The Kings will be without their second-line center on Monday, as Byfield tends to an illness. The 23-year-old Byfield has 19 points (4G / 15A) in 31 games this season, but has recently been demoted from the top powerplay unit and has seen his production dip significantly. He has only two points (0G / 2A) in 12 games this season.
After scoring two or fewer goals in seven of their last nine games (3-3-3), the Kings have erupted to outscore their opponents 10-2 in their last two games (2-0-0). Darcy Kuemper has started four straight, so the Kings will turn to Forsberg on Wednesday against the Seattle Kraken. The 33-year-old Forsberg was solid in his most recent outing, saving 19 of 20 shots (.950 SV%) in a 2-1 overtime win over the Vancouver Canucks. Forsberg has a 2.69 GAA and .894 SV% in eight games this season (4-2-2). The Kings enter the action on Wednesday as -146 road favorites against a Kraken team on a five-game losing skid (0-5-0).
Kuzmenko has remained on the top powerplay unit but has since been heavily protected at even strength, seemingly not having the trust of the Kings' coaching staff. The 29-year-old Kuzmenko was excellent with the Kings after being acquired before the trade deadline in 2024-25, scoring 17 points (5G / 12A) in 22 games, but has not been able to replicate that success in 2025-26. He played a season-low 6:58 time-on-ice in the Kings' most recent game and has just one point (1G / 0A) in his last 13. Jeff Malott will draw into the lineup as Kuzmenko's replacement.
Andrei Kuzmenko will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday against the Seattle Kraken, allowing Malott to re-enter the lineup. The 29-year-old Malott has two goals in 19 games this season.
After scoring two or fewer goals in seven of their last nine games (3-3-3), the Kings have erupted to outscore their opponents 10-2 in their last two games (2-0-0). Darcy Kuemper has started four straight, so the Kings will turn to Forsberg on Wednesday against the Seattle Kraken. The 33-year-old Forsberg was solid in his most recent outing, saving 19 of 20 shots (.950 SV%) in a 2-1 overtime win over the Vancouver Canucks. Forsberg has a 2.69 GAA and .894 SV% in eight games this season (4-2-2). The Kings enter the action on Wednesday as -146 road favorites against a Kraken team on a five-game losing skid (0-5-0).
Cihar was drafted 59th overall by the Kings in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and has earned himself a three-year, entry-level contract. The 18-year-old Czech forward has eight points (4G / 4) in 27 games playing Czechia with Karlovy Vary HC.
The Kings have scored two or fewer goals in seven of their last 10, but rallied to a reasonable 4-3-3 record thanks to solid goaltending led by Darcy Kuemper. The 35-year-old Kuemper is coming off a 23-save performance in a 6-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks for his second shutout of the season. He has a terrific 1.70 GAA and .934 SV% in his last 11 games (6-3-2). The Kings enter Monday's contest as -104 road underdogs against a Utah Mammoth team that will be without their leading goal scorer, Logan Cooley (lower body).
The Kings have been abysmal offensively lately, scoring only 15 goals (1.87 GF/GP) in their last eight games, but have salvaged a 3-3-2 record courtesy of serviceable defense and goaltending. Kuemper was solid in his most recent outing, a 22-save performance (.917 SV%), but again did not receive enough goal support in a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals. He returns to the crease on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks, looking to build on his 2.37 GAAA and .908 SV% through 18 games this season (8-5-5). The Kings enter Thursday's contest as -199 home favorites.
The Kings have been abysmal offensively lately, scoring only 15 goals (1.87 GF/GP) in their last eight games, but have salvaged a 3-3-2 record courtesy of serviceable defense and goaltending. Kuemper was solid in his most recent outing, a 22-save performance (.917 SV%), but again did not receive enough goal support in a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals. He likely returns to the crease on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks, looking to build on his 2.37 GAAA and .908 SV% through 18 games this season (8-5-5). The Kings enter Thursday's contest as -199 home favorites.
Foegele has battled an undisclosed injury and did not play in the Kings' last two games, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 29-year-old Foegele had a career-high 46 points (24G / 22A) in 82 games last season, but is off to a slow start in 2025-26 with only four points (4G / 0A) through 18 games.
Doughty was listed week-to-week after suffering a lower-body injury on November 15th, but will make a surprising return to the lineup on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 35-year-old Doughty has eight points (2G / 6A) through 19 games this season, respectable totals given that the Kings' have mostly been rolling a five-forward top powerplay unit.
Doughty was listed week-to-week after suffering a lower-body injury on November 15th, but could make a surprising return to action by this weekend. The 35-year-old Doughty has eight points (2G / 6A) through 19 games this season, respectable totals given that the Kings' have mostly been rolling a five-forward top powerplay unit.
Foegele is battling an undisclosed injury and has not played the Kings' last two games, but could return to the lineup as soon as Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 29-year-old Foegele had a career-high 46 points (24G / 22A) in 82 games last season, but is off to a slow start in 2025-26 with only four points (4G / 0A) through 18 games.
The Kings were the third-lowest-scoring team in November (2.46 GF/GP), but posted a 7-3-3 record thanks to strong defense and netminding. The 35-year-old Kuemper led the way in November with an excellent 1.99 GAA and .920 SV% in nine games (5-2-2). He has a 2.39 GAA and .907 SV% in 17 games this season (8-4-5). The Kings enter Tuesday's contest as -116 home favorites against a Washington Capitals team that is 7-2-1 in their last 10.
The Kings were the third-lowest-scoring team in November (2.46 GF/GP), but posted a 7-3-3 record thanks to strong defense and netminding. The 35-year-old Kuemper led the way in November with an excellent 1.99 GAA and .920 SV% in nine games (5-2-2). He has a 2.39 GAA and .907 SV% in 17 games this season (8-4-5). The Kings enter Tuesday's contest as -116 home favorites against a Washington Capitals team that is 7-2-1 in their last 10.
Helenius was a second-round pick, 59th-overall, of the Kings in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old forward made his NHL debut last season, scoring seven points (4G / 3A) in 50 games, but has been limited to only three NHL outings in 2025-26. He has six points (2G / 4A) in 20 games with the Ontario Reign (AHL) this season.
Alexandrov was a second-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He played 28 and 23 games with the St. Louis Blues in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, respectively, but has exclusively been an AHL player since. He scored 14 points (3G / 11A) in 18 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) this season.
