Los Angeles Kings News

Kuemper was acquired via trade with the Washington Capitals in the offseason in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois. The 34-year-old Kuemper had a forgettable 2023-24 campaign, posting a career-worst 3.31 GAA and .890 SV% in 33 appearances (13-14-3). Before last season, Kuemper was the picture of consistency, posting a superb 2.53 GAA and .918 SV% in 225 games (112-80-24) in his previous five seasons combined. After a solid preseason performance, posting a 1.52 GAA, .918 SV%, and one shutout in three contests (2-1-0), Kuemper is motivated to return to his form of years past. The Kings enter action on Thursday as slight -104 road underdogs against the Buffalo Sabres.

Doughty was hurt in an awkward play in a preseason game on September 25th and is considered month-to-month after it was announced the 34-year-old had successfully undergone surgery to repair a fractured ankle. He has been a staple on the Kings blueline for more than a decade and his impact will be sorely missed. Over the last two seasons, Doughty averaged nearly 26:00 TOI/GP. In 82 games in 2023-24, he had 15 goals, 50 points, 44 PIMs and a +15 plus/minus. Brandt Clarke is expected to take his spot on the Kings' top powerplay to start the season.

Doughty was hurt in an awkward play in last Wednesday's preseason game and is now considered month-to-month after it was announced the 34-year-old had successfully undergone surgery to repair a fractured ankle. It is a significant loss for the Kings as Doughty has played in all but one game in the last two seasons, averaging nearly 26:00 TOI/GP. In 82 games in 2023-24, he had 15 goals, 50 points, 44 PIMs and a +15 plus/minus. Brandt Clarke is expected to take his spot on the Kings' top powerplay to start the season. Head Coach Jim Hiller did mention Doughty is expected back this season.

Doughty was hurt in an awkward play in Wednesday's preseason game and is now considered month-to-month after it was announced the 34-year-old would undergo surgery to repair a fractured ankle. It will be a significant loss for the Kings as Doughty has played in all but one game in the last two seasons, averaging nearly 26:00 TOI/GP. In 82 games in 2023-24, he had 15 goals, 50 points, 44 PIMs and a +15 plus/minus. Brandt Clarke is expected to take his spot on the Kings' top powerplay to start the season. Head Coach Jim Hiller did mention Doughty is expected back this season.

It was reported earlier Thursday that Doughty's initial x-ray showed an ankle fracture but the 34-year-old is scheduled for more additional imaging later in the day after leaving Wednesday's preseason game with an ankle injury. If the defensemen is forced to miss a chunk of time, it will be a significant loss for the Kings as Doughty has played in all but one game in the last two seasons, averaging nearly 26:00 TOI/GP. In 82 games in 2023-24, he had 15 goals, 50 points, 44 PIMs and a +15 plus/minus.

Vancouver announced on Tuesday that they would be signing 38-year-old Alexander Edler to a one-day contract so that the defensemen could retire a Canuck after 17 professional seasons in the NHL. The Swedish defender last played in the NHL in 2022-23 with Los Angeles and enjoyed 1030 career NHL games played which led to 104 goals, 439 points and 733 PIMs.

Los Angeles added to its goaltending depth on Sunday after they signed 23-year-old goaltender Erik Portillo to a three-year, entry-level contract. The towering 6'6" netminder was Buffalo's 2019 3rd-round pick (67th overall) and spent 2023-24 dominating the AHL with Ontario, with his 24-11-3 record, 2.50 GAA and .918 SV%.

Edmonton needed to clear some cap space after St. Louis tenured two of their restricted free agents earlier in the week (Holloway, Broberg) and have dealt defensemen Cody Ceci and a 2025 3rd-round pick to San Jose for Ty Emberson. In 79 games with Edmonton in 2023-24, the 30-year-old Ceci had five goals, 25 points, and a +12 plus/minus in 2023-24.

George was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft (57th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Los Angeles. The 18-year-old goaltender spent 2023-24 with the Owen Sound Attack (OHL) and had a 3.30 GAA and .907 SV% while appearing in 56 games. He is expected to be one of the best goalies in the CHL in the upcoming 2024-25 season.

Greentree was the No.26 overall pick in this summer's NHL Draft. The 18-year-old winger played the 2024 season in Windsor (OHL), leading the rebuilding roster with 90 points (36G / 54A) in 64 games. He'll be back with Windsor to start the 2025 season.

After a breakout season in 2023-24 which saw Byfield put up career highs with 55 points (20G/35A) in 80 games played, the 21-year-old has earned himself a five-year, $31.25 million extension ($6,250,000) with Los Angeles. Byfield was Los Angeles 2020 1st round pick (2nd overall) and has 88 points (28G/60A) in 179 career NHL games played.

Seattle managed to clear up some defensive room on Tuesday by trading away Brian Dumoulin to Anaheim for a 2026 4th-round pick. The 32-year-old is entering his 12th NHL season and has 626 games played in his career. In 2023-24 he had six goals, 16 points and 20 PIMs in 80 games played.

Ontario (AHL) continued to add to their player depth on Monday as they signed Glenn Gawdin to a two-year, two-way contract. The 27-year-old has appeared in 13 career NHL games across four seasons but spent the vast majority of 2023-24 with San Diego (AHL) and had 22 goals and 55 points in 70 games played.

After four successful seasons in Manitoba (AHL), Jeff Malott has signed a two-year, two-way contract with Los Angeles. The 27-year-old undrafted left-winger surpassed 40+ points for a third straight year as he ended with 22 goals and 52 points in 70 games played with Manitoba.

Despite missing the majority of the 2023-24 season with a Knee injury, Pheonix Copley re-signed for a one-year contract worth $825,000 on Monday. The 32-year-old Alaska native was only able to appear in eight games in 2023-24 prior to his injury, posting a 4-1-2 record, 3.16 GAA and .870 SV%.

Fresh off the best season of his seven-year career and a Stanley Cup Finals appearance, Warren Foegele has signed a three-year, $10.5 million contract ($3.5M AAV) with Los Angeles. The 28-year-old ended 2023-24 with career highs in goals (20), assists (21), PIMs (47), and SOG (201) across 82 games played.

After failing to win a Stanley Cup after reaching the finals for the fifth time in his career, Corey Perry is going to run it back with Edmonton after signing a one-year deal worth $1,400,000 AAV. The 39-year-old is entering his 20th NHL season after putting up 12 goals and 22 points in 54 games with Chicago and Edmonton in 2023-24.

Edmundson will join his fourth team in three years (TOR, WSH, MTL) after he signed a four-year deal worth $15.2 million ($3.8M AAV) on Monday. The 31-year-old defensive defensemen was acquired from Washington by Toronto at the trade deadline last season and he had one goal and six points in 53 games played.

Burroughs went from a sixth/seventh defenseman with the Canucks in 2023 to a top-4 option with the Sharks. He averaged 19:09 TOI/gm and picked up eight points (2G / 6A) while finishing with the fifth-worst plus/minus (-42) in the NHL. With the Kings, he'll likely go back to being a sixth/seventh defenseman.

Los Angeles has secured a key depth piece of their future for the next three years after signing Alex Turcotte to a three-year contract worth $2.325 million ($775K AAV). The 23-year-old winger is Los Angeles' 2019 first-round pick (5th overall) and has appeared in 32 NHL games in the last three seasons. In 2023-24 he achieved career highs in almost all statistical categories with one goal, four points, 14 SOG, and six PIMs in 20 games played.