Darcy Kuemper, G
Injuries and inconsistent play in net cost Kings' goalie Darcy Kuemper the starting job in favor of Anton Forsberg down the stretch this past regular season. Kuemper didn't look like himself consistently down the stretch in the last couple of months of this past regular season, posting a sub-par .867 save percentage and a 5-3-6 record in 14 starts post-Olympic break for the Kings.
Kuemper's difficult finish to last season should not overshadow the larger body of work he has put together throughout his NHL career. The veteran goaltender has consistently shown the ability to bounce back from adversity and perform at a high level when healthy.
A healthy offseason could be exactly what Kuemper needs to regain top form. With a full summer to recover and a new coaching staff in place, he has a strong chance to reestablish himself as one of the Kings' most important players.
When he's at his best, Kuemper has shown he can be the type of goaltender capable of carrying a contender. His résumé includes a Stanley Cup championship and multiple seasons as one of the league's most reliable starters. That track record is why the Kings should feel confident that he can rebound from a difficult finish to last season.
It was just one season ago that Kuemper helped the Kings finish with a 100 points in the Pacific Division standings and was a Vezina Trophy finalist.
The Kings do not necessarily need every player on this list to have a career year in 2026-27. However, if Byfield takes another step offensively, Fiala returns healthy, and Kuemper rediscovers his best form in net, Los Angeles could be in a much stronger position to compete in the Western Conference next season.
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