In this past couple of days, the Los Angeles Kings and interim head coach DJ Smith saw their season end this postseason in the playoffs in the West with a 4-0 loss in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the first round this spring this past week vs. the Colorado Avalanche. It's now time for Kings' fans and the media and on social media to look back on the 2025-26 season that was in the West.
The Kings had a roller coaster ride this past regular season in this past few months in the West in the Pacific Division. Smith and the Kings' coaching staff managed to get into the postseason in the playoffs late this month in mid-to-late April.
From milestone breaking moments this past regular season in this past few months, to the ups and downs of falling back in the West in the Pacific Division in the standings and barely sliding into the postseason in the playoffs, there was a lot to reflect on since last fall in the preseason in 2025-26.
Here are three immediate takeaways for the Kings following the conclusion of the run in the postseason in the playoffs in this past few months this spring for the 2025-26 season in the West in the Pacific Division.
Anze Kopitar's career comes to a disappointing end this postseason in the playoffs in the West
After the Kings' loss in the postseason in the playoffs in the West this past week vs. Colorado, center captain Anze Kopitar spoke to the media after the final game in his career in the league. The Kings left the postseason in the playoffs in the West this past week in a disappointing fashion, especially with Kopitar having his last game for the team.
"It was hard to keep it together, really. Being here for 20 years, more than half of my lifetime, it’s extremely special. It’s been home for us for 20 years. I really appreciate the fans. You know, they’ve been behind me personally, they’ve been behind the team for all those years. I can truly say that they’re probably one of the best fan bases in the entirety. "Anze Kopitar
The question moving forward for the Kings in the front office and for the management personnel this upcoming offseason in the summer will be how they direct the active roster lineup offensively with the core forward lines group up front.
Kings need more stability in the active roster lineup
There's not a good way to confidently say on the ice or in the standings this past regular season in the West in the Pacific Division that the Kings took a big step forward for the team. Getting into the postseason in the playoffs helped the Kings, but I don't think it's good to say that this team improved in the standings in the West this past regular season.
In this past few months, the Kings and general manager Ken Holland traded for Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers in the East and before the trade deadline on the block for a few draft picks and forward prospect Liam Greentree.
I think it's clear that there needs to be less reliability in the active roster lineup for the core forward lines group up front for the Kings and the coaching staff this upcoming offseason and next season in the 2026-27 campaign on Kempe and Panarin with the top line unit for the team.
More clarity to the goalie situation
A major positive defensively in the zone for the Kings and Smith and the coaching staff this past regular season down the stretch in the West in this past couple of months was the play of Anton Forsberg in the Pacific Division. Forsberg earned the starting goalie job in the postseason in the playoffs for the Kings in the West.
The rise of Forsberg gave the Kings a goalie option and veteran proven depth at the position this postseason in the playoffs in the West, along with Darcy Kuemper. Forsberg only allowed two goals per game in the series' first two games for the Kings vs. the Avs in the postseason in the playoffs.
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