Do the LA Kings Have Enough to Challenge for a Division Title?
Many changes occurred this offseason as teams prepared for the 2026-27 season.
With an 84-game schedule, teams across the league prioritized depth like never before.
The Los Angeles Kings were one of those teams as they prepare to make a statement early and often.
A few new faces make the team more well-rounded, but do they have what it takes to win the Pacific Division?
Winning the Stanley Cup is the ultimate goal, but we have to take the upcoming season in small pieces. Win a week. Win a month. Win a back-to-back. If the Kings can win the division, that may give them a better chance at advancing in the Stanley Cup playoffs this season. While the team has improved on paper, we have to wait to see how they perform on the ice.
Los Angeles has a chip on its shoulder after last season’s playoff loss and wants to jump out to a big lead early in the standings.
This offseason, the Kings lost Anze Kopitar to retirement, but they did sign Erik Haula, Mats Zuccarello, Corey Perry, and Erik Gustafsson in free agency. Some view this as a sideways move; others see it as a step forward, giving the team better depth. With Perry, Zuccarello, and Haula, the team is better suited to compete and post more offensive numbers in the middle six than last season. They added quantity over quality, and that may be the route they take to get more postseason victories. With Gustafsson, they added a solid defenseman who can play on any pairing and any specialty unit, giving the Kings versatility at the position, which could be valuable down the stretch.
As for the rest of the roster, the two names to watch are Artemi Panarin and Scott Laughton, both returning for another season in Los Angeles. Panarin was acquired from the New York Rangers on February 4, 2026, and posted nine goals and 18 assists for 27 points in 26 games for the Kings. A proven point producer, he should immediately help the offense and remain a threat in the offensive zone. Laughton enters season two after signing a three-year, $10.5 million deal on July 1, 2026. He immediately gives Los Angeles a key piece at center. A key addition last season, he was traded to the Kings from the Philadelphia Flyers and gave them instant stability at center. Bringing him back was key, and now he can solidify the bottom-six and play vital minutes.
The Kings may have a better shot at the division title than most may think.
While some may think all they did was add Haula, Perry, Zuccarello, and Gustafsson, they added more to upgrade their roster than the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights, the two teams who finished above them in the Pacific Division last season.
Edmonton still has goaltending issues, and losing defenseman Darnell Nurse is a big loss for the defense. Vegas always has injuries, and their goaltending is not in the upper tier of the league, so these teams are passable with what Los Angeles added. Yes, things have to go incredibly well for the Kings, and incredibly wrong for the other teams in the Pacific Division. That’s how it is every season.
The Kings upgraded their roster but still lack the elite talent other teams have. They will have to fight harder and win games by a goal or two.
This team has surprised before and can do it again.
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