2026-27 LA Kings Ready With New Coach and Roster to Make an Impact
The time is here! The Los Angeles Kings begin their 60th NHL season tonight, kicking off the 2026-27 season against the Colorado Avalanche on the road.
Training camp is over, the rosters are set, and the talking is done.
Los Angeles has quite a few changes from last season, both in roster and coaching personnel.
Will these changes make a difference late in the season?
For the Kings, the roster has some new looks. Defenseman Drew Doughty has been named captain, while forwards Adrian Kempe and Artemi Panarin and defenseman Mikey Anderson have been named alternate captains.
Offseason additions include forwards Erik Haula, Corey Perry, and Mats Zuccarello, along with defenseman Erik Gustafsson. This gave the roster a more complete feel and a team that was ready to compete in the tough Pacific Division.
Now that training camp is over, the decisions have been made, and here is the roster for opening night of the Kings’ 26-27 season:
Forwards (13): Adrian Kempe (A), Artemi Panarin (A), Trevor Moore, Alex Laferriere, Alex Turcotte, Scott Laughton, Mats Zuccarello, Joel Armia, Andre Lee, Quinton Byfield, Erik Haula, Samuel Helenius, and Corey Perry
Defensemen (7): Brian Dumoulin, Cody Ceci, Joel Edmundson, Drew Doughty (C), Mikey Anderson (A), Erik Gustafsson, and Brandt Clarke.
Goaltenders (2): Anton Forsberg, Darcy Kuemper
The Kings broadcast team will look a bit different this season, but most remain the same. John Kelly is lead play-by-play; Jim Fox is lead analyst; analysts include Tony Granato, Alec Martinez, Jarret Stoll, and Darryl Evans. Josh Schaefer is play-by-play; Patrick O’Neal is host; and Carrlyn Bathe is host/reporter.
As for the coaching staff and staff off the ice, Peter Laviolette is the head coach for the 26-27 season, Phil Housley is the associate coach, and Chris Hajt, Derik Johnson, and Ray Whitney are assistant coaches. Mike Buckley is the goaltending coach, Samson Lee is the video coach, and Travis Culhane is the assistant video coach.
Watching the Kings this season is simple. Games are available on ABTV, formerly FanDuel Sports Network, through cable and satellite providers. For those without cable, Kings games are available on DAZN, a new direct-to-customer streaming option.
While on-ice and off-ice personnel have changed, the goal remains the same. Win the Stanley Cup. Each season, the teams get better, and the goal gets harder to accomplish. The league as a whole is better, and the Kings will have to stick to their systems and play Kings hockey to finish the Pacific Division on top.
This is the first of many goals for the organization, but it is the first step toward winning the hardest trophy in all of sports.
Buckle in, Kings fans! This is the first game in what will be a fun and sometimes difficult season for our boys from Los Angeles.
Here’s to the 26-27 season; let’s make it happen.
Discover more from Los Angeles Sports Nation
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.