Los Angeles Kings News

Avalanche host the Kings to begin season

The Colorado Avalanche host the Los Angeles Kings for the season opener

19 HOURS AGO • Associated Press

Los Angeles Kings' season outlook | NHL.com NHL Tonight looks at the hole that Anže Kopitar left on the Los Angeles Kings and what that means for the team in 2026-2027

1 DAY AGO • NHL.COM

Otto Salin - Lands on IR-NR Salin (undisclosed) was placed on the injured non-roster list Sunday.

Impact Once he's healthy, Salin will almost certainly be sent to AHL Ontario. The 2022 fifth-round pick accounted for three goals, five points, 22 PIM and a minus-3 rating over 43 appearances with the Reign in 2025-26. The right-shot defenseman has yet to appear in an NHL game.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Erik Portillo - Sent to minors Portillo was loaned to AHL Ontario on Sunday.

Impact The Kings have two veteran netminders on their roster in Darcy Kuemper and Anton Forsberg, so the move to loan Portillo to the minor-league club doesn't come as much of a surprise. The 26-year-old Portillo will now shift his focus to working as the Reign's top netminder for the 2026-27 season.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Mats Zuccarello - Three points against Ducks on Saturday Zuccarello scored a power-play goal and added two even-strength assists in Saturday's 6-2 preseason win over Anaheim.

Impact The 39-year-old winger joined the Kings on a one-year contract this summer, and Zuccarello showed the minor shoulder issue that was dealing with during training camp won't be an issue when the games start to count. He seems ticketed for a top-six role, giving Zuccarello a good chance of producing a sixth straight 50-point campaign.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Alex Turcotte - Three-point effort in preseason win Turcotte scored two even-strength goals and added a power-play assist in Saturday's 6-2 preseason win over the Ducks.

Impact All three points came in the third period as the Kings pulled away. Turcotte could be headed for a top-six role this season following the retirement of Anze Kopitar, but the 25-year-old center has yet to produce big numbers in the NHL, and he managed just three goals and 14 points in 62 regular-season games in 2025-26.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Drew Doughty - Three helpers in preseason finale Doughty picked up three assists, one on the power play, in Saturday's 6-2 preseason win over the Ducks.

Impact The 36-year-old blueliner had a hand in an Adrian Kempe tally in the first period and goals by Alex Turcotte and Erik Haula in the third. Doughty isn't the offensive force he once was and managed just one point in 2025-26 on the man advantage while ceding power-play time to Brandt Clarke last season, but he may still has something left in the tank in a more sheltered role.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Darcy Kuemper - Not busy in preseason win Kuemper stopped 17 shots in Saturday's 6-2 preseason win over the Ducks.

Impact Anaheim took a 2-1 lead late in the first period on a Bennett Sennecke power-play tally, but Kuemper shut the door from there as Los Angeles took control. The 36-year-old netminder is coming off a disappointing campaign, going 19-14-15 in 50 appearances with a 2.78 GAA and .891 save percentage, and Kuemper could cede more work to backup Anton Forsberg this season if he can't regain his prior form.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Joel Edmundson - Is day-to-day Edmundson (undisclosed) is day-to-day, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports Saturday.

Impact Edmundson's status for the Kings' season opener in Colorado on Wednesday remains uncertain. If Edmundson can't play in the opener, then Erik Gustafsson might draw into the lineup. Edmundson has two goals and 23 points in 82 regular-season appearances in 2025-26.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Ducks vs. Kings | NHL Preseason Highlights | Sep 26, 2026

3 DAYS AGO • YOUTUBE

Mats Zuccarello - Ready to rock Zuccarello (shoulder) will play in Saturday's preseason finale against the Ducks, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports.

Impact As expected, Zuccarello will be in the lineup just before the 2026-27 campaign opens. He produced 15 goals, 54 points and 122 shots on net in 59 appearances for Minnesota during the 2025-26 regular season. With the Kings this year, he should occupy a top-six role and see time on the first power-play unit.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Darcy Kuemper - Leads Kings on ice Kuemper will patrol the home crease in Saturday's preseason game against the Ducks, per Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site.

Impact Kuemper will look to bounce back after he allowed five goals on 34 shots in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to Utah. While he dealt with injuries down the stretch of the 2025-26 campaign, he had a down year by his standards, posting a 19-14-15 record, a 2.78 GAA and an .891 save percentage across 50 regular-season outings. He'll likely open the season as the Kings' No. 1 option, but will face real competition for playing time against Anton Forsberg.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Scott Perunovich - Shifts to waivers Perunovich was placed on waivers Saturday, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports.

Impact Perunovich supplied nine goals, 49 points and 54 PIM in 64 regular-season outings with AHL Tucson in 2025-26. Assuming he clears waivers, Perunovich is ticketed to start the 2026-27 campaign with AHL Ontario.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Taylor Ward - Placed on waivers Ward was moved to the waiver wire Saturday, according to Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site.

Impact Ward provided three goals, seven points, 38 shots on net and 38 hits in 36 appearances with the Kings during the 2025-26 regular season. If he goes unclaimed, he could log NHL action for Los Angeles again at some point in the 2026-27 campaign.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Mats Zuccarello - Likely to play Saturday Zuccarello (shoulder) is probable for Saturday's preseason game against Anaheim, per Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site.

Impact Zuccarello was a full participant in Friday's practice, but he still hasn't been given final clearance to play Saturday. Even if he ends up missing the upcoming exhibition tilt against Anaheim, Zuccarello appears to be on track to play in the Kings' season opener against Colorado on Wednesday.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Jakub Dvorak - Put on non-roster injured reserve Dvorak (upper body) was put on non-roster injured reserve by the Kings on Thursday, per Zach Dooley of LA Kings Insider.

Impact Dvorak had four goals, seven points and 41 PIM in 45 regular-season outings with AHL Ontario in 2025-26. He'll likely return to Ontario once he recovers from his injury.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Jan Jenik - On non-roster injured reserve Jenik (undisclosed) was placed on non-roster injured reserve by Los Angeles on Thursday, per Zach Dooley of LA Kings Insider.

Impact Jenik had nine goals, 17 points and 29 PIM in 43 AHL regular-season outings between Belleville and Ontario in 2025-26. He will probably be sent to the minors once he's recovered from his injury.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Otto Salin - Sidelined with undisclosed injury Salin is dealing with an undisclosed injury, Zach Dooley of the Kings' official site reports Thursday.

Impact Salin is a long shot to make the roster coming out of camp, but the fact that he hasn't been placed on non-roster injured reserve could be an indication it's a short-term problem. Once given the all-clear, expect Salin to link up with AHL Ontario.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Martin Chromiak - Waived by Los Angeles Chromiak was placed on waivers by the Kings on Thursday, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports.

Impact Chromiak signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Kings in mid-June and will begin the regular season with AHL Ontario, assuming he clears waivers. Across 71 regular-season appearances with the Reign last year, the 24-year-old recorded 28 goals and 28 assists.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Cole Guttman - Hits waivers Guttman was put on waivers by Los Angeles on Thursday, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.

Impact Guttman had 24 goals, 53 points and 52 PIM in 67 regular-season appearances with AHL Ontario in 2025-26. The 27-year-old hasn't played in the NHL since 2023-24 when he had four goals and eight points in 27 regular-season outings with the Blackhawks.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Lane Pederson - Lands on waivers Pederson was placed on waivers by the Kings on Thursday, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports.

Impact Pederson signed a two-year, two-way agreement with the Kings in early July, and he'll begin the 2026-27 campaign with AHL Ontario if he clears waivers. Across 63 minor-league appearances with Lehigh Valley last year, he recorded 23 goals, 25 assists and 44 PIM.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Francesco Pinelli - Put on waivers Pinelli was placed on waivers by Los Angeles on Thursday, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.

Impact Pinelli had 14 goals, 35 points and 50 PIM in 65 regular-season appearances with AHL Ontario in 2025-26. The 23-year-old is expected to start the upcoming campaign in the minors, but he might make his NHL debut later in the season.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Joe Hicketts - Placed on waivers Thursday Hicketts was waived by the Kings on Thursday, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports.

Impact Hicketts hasn't made a regular-season appearance in the NHL since the 2019-20 campaign, when he made six appearances with the Red Wings. Assuming he clears waivers, he'll begin the 2026-27 season in the minors, where he'll presumably spend most, or all, of the year.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

HIGHLIGHTS: LA Kings at Anaheim Ducks | 09.23.26 | Preseason

5 DAYS AGO • YOUTUBE

Kings vs. Ducks | NHL Preseason Highlights | Sep 23, 2026

5 DAYS AGO • YOUTUBE

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Avalanche host the Kings to begin season

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Avalanche host the Kings to begin season