.
Too many turnovers at both blue lines that fuel the opponent’s transition game. These aren’t talent issues.
These are clarity and standard issues.
Players don’t look consistently sure of what’s expected in big moments. And when a team doesn’t know what it’s supposed to be, those moments-late in games, on the penalty kill, after a goal against-become revealing. What we’re seeing from the Kings is hesitation, not conviction.
A Rumor That Says a Lot
Layered on top of the on-ice confusion is a swirl of off-ice noise that’s only added to the unease. There’s been chatter connecting the Kings to a potential move for Evander Kane, currently with the Canucks.
From a pure hockey perspective, Kane’s name always comes up in trade talks. He brings scoring, physicality, and a certain edge that teams often covet down the stretch.
But for a fan base already questioning the team’s direction, the idea of adding Kane doesn’t read like a calculated step forward. It feels more like a shortcut-a patch on a deeper issue.
The Kings’ problem isn’t a lack of scoring depth. It’s a lack of identity.
And adding a high-risk, high-maintenance player like Kane doesn’t solve that. If anything, it raises more questions about whether the front office truly understands what this team needs right now.
The Real Fix Isn’t Flashy
This isn’t about one trade, one meeting, or one motivational speech. The Kings need to rediscover what “Kings hockey” actually means-and then build everything around that.
Systems. Ice time.
Line combinations. Development plans.
Leadership roles. It all has to point in the same direction.
Coaches, management, and veterans like Kopitar and Doughty need to be aligned. The message should be clear and consistent, reinforced daily in film sessions, practices, and locker room conversations. The best organizations don’t just talk about identity-they live it.
And the fans? They’re not just frustrated because the team is losing.
They’re frustrated because this version of the Kings doesn’t resemble the team they’ve rooted for. It’s not about going back to the Cup years-it’s about moving forward with purpose.
The Talent Is There-But the Compass Is Missing
There’s enough skill on this roster to compete. There’s enough experience to lead.
There’s enough youth to grow. What’s missing is the connective tissue-a shared understanding of how this team is supposed to play, and what it’s supposed to stand for.
Until that happens, the overtime games will keep piling up. The trade rumors will keep swirling. And every potential move will feel like a bandage on a deeper wound.
The Kings don’t need more names. They need a north star. A clear answer to the question that’s haunted this season from the start: “What kind of team are we?”