LOS ANGELES – With seven forwards scoring at least 15 goals last season, the Kings’ depth scoring could be the advantage they need in a competitive Western Conference.
Adrian Kempe, Anže Kopitar, and Kevin Fiala are the three forwards who lead the Kings’ offense with their top-six minutes and power-play time. With little changes to the forward group, those three are expected to lead the offense and produce like they did last year.
Focusing on Kempe, who is in the last year of his contract, is there another level of production to his game? The evolution of his career has been fascinating to watch. Entering the NHL as a skill player, he could produce, but struggled to break out until the 2021-2022 season. Ever since then, he has been a consistent 30-goal scorer who excels on both sides of the puck. In the middle of his prime, scoring 35 goals and 73 points last year, Kempe is on the verge of a 40-goal and 80-point season. If he’s able to do so, he’ll be due for a nice contract extension, especially after Kirill Kaprizov signed his record-breaking 8-year $136 million contract.
While Kempe is looking to hit another level of production, can Quinton Byfield do the same and solidify himself as a core piece to the Kings’ forward group? The 23-year-old power forward is becoming a household name after back-to-back 20-goal and 54-point seasons, and has been improving year after year. With his size and speed, Byfield is poised to have a breakout year and eventually become the first-line center after Kopitar’s retirement. As the old guard retires, players like Kempe and Byfield will become the new faces of the franchise.
Now here’s where the Kings will need to dominate to put themselves over the top in a crowded Western Conference: depth goal scoring. The middle-six and even fourth line players, like Alex Turcotte and Joel Armia, will need to chip in some offense to help put the Kings over the top. Teams like the Ducks and Canucks will be biting at their heels all year, and that’s not including the teams who could be fighting for a wildcard spot in the Central Division, such as the Blues, Wild, and Mammoth.
Thankfully for the Kings, this shouldn’t be an issue, and it’s something that’s quite frankly been a strength of theirs the last few years. Phillip Danault has made a living as a top-six centerman, and with him on the third line with Trevor Moore and Warren Foegele, that could be one of the most underrated third lines in the NHL. All three of those players had at least 40 points last year. Danault can anchor that line with his defensive play. Trevor Moore has been a player who can play anywhere in the lineup and still produce. And Warren Foegele is a big power forward who can score even without power-play time. Last season, Foegele scored an impressive 23 even-strength goals.
Don’t overlook a player like Alex Laferriere either, who the Kings have quietly developed into a second-line winger. Last season, Laferriere had a hot start to the season, with 20 points in the first 25 games. But like with any young player, he cooled off and struggled to find consistency until the last month of the regular season. Laferriere has the tools to be a key contributor to the Kings in the future, given his blend of physicality and skill. The Kings have a nice player on their hands, especially after extending him to a three-year contract, worth $4.1 million per year.
Another player who helps put the puck in the net and is looking to secure a top-six role is Andrei Kuzmenko. Acquired from the Flyers at last year’s trade deadline for a 2027 third-round pick, Kuzmenko caught fire the second he joined the Kings, putting up 17 points in 22 regular-season games, and six points in six games in the playoffs against the Oilers. Kuzmenko can be a player who pops off playing alongside Kopitar and Kempe. Kuzmenko has proven that he can, with a stellar rookie season two years ago, where he scored 39 goals and 74 points, and more recently, had 40 points in his combined 66 games with the Calgary Flames.
While the offense is apparent all throughout the lineup, so is the defensive side, especially with two of the best two-way forwards in the NHL, Anže Kopitar and Phillip Danault. Last season, the Kings were the second-best team in the NHL in goals against per game, with a rate of 2.48. And looking at all four lines, there’s at least one defensively responsible player on each line. This King’s forward group is well-balanced, with weapons for both offense and defense.
One of two free agent signings up front for the Kings is Joel Armia, who signed a two-year deal worth $2.5 million annually. The 32-year-old spent the last seven years of his career with the Montreal Canadiens. Although he’s never put up eye-catching offensive numbers, he’s carved out a career by being a physical and reliable two-way winger. Armia could be a veteran who helps a player like Alex Turcotte, who plays a similar two-way style and is still trying to find his footing at the NHL level.
The second free agent signing, who could be an X-factor for the Kings, is Corey Perry. The 40-year-old veteran signed a one-year, $2 million contract over the offseason. Unfortunately, Perry suffered a knee injury during a training skate in September, which required surgery. He’s likely to miss the first month of the season. Even at his age, Perry continues to prove that he’s an effective player, whether it’s contributing offense or being a pest, getting under the skin of his opponents. Both Perry and Armia are veterans who can help lock down that bottom-six.
The Kings have a strong, deep group of forwards that can put the puck in the back of the net and also keep it out of their own net. While they won’t be able to outscore any problems, they’re very much capable of shutting teams down. Especially after the Kings’ defensive core was hit hard in free agency, the forwards will need to remain responsible in their own defensive zone and help support an older, less-skilled backend.