Los Angeles Kings News

After a 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in their season opener on Tuesday, the Kings will switch to Forsberg between the pipes on Wednesday against the Golden Knights. Forsberg to a two-year deal worth $2.25 million AAV in the offseason to slide into their backup goalie position behind Darcy Kuemper. The 32-year-old Forsberg has been inconsistent in his career but recorded a career-high three shutouts last season in addition to a 2.72 GAA and .901 SV% in 30 appearances (11-12-3) with the Ottawa Senators. The Kings enter Wednesday's matchup against the Golden Knights as +177 road underdogs.

Lafferiere was banged up in the Kings' preseason game last Thursday and missed the preseason finale on Saturday, but was a full participant in the team's last two practices. The 23-year-old Laferriere had an impressive 2024-25 campaign, scoring 42 points (19G / 23A) in 77 games.

Kuemper's first season in Los Angeles was a major success, following his decline to mediocrity in his final season as a Washington Capital. The 35-year-old veteran netminder finished the 2024-25 campaign as the second runner-up for the Vezina trophy after posting an excellent 2.02 GAA, .921 SV%, and five shutouts in 50 games (31-11-7). Kuemper will be between the pipes for the Kings' season opener on Tuesday, entering the action as slight -101 home underdogs against the Colorado Avalanche.

Lafferiere was banged up in the Kings' preseason game last Thursday and missed the preseason finale on Saturday, but was a full participant in the team's last two practices. The 23-year-old Laferriere had an impressive 2024-25 campaign, scoring 42 points (19G / 23A) in 77 games.

Kuemper's first season in Los Angeles was a major success, following his decline to mediocrity in his final season as a Washington Capital. The 35-year-old veteran netminder finished the 2024-25 campaign as the second runner-up for the Vezina trophy after posting an excellent 2.02 GAA, .921 SV%, and five shutouts in 50 games (31-11-7). Kuemper will be between the pipes for the Kings' season opener on Tuesday, entering the action as slight -101 home underdogs against the Colorado Avalanche.

Lafferiere was banged up in the Kings' preseason game last Thursday and missed the preseason finale on Saturday, but was a full participant in Monday's practice. The Kings are "optimistic" but said that is's "not a guarantee" that Lafferiere will be in the lineup on opening night when the Kings host the Avalanche.

Panarin has had a low event training camp for the Rangers while managing a lower-body injury that has kept him sidelined for most of it. That said, he was a full participant at practice on Monday and will suit up for New York's season opener on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 33-year-old Panarin led the Rangers in points yet again last season, after putting up 37 goals and 89 points in 80 games played.

Laferriere is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and his status for their season opener is up in the air. If Laferriere doesn't play on Tuesday, expect Joel Armia to move up the lineup to skate with Quinton Byfield and Kevin Fiala.

Laughton was limited to only four points (2G / 2A) in 20 games with the Maple Leafs after being acquired before last season's trade deadline. The Maple Leafs will hope that an offseason helps the 31-year-old acclimate to the team's style, allowing him to return to the production he had in his previous two full seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, when he scored 82 points (31G / 51A) in 160 games. That said, his season debut with the Maple Leafs will have to wait as he will likely be unavailable when they hit the ice next week.

Copley is no stranger to the NHL, with 77 games of experience, and could work himself into a backup role for Tampa Bay behind Andrei Vasilevskiy. The 33-year-old Copley spent the majority of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, tallying a 2.49 GAA and .904 SV% in 42 games with the Ontario Reign (24-17-1).

Panarin returned to practice on Friday in a red jersey but has been cleared for contact. He suffered the injury last week in training camp. Panarin led the Rangers in points yet again last season, after putting up 37 goals and 89 points in 80 games played.

New York fans can breathe a sigh of relief after it was announced Artemi Panarin would only be out day-to-day with a lower-body injury after leaving Friday's practice early. The Rangers have stated that he was removed due to precautionary reasons, meaning there is little reason to think the 33-year-old will not be ready to go in a few days. Panarin led the Rangers in points yet again last season, after putting up 37-goals and 89 points in 80 games played.

Los Angeles has locked up one of their key young players on Friday after they announced the signing of Alex Laferriere to a three-year contract extension worth $4.1 million AAV ($12.3M total). The 23-year-old right-winger improved on nearly all his rookie numbers in his sophomore campaign last season, putting up 19 goals, 42 points, and a +22 plus/minus in 77 games played. He is expected to occupy a top-six role again in 2025-26.

Springfield (AHL) will bring back one of their best scorers from the 2024-25 season after St. Louis announced on Saturday it had signed Nikita Alexandrov to a one-year, two-way contract extension. The 24-year-old last appeared with the Blues in 2023-24 but still had a successful seaosn in the minors with Springfield last year, putting up 21 goals and 49 points in 48 games played.

Ward made his NHL debut last season, scoring a goal in one game with the Los Angeles Kings and has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract extension. The undrafted 27-year-old forward spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, tallying 27 points (12G / 15A) in 66 games with the Ontario Reign.

Brown was the 11th overall pick of the Ottawa Senators but has struggled to establish himself at the NHL level. The 27-year-old played 69 games across two seasons for the Blues from 2021-22 to 2022-23, scoring 17 points (6G / 11A), but has exclusively played in the AHL since. He scored 29 points (33G / 11A) in 33 games with the Syracuse Crunch (AHL) last season.

Los Angeles added to its defensive depth on Day 2 of Free Agency by signing Samuel Bolduc to a one-year, two-way contract. The 24-year-old has 52 career NHL games to his name, but spent the majority of the 2024-25 season with Bridgeport (AHL), where he had nine goals and 35 points in 69 games played. He is expected to compete for one of Los Angeles' final defensive spots to start the 2025-26 season.

After a successful season in Rockford (AHL), Cole Guttman has earned himself a two-year, $1.55 million contract ($750,000 AAV) with the Los Angeles Kings. The 26-year-old is likely to start the 2025-26 season in Ontario (AHL), where he is likely to continue his minor league success after putting up 23 goals and 57 points in 70 games played with Rockford (AHL) in 2024-25.

With the departure of David Rittich, joining the New York Islanders, the Kings have signed Forsberg to a two-year deal worth $2.25 million AAV to slide into their backup goalie position behind Darcy Kuemper. The 32-year-old Forsberg has been inconsistent in his career but recorded a career-high three shutouts last season in addition to a 2.72 GAA and .901 SV% in 30 appearances (11-12-3).