Jim Hiller and the Los Angeles Kings were expected to be playoff contenders in the postseason going into this 2025-26 regular season in the Western Conference. The Kings were expected to be slower on the blue line this regular season in the Pacific Division in the West, but the team still had the proven experience and talent on the roster to push for the postseason for the fifth straight year in the 2025-26 campaign.
Impactful newcomers from this past free agent cycle have helped the Los Angeles Kings win eight out of the past 12 games
While the Kings have been in a pretty good spot in the Pacific Division standings over 15 games into this regular season in the 2025-26 campaign, there are still plenty of questions in the defensive zone and with the power play on special teams to answer this fall.
The Kings look to be a playoff team. The team has won four out of the last five games against playoff teams from this past season in the West in early-to-mid November. It feels like Hiller and the Kings are finally finding their groove in the West, having won three straight games on the road this past week.
Here are three Kings' players who have surpassed expectation for the team early in the 2025-26 regular season this fall.
Brandt Clarke, D
Defenseman Brandt Clarke is one of the best Kings' blue liners in terms of his ability to create scoring chances and make crucial dynamic plays in the open ice in the neutral zone with the puck on his stick this season. It makes sense for Clarke to lead the Kings' defensemen this season this fall in power play time with the blue line.
Clarke ranks second on the team in goals above replacement and wins above replacement early this regular season for the Kings and Hiller (per Evolving Hockey).
The Kings wouldn't have some of the wins on the road in the West in the Pacific Division this fall had it not been for the clutch offensive plays of Clarke from the blue line in the third period and overtime. Clarke scored game-winning and/or game-tying goals in key tough games on the road in the division in the Pacific against the San Jose Sharks (Oct. 29) and the Golden Knights in Vegas in early October.
Clarke has definitely rightfully earned more ice time on the blue line for the Kings' staff this fall in mid-November. He only ranked behind Drew Doughty among the Kings' defensemen in time on the ice in LA's gritty OT win over the Toronto Maple Leafs this past Thursday evening (Nov. 13).
Joel Armia, W
Some of the biggest surprises in a positive sense for Hiller and the Kings staff this fall, early in the regular season, have been the play of a couple of the biggest free-agent forward signings in the summer this past offseason in 2025. Former Canadiens forward Joel Armia has made a big impact on both ends of the ice for Hiller and the Kings' coaching staff this fall in the West.
Armia ranks second among all Kings' wingers early this regular season in takeaways and he ranks third among the team's wingers in time on ice on the penalty kill on special teams this fall.
"I was really happy for him. He clearly has some great friends here, very well respected player, I thought the fans gave him a tremendous ovation. Sometimes you move on, that’s just the way the game is, so I was just happy for him to get that."Jim Hiller on Joel Armia
Armia has scored some crucial points in the offensive zone for the Kings this fall. He scored the insurance goal in the third period on the road against Montreal in the Kings' dominant 5-1 win over the Habs this past Tuesday evening (Nov. 11).
He also registered an assist on the eventual game-winning goal from forward Adrian Kempe in the Kings' first home win at Crypto.com Arena this fall in an impressive three-goal win in a shutout over the Winnipeg Jets this past week on Nov. 4.
Corey Perry, W
If a player had to be named who has been the most positive surprise for the Kings among the veteran newcomers this fall early in the 2025-26 regular season in the West, it would probably be forward Corey Perry. I would be remiss if I didn't say anything about the way that Perry has impacted the team in the offensive zone this fall.
Perry not only has helped the Kings get more gritty and physical on both ends of the ice early this regular season, but he's also helped to mentor some of the younger players on the team this fall.
He's already scored seven goals, including a power play goal on special teams, for the Kings this regular season in the West. The Kings have either won or deserved to win every game that Perry has scored multiple points in three games early this regular season.