The 2024-25 season is upon us, and Last Word on Hockey is here to provide you with all the latest previews and insights into each team’s outlook. Today, we turn our attention to the Los Angeles Kings, a team that has been making moves in the offseason to bolster their roster.
One of the biggest changes for the Kings was the departure of goaltender Cam Talbot, their wins leader. However, they wasted no time in acquiring veteran netminder Darcy Kuemper to fill that void. In addition, they added depth to their forward lines with the acquisition of Tanner Jeannot. On the defensive end, Kyle Burroughs and Joel Edmundson were brought in to strengthen the blue line.
These moves signal the Kings’ intentions to shake things up and push for more success in the playoffs. While they have been dominant in the regular season, their postseason performances have fallen short in recent years. With a roster overhaul, the Kings are aiming to make a deeper run in the playoffs this season.
The forward lines for the Kings are looking solid heading into the new season:
Laferriere-Kopitar-Kempe
Fiala-Byfield-Kaliyev
Moore-Danault-Foegele
Jeannot-Turcotte-Thomas
Anze Kopitar, despite not leading the team in points last season, still managed to put up an impressive 70 points. The 37-year-old veteran has been a consistent performer for the Kings, recording 60-70 points in each of the last three seasons. With young talents like Alex Laferriere looking to make a name for themselves, Kopitar will be a key leader for the team.
Speaking of Laferriere, the rookie had a strong debut season with 12 goals in 81 games. The New Jersey native is oozing with offensive potential and will have the chance to shine alongside Kopitar and another scoring threat in Adrian Kempe, who led the team with 75 points last season.
As the Kings gear up for the 2024-25 season, all eyes will be on them to see if their offseason acquisitions pay off and if they can finally break through in the postseason. With a revamped roster and a hunger for success, the Kings are poised to make some noise this year.
