3 burning questions Los Angeles Kings must answer in 2026 offseason
The Los Angeles Kings have a leadership void after Anze Kopitar retired. Here are some questions they must answer this offseason.
The Los Angeles Kings (35-37-20) said goodbye to a major franchise face this season. Center Anze Kopitar, who leads all Kings in points with 1,316, announced he would retire at the end of the season, so the Kings wanted to give him a proper farewell tour. Unfortunately, those dreams were nearly crushed with star winger Kevin Fiala suffering a gruesome injury in the Olympics.
Fiala missed the rest of the season, and his future effectiveness might never be the same. More: 3 burning questions St. Louis Blues must answer in 2026 offseason However, the Kings acquired Rangers winger Artemi Panarin , and thanks to the top-heavy nature of the Western Conference, the Kings made the playoffs with just 90 points.
The farewell tour ended when the Colorado Avalanche swept the Kings, and with Kopitar’s retirement, the silver and black have a big hole entering the 2026 offseason. Who do the Kings tab as head coach? Mar 16, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Los Angeles Kings head coach D.
J. Smith coaches against the New York Rangers during the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images During the middle of the season, the Kings were stagnant, below the playoff line.
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