2025-26 Season Thread

[davnlaguna]

The one time I root for the Dux, they lose. At this point, I believe we would be shooting for their playoff spot as they are imploding

Hope the Ducks beat Sharks on Thursday
It would be good for the Kings but also for my TV remote

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Interesting stat I just came across:

The Kings set the NHL record with OT games at 32 and 14 of those have gone to a SO (Kings also lead the league this season in the SO game category).

The Mammoth are at G77 and have yet to go to a SO in any of them. If they maintain that for the next 5 games they'll be the only team in NHL history since the dismal SO was introduced in 2005 to go an entire season without one SO game.

Last season the Rags, Bruins and Oilers only had one each but to go a whole season without any at all is nuts.

Meanwhile us Kings fans have to endure this nonsense seemingly on a nightly basis.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Kingstorian on Instagram: "On April 9, 2017, Bob Miller called his final NHL game between the @LAKings and Anaheim Ducks. Miller served as the voice of the #LAKings for 44 seasons and 3,353 games. #GoKingsGo"

123 likes, 4 comments - kingstorian on April 9, 2026: "On April 9, 2017, Bob Miller called his final NHL game between the @LAKings and Anaheim Ducks. Miller served as the voice of the #LAKings for 44 seasons and 3,353 games. #GoKingsGo".

www.instagram.com

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Kingstorian on Instagram: "On April 9, 2017, Bob Miller called his final NHL game between the @LAKings and Anaheim Ducks. Miller served as the voice of the #LAKings for 44 seasons and 3,353 games. #GoKingsGo"

123 likes, 4 comments - kingstorian on April 9, 2026: "On April 9, 2017, Bob Miller called his final NHL game between the @LAKings and Anaheim Ducks. Miller served as the voice of the #LAKings for 44 seasons and 3,353 games. #GoKingsGo".

www.instagram.com

Man I miss Bob Miller. Fox is Fox, he isn't bad but Miller was so good and we were so spoiled on him. Nickson did a great job too last year and I wish we got more TV out of him vs radio.

John Kelly has grown on me this season in a strange goofy kind of way.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

The Kuemper article I referenced in the G78 thread from TA:

As L.A. Kings hunt playoff berth, Forsberg — not Kuemper — deserves the net

LOS ANGELES — Though Darcy Kuemper did not see a minute of action at the Winter Olympics, as coach Jon Cooper put Team Canada’s gold-medal mission in the hands of Jordan Binnington, the Los Angeles Kings goalie was ecstatic at merely being selected to represent his homeland.

“Growing up playing on the outdoor pond or in the front road playing street hockey, like you’re always dreaming of playing for the Olympics,” Kuemper said in January. “I think every kid in Canada wants to put on that maple leaf in that kind of setting, so it’s such an honor.”

Kuemper was chosen because of an impressive recent track record. In 2024-25, his first year with the Kings, the 35-year-old posted a career-low 2.02 goals-against average and finished as a Vezina Trophy finalist. And his follow-up in 2025-26 started well. Up until a December injury that threw his Olympic status into some doubt, Kuemper had a .916 save percentage and propped up a team dogged by offensive inconsistency and inefficiency.

But that level of play hasn’t been sustainable for Kuemper. In fact, since the Olympic break and especially of late, he hasn’t even been the best netminder for the playoff-chasing Kings. That would instead be Anton Forsberg, who proved clutch Monday in the team’s biggest game to date, stopping 29 of 31 shots in their 3-2 shootout win over the Nashville Predators.

“Obviously just to get the chance to play in this kind of game, it’s so much fun and I had fun every minute out there,” Forsberg said.

The facts should be clear to Kings interim coach D.J. Smith. Forsberg needs to start Thursday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks. And perhaps Saturday’s home tilt against the Edmonton Oilers. There’s a back-to-back next week in Seattle and Vancouver where both goalies can get a game. But if a playoff berth is on the line in the regular season finale at Calgary, the Kings should again tap Forsberg unless he gives them reason not to play him.

As cruel as it may seem to cast aside Kuemper, the veteran has been struggling. It’s not just his last three games, when he’s allowed 15 goals on 70 shots; he has an .870 save percentage since coming back from Milan. Meanwhile, Forsberg has a .900 SV% in 10 games since the NHL returned to action. Not great but clearly better.

When asked after standing tall Monday whether he’d be prepared to play the final five games, Forsberg said, “I’ll play whenever they tell me to play.” But the 33-year-old, who’s mostly been a 1B goalie or an often-used backup, would relish the chance to be the one the Kings lean on to capture a playoff berth.

The upcoming back-to-back allows Smith to make that statement and stick to it. But while he’s trying not to give away which direction they’re leaning, Forsberg’s work against the Predators is providing what should be a definitive answer — at least for the last two games of this critical homestand. He was particularly strong in Monday’s second period, when Nashville put 19 shots on him. He gave up a juicy rebound in the slot but turned away Filip Forsberg. Tyson Jost and Justin Barron were both denied in a later flurry.

“Forzy’s played great for months now,” Drew Doughty said. “He’s been really good and (we’re) very confident in front of him. He’s a great goalie, great guy. You want to do things for him because of how hard he works and how good of a teammate he is. He’s vocal back there, too, which is nice.”

The Kings are being diplomatic with their net options. “Very confident in front of both goalies, of course,” Doughty said. But it’s time to go with their best. Right now, that’s Forsberg.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

I think that Rantanen hit did mess up Kuemper. Sorry to say. Def run Forsberg until things change. I feel slightly redeemed because I thought Forsberg was good in Ottawa, and then his first few games in LA were horrid.

I still hate LA's defensive core and how soft they are as a team, but you do have to wonder what this team could've maybe looked like with Fiala and Kuzmenko. Kuzmenko I heard is skating at least. Eddie Garcia of Locked on LA Kings was arguing that he doesn't see a spot for Kuzmenko when he's healthy, and I just cannot see that. His potential PP chemistry with Panarin alone might get him in the lineup.

 

[Kings4OT]

Eddie Garcia of Locked on LA Kings was arguing that he doesn't see a spot for Kuzmenko when he's healthy, and I just cannot see that. His potential PP chemistry with Panarin alone might get him in the lineup.

12
55

In that order

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I think that Rantanen hit did mess up Kuemper. Sorry to say. Def run Forsberg until things change. I feel slightly redeemed because I thought Forsberg was good in Ottawa, and then his first few games in LA were horrid.

I still hate LA's defensive core and how soft they are as a team, but you do have to wonder what this team could've maybe looked like with Fiala and Kuzmenko. Kuzmenko I heard is skating at least. Eddie Garcia of Locked on LA Kings was arguing that he doesn't see a spot for Kuzmenko when he's healthy, and I just cannot see that. His potential PP chemistry with Panarin alone might get him in the lineup.

Kuzmenko will not be back bud. He has been invisible all season even when he was healthy and followed his I rock when I get here but don't in year 2 pattern. He had a small stretch, like 5 games, but that was it.

This is now the third team he has done that with and at his price tag the Kings need help in more important positions to spend the money on.

Wish him well.

 

[xis]

Heard a stat today that I thought it was a late Aprils fools joke.

Troy Terry of the Ducks has ZERO hits recorded in 58 games this year. That sounds amazing to me. I would think you would get credit for a hit just by accidently running into someone at some point. Had to actually look it up and it's true. 0 hits credited to him this year.

Troy Terry Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Title | Hockey-Reference.com

Checkout the latest stats of Troy Terry. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, trade, draft and more on Hockey-Reference.com

www.hockey-reference.com

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Heard a stat today that I thought it was a late Aprils fools joke.

Troy Terry of the Ducks has ZERO hits recorded in 58 games this year. That sounds amazing to me. I would think you would get credit for a hit just by accidently running into someone at some point. Had to actually look it up and it's true. 0 hits credited to him this year.

Troy Terry Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Title | Hockey-Reference.com

Checkout the latest stats of Troy Terry. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, trade, draft and more on Hockey-Reference.com

www.hockey-reference.com

He's always given me bitch boy vibes, not surprised.

The main thing I remember about him is getting his face crushed in because Zegras was being an idiot and I think it was Phoenix at that time who retaliated. Terry was an amazing punching bag.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

TA, the 7 most underrated players in the league. The Kings have one of the best and I knew he was going to be on this list before I even read the article:

Alex Laferriere, Los Angeles Kings

Every time I watch the Kings play, Alex Laferriere jumps off the screen with his impactful, assertive two-way play, even in games where he isn’t scoring. Laferriere is a Swiss Army knife for a team’s top-nine: He can play wing or center, is an absolute DAWG with his physical, max energy game and is legitimately impactful at both ends of the rink.

The 24-year-old is a menace at hounding pucks on the forecheck (ranks in the 96th percentile for forecheck involvement), winning battles and is top-10 in hits this season because of his speedy wheels and tenacious motor. He has a direct, aggressive shot-first mentality, ranking 29th among NHL players at generating five-on-five shots since last season.

Laferriere is in the 20-goal, 40-point neighborhood for a second consecutive season, which may not seem exciting, but it’s impressive when you consider that basically all of his production has come at even strength. He ranks second among Kings players in five-on-five points since last season, ranking higher than teammates such as Quinton Byfield, Kevin Fiala and Anže Kopitar. League-wide, he’s narrowly outside of the top-50 for five-on-five goal scoring since last season.

5v5 Goals Since 2024-25 (see image)

Laferriere is responsible defensively and has grown into a prominent penalty-killing role as well. He’s also very involved at engineering zone exits and zone entries, which explains why the Kings outshoot, outchance and outscore opponents by such a wide margin when he’s on the ice.

Laferriere isn’t the most creative or skilled playmaker, but he’s a coach’s dream in the middle six due to his versatility, speed, five-on-five scoring, physicality and defensive reliability.

He was the best Kings draft pick in 2020, not Buster. Not even close.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

 

[PuckinUgly57]

TA, every team's MVP and most disappointing player. Color me shocked.

Los Angeles Kings

MVP: Adrian Kempe

The sentimental pick would be franchise icon Anže Kopitar in his 20th and final season, but Kempe has been their best player and most important. Once again, their leading scorer, the Swede, hit the 30-goal mark for the fourth time in five seasons. He’s been carrying L.A. at a critical time.

Most disappointing: Quinton Byfield

Cody Ceci might be a call for some here, but did you really expect great things from the third-pair defenseman? You hoped Byfield would make the leap into stardom. But it’s been an inconsistent season for the toolsy 23-year-old. However, he’s saved his best for last with a late-season surge. — Eric Stephens

Dude will be 24 in 4 months. Age is not an excuse anymore, neither is GP. And what I saw in person yesterday, he will not be anything more than Dunno 2.0.

 

[Kings4OT]

TA, every team's MVP and most disappointing player. Color me shocked.

Los Angeles Kings

MVP: Adrian Kempe

The sentimental pick would be franchise icon Anže Kopitar in his 20th and final season, but Kempe has been their best player and most important. Once again, their leading scorer, the Swede, hit the 30-goal mark for the fourth time in five seasons. He’s been carrying L.A. at a critical time.

Most disappointing: Quinton Byfield

Cody Ceci might be a call for some here, but did you really expect great things from the third-pair defenseman? You hoped Byfield would make the leap into stardom. But it’s been an inconsistent season for the toolsy 23-year-old. However, he’s saved his best for last with a late-season surge. — Eric Stephens

Dude will be 24 in 4 months. Age is not an excuse anymore, neither is GP. And what I saw in person yesterday, he will not be anything more than Dunno 2.0.

Not sure about that bud, Dunno could win a FO

 

[davnlaguna]

Ducks lose in OT
Kings can still pass them.
Puck the DLW doesn’t blame the socks you gave her

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Ducks lose in OT
Kings can still pass them.
Puck the DLW doesn’t blame the socks you gave her

Plan worked, I gave them to her for bad juju.

 

[CaptHowdy00]

Quick to retire.

Rangers goalie Jonathan Quick to make final NHL start, retire after season

Quick will end his 19-year career 12th on the NHL's career wins list and first among U.S.-born netminders.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Kings4OT]

Quick to retire.

Rangers goalie Jonathan Quick to make final NHL start, retire after season

Quick will end his 19-year career 12th on the NHL's career wins list and first among U.S.-born netminders.

www.nytimes.com

Yea, saw that

 

[Kings4OT]

Plan worked, I gave them to her for bad juju.

Lot of dudes pay big bucks for that kind of juju

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Quick to retire.

Rangers goalie Jonathan Quick to make final NHL start, retire after season

Quick will end his 19-year career 12th on the NHL's career wins list and first among U.S.-born netminders.

www.nytimes.com

Not surprised, will watch this game. Great career and Kings legend.