Why add a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) if there wasn\u2019t any hope or faith that the Kings could somehow get their train back on the tracks and continue to push forward? After all, they were only three points out when the clock struck 1 pm PST on March 6.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Laughton was an addition that has helped this group undoubtedly, and he has already made a positive impact in multiple situations, but that wasn\u2019t the biggest change the Kings made in March.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Change Has Sparked a New Identity<\/p>\n
D.J. Smith took over as head coach on March 1, and throughout the first six games as this team\u2019s bench boss, one thing has been clear. The Kings are a completely different team under Smith, and every game since the firing of Jim Hiller has continued to prove that.<\/p>\n
Under Smith, there\u2019s been a different approach in the way this team plays. There\u2019s none of that sitting back and defending till you\u2019re blue in the face and hoping you can capitalize on your opponents\u2019 mistakes. This new version of the Kings is quite literally the definition of aggression and tenacity. A team that will now make its presence known and finish every check. A team that\u2019s going to\u00a0limit time and space in all three zones of the ice.<\/p>\n
\u201cBasically, almost everyone is playing physical, doing the right things, not cheating, blocking shots, and doing whatever it takes for us to get into the playoffs,\u201d Drew Doughty said.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t long ago that we questioned the Kings\u2019 effort levels, and now we\u2019re seeing a team that clearly wants it. Clearly wants to do whatever it takes to make the playoffs, and it\u2019s outright visible in the way they are playing and the effort all four lines consistently make on the forecheck and backcheck.<\/p>\n
This new approach under Smith has featured elements that were not only nonexistent under Hiller but also elements that have aided in the Kings\u2019 ability to progress. Two forwards in deep on the forecheck and a constant hound for puck retrievals, not allowing a clean breakout, are already three things that have made the Kings more of a threat. Defensemen have been activating more as well and are joining the rush to add that extra layer of attack, which has propelled more offense, especially through Brian Dumoulin<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019re starting to believe that we\u2019re a team that can make some plays. We can hold onto pucks. Some guys are scoring that maybe haven\u2019t scored. We\u2019re blocking shots. There\u2019s a lot of desperation in our game,\u201d Smith said following the Kings\u2019 gutsy 3-2 win over the New York Islanders last night.\u00a0<\/p>\n Perhaps the most noticeable change has been the offensive uptick and the fact that this team can actually score goals and create quality looks in the offensive zone. This was a Kings team that, through 60-plus games, couldn\u2019t find a way to score enough goals to win games, and now their ability to create offense has been the biggest reason for their improvement.<\/p>\n Through six games played so far in March, the Kings have scored 16 goals at 5-on-5, which has them tied for the third most league-wide<\/a>. They have also generated the third-most high-danger scoring chances with 73, just under the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks, two teams that haven\u2019t had any problems scoring goals all season.\u00a0<\/p>\n While the offense has undoubtedly improved, it has forced the Kings to sacrifice a little on the defensive side of things. The Kings have had some troubles holding leads, and not just a one-goal lead in the final couple of minutes that seemed to keep happening earlier on in the season. These are breakdowns earlier in games, where the Kings have allowed teams to pour it on for an extended period of time.<\/p>\n We saw it against the Montreal Canadiens just before the Kings hit the road, and we saw it again last night against the Islanders, where the Kings almost blew the three-goal lead they generated in the first period.\u00a0<\/p>\n Related: Desperation Sparks Kings in Critical Win Over Islanders<\/a><\/p>\n The Kings are still finding a level of consistency and balance between their recent offensive surge and slight defensive drop, but there\u2019s no question this team looks miles better than it did under Hiller. They have collected seven of a possible 12 points under Smith, are 2-0-1 so far on their five-game road trip with two games left against teams near the bottom of the East (New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers), sit in the second wildcard spot in the West<\/a>, and are just four points back of the Edmonton Oilers, who sit in third place in the Pacific Division, with two games in hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite the amount of change the Kings have endured over the past couple of weeks, the injuries to important, impactful players, and the short window to salvage the rest of the season, the Kings are putting in the effort to make the most of it. Right now, there are positive vibes and hope surrounding a potential postseason appearance.\u00a0<\/p>\n There is a realistic path toward the playoffs for the Kings at this moment, and if there\u2019s a continued commitment to playing this aggressive, relentless style, a fifth consecutive playoff berth should be in the cards for the Kings.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a>![\"Anze](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Anze-Kopitar-Artemi-Panarin-Kings-1200x800.jpg\")
LA Kings center Anze Kopitar and left wing Artemi Panarin celebrate after a goal against the New York Islanders (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n![\"SUBSCRIBE](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Kings_Banner-1200x122.jpg\")
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