While there wasn't much roster turnover that general manager Ken Holland and the Los Angeles Kings dealt with this offseason, but the front office still retooled and reshaped the roster for the upcomign 2026-27 season.
Even though multiple important veterans joined the Kings' organization in free agency this summer, Los Angeles also saw some familiar faces depart from last season's roster. And no departure was more significant for the Kings than longtime captain and franchise icon Anze Kopitar, but Los Angeles also lost offensive skill and valuable depth and physicality elsewhere in the lineup.
The Los Angeles Kings will have some significant roles to replace entering the 2026-27 season
Most of the players the Kings' lost to free agency this summer were filling depth roles in the roster lineup at the winger position.
Here are three of the most impactful departures for the Kings in the 2026 offseason.
Andrei Kuzmenko, W
Since the postseason exit interviews and press conferences, it felt like winger Andrei Kuzmenko and the Kings were destined to part ways in free agency this offseason. Holland and Kuzmenko seemed fine with parting ways in their statements in the postseason press conferences.
Kuzmenko was an offensive spark plug in the top-six forward group and on special teams on the power play when he was healthy in the roster lineup for the Kings in this past couple of years. He led the team in power play goals on special teams this past season.
While Kuzmenko's offensive skill and playmaking ability will be missed, the Kings found other ways to replace his production and creativity in the top-six forward group by signing former Minnesota Wild veteran winger Mats Zuccarello.
In unrestricted free agency this summer, Kuzmenko signed a one-year contract worth $5 million in base value with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Anze Kopitar, C
No doubt the most impactful departure for the Kings this offseason is Kopitar. Kopitar's departure isn't just about the lost production for the Kings, it's more about the void that his absence leaves in terms of leadership and a guiding voice in the locker room and on and off the ice for this upcoming season.
Kopitar gave the Kings a true franchise No. 1 center who was one of the best and most respected two-way players in the league in the middle of the lineup. He gave the Kings contributions on special teams on the power play and the penalty kill, by winning clutch draws in the faceoff circle, and by leading the team as the LA captain for this past decade or so.
The retirement of Kopitar this offseason signifies the end of an era in Los Angeles. For the last couple of decades, Kopitar was a face of the franchise, and he led the Kings to two Stanley Cup Championships in the 2010s.
Moving into the next era of Kings hockey after Kopitar's retirement this offseason, young center Quinton Byfield could be entrusted with the No. 1 center role for this upcoming season. Byfield will have more responsibility on his shoulders to lead this team on both sides of the ice as the new No. 1 center.
Replacing Kopitar won't be a responsibility for any one individual player for the Kings. While Byfield could inherit the No. 1 center role this upcoming season, the Kings will need to collectively replace Kopitar's leadership, defensive capabilities, faceoff ability, special teams impact, and clutch presence late in games in the final frame.
Kopitar's retirement also leaves the Kings with one major decision to make before the upcoming season begins: determining who will succeed him as the next captain for the franchise.
Jeff Malott, W
Young winger Jeff Malott earned a spot on the opening-night roster for the Kings this past regular season after a strong showing in training camp and the preseason last fall. Malott brought depth and physicality on both sides of the ice for the Kings with the fourth-line forward group this past season.
Playing in a career-high 58 games this past regular season, Malott found different ways to contribute that didn't always show up on the scoresheet for the Kings. He signed a three-year contract, worth $1.85 million, with the Pacific Division foe Anaheim Ducks in free agency this summer.
He ranked second on the team this past season in hits (166), and he was a key contributor by blocking shots and helping to generate turnovers and win tough puck battles on the boards.
Malott's physical presence and ability to make those tough plays in the dirty areas of the ice will be a noticeable absence with the fourth-line forward group. But it also gives other younger Kings players, like Jared Wright and Taylor Ward, a chance to earn more regular-season minutes in the bottom six this upcoming season.
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