Roughly one month before expected start dates for the Los Angeles Kings training camp this fall, we're taking a look at player previews for the projected team roster for the upcoming 2025-26 season. Starting off the Kings player previews going into the 2025-26 regular season is defenseman Mikey Anderson.
Anderson arguably had his best season of his NHL career to date, helping the Kings fill the void on the blue line when veteran Drew Doughty missed over half of this past regular season due to an injury.
In Doughty's absence, Anderson stepped up and gave head coach Jim Hiller and the Kings reliable and consistent first line minutes to help anchor the blue line in the Pacific Division.
Mikey Anderson 2024-25 Los Angeles Kings player season recap
2024-25 season stats: 77 games played, 6 goals, 18 assists, 24 points, +17
2024-25 advanced stats: 7.1 shooting %, 7.8 5-on-5 shooting %, 0.8 points/60, 5.9 point shares
2024-25 possession metrics: 51.5 CF%, 53.5 SCF%, 101.8 PDO, 58.2 HDCF%
Anderson gave the Kings good minutes playing in a tremendous first-line defensive pairing with Vladislov Gavrikov in the first half of the 2024-25 regular season. He got off to a great start with the Kings, scoring two goals and six points in the month of October alone last season.
Even after Doughty returned to the lineup after the turn of the calendar to 2025 in January, Anderson continued to play at a high level for the Kings' blue line.
Statistically, Anderson checked all the boxes on both ends of the ice for the Kings in terms of his overall production and advanced possession metrics. He not only posted career highs in goals and assists, but he also led the team's defensive unit group in on-ice 5-on-5 save percentage and high-danger scoring chances against.
Rink Royalty's season grade for Mikey Anderson: A-
Mikey Anderson 2025-26 Los Angeles Kings season preview
With Gavrikov leaving the team via free agency earlier this offseason to sign with the New York Rangers and Doughty coming to the end of his contract soon, Anderson will be a key part of the Kings' core defensive unit heading into the future for this team.
I expect Anderson to not only continue to succeed on both ends of the ice for the Kings, but also to step up as more of a leading voice for the blue line and in the locker room this upcoming season. Anderson and standout winger Adrian Kempe were alternate captains for the Kings last season.
Given that the Kings are paying Anderson just under five percent of the team's salary cap, with multiple years remaining on his contract worth just over $4 million in AAV, this is a great value deal for LA that he's on going into the upcoming 2025-26 season.