The Los Angeles Kings have spent years trying to blend old-school heaviness with the pace and creativity the modern NHL demands. That balance has kept them competitive, but it hasn’t pushed them far enough in the playoffs. After four straight first-round exits, the message is pretty clear: the Kings don’t need to get bigger so much as they need to get better with the puck.
That’s the real decision facing Los Angeles as it looks ahead to the 2026-27 season. Size still matters, especially when the games get tighter and the hits get louder.
But size alone doesn’t finish the job anymore. The teams that keep playing deep into spring usually have players who can think fast, create offense, and make something happen when the ice shrinks.
That’s where the Kings have to lean.
They already have plenty of the physical, defensive base that has defined this group. What they need more of is skill that changes games.
Brandt Clarke is a good example of that kind of player. His vision and puck-moving ability give the blue line a different gear, and the Kings showed what they think of that by signing the Canadian to a five-year extension.
The bigger issue is what happens after Los Angeles gets possession. Too often, the offense bogs down into long shifts and predictable sequences.
Against teams that close off space and pressure the puck well, that style can stall fast. In the playoffs, when everything tightens up, the Kings have had trouble scoring unless every piece of the play is perfectly lined up.
That isn’t about effort. It’s about the shape of the roster.
There is still a strong core in place. Adrian Kempe has become one of the Kings reliable players.
Kevin Fiala remains one of their most dangerous forwards when healthy. Quinton Byfield is continuing to grow into a blend of size, speed, and skill.
So the foundation is there. The issue is adding more players who can tilt the ice offensively, not just make life unpleasant for opponents.
That doesn’t mean Los Angeles should abandon what has made it tough to play against. The Kings can still be a physical team.
They can still defend well enough to get into the playoffs. But if they want to move beyond that familiar first-round ceiling, the next step has to come from offense.
If the choice is between adding another bruiser or bringing in someone who can create, the answer is clear: the Kings should prioritize skill.
In Other News...
Kings May Have Finally Found The Bargain Fix For Their Offense
The offseason push to juice the offense has led the Kings toward a familiar kind of solution: veteran help on manageable money. Mats Zuccarello and Corey Perry were brought in on short-term deals, giving Los Angeles a pair of experienced forwards who can fit into different parts of the lineup while also keeping the front offices financial flexibility intact.
For Ken Holland, the appeal is clear. Zuccarello should help on the power play, Perry brings scoring and edge, and the bargain structure of both signings opens the door for more roster work elsewhere, including the addition of Erik Haula. The bigger question now is how much lift those moves can actually provide for a team that has been looking for a more reliable offensive punch. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Free Agency Targets Matter More Than Ever After Kopitar's Exit
With NHL free agency set to open July 1, the Kings are heading into a stretch that could shape the post-Anze Kopitar era more than any one trade deadline ever did. General manager Ken Holland is working with a roster that needs help in several places, from blue-line depth to center support and another forward who can slide into the top six and keep the offense moving.
One name already tied to that search is Jack Roslovic, a center who can bring some scoring punch without forcing a major cap commitment. For a team trying to replace a franchise pillar while still patching up multiple spots on the lineup card, those kinds of value bets matter, and the Kings are likely to spend the first days of July weighing which additions fit best before the market thins out. [Read more 🡒]
Corey Perry Is Back And It Says Plenty About The Kings
Corey Perry is sticking around in Los Angeles for at least one more season, with the Kings rewarding the veteran forward with a one-year extension. It is a familiar sort of move for a team that has leaned into experience, and for Perry it adds another chapter to a career that has already stretched across 21 NHL seasons.
What makes the deal notable is the opportunity it creates for a pretty rare milestone. If Perry gets into at least 36 games this season, he will move into the NHLs exclusive 1,500-career-games club, a marker that would further underscore just how long he has lasted at this level. For the Kings, it is another sign they still see value in what Perry brings, even as his career keeps pushing into territory only a handful of players ever reach. [Read more 🡒]