After signing with the Los Angeles Kings as a free agent in the 2024 offseason, forward Jeff Malott spent an entire season in the league in the 2025-26 campaign.
In this past couple of years in the Kings' organization, Malott was a top offensive producer and a top-six power forward on the wing for the AHL affiliate Ontario Reign. He also played an important depth role for the Kings down the stretch in the 2024-25 regular season, playing nine games for the injured Tanner Jeannot.
Malott got another opportunity to earn a roster spot in training camp and the preseason last fall after the injury to veteran winger Corey Perry. He stood out for the Kings in training camp and ended up with a spot on the opening-night roster on the fourth-line forward group.
For the first time in his career, Malott earned a consistent spot in the roster lineup for the Kings at the NHL level.
Jeff Malott's performance for the Los Angeles Kings in the 2025-26 season
In the 2025-26 season, Malott registered a career-high three goals, six assists, and nine total points in 58 games played. He also played in all four postseason games for the Kings in the first round vs. the Colorado Avalanche.
Malott was a physical, high-motor player on both ends of the ice for the Kings. He ranked second on the team in hits (166) and ranked in the top three in blocked shots per 60 minutes.
The big 6-foot-5 and 215-pound winger used his size effectively on the forecheck, along the boards, and in the dirty areas of the ice, giving the Kings a physical and imposing presence in their bottom six. He registered 55 penalty minutes, including multiple fights and major penalties early this past regular season.
While Malott wasn't asked to be the team's top scorer in the bottom-six this past regular season, he contributed timely goals and offensive production that helped the Kings pick up valuable points in the Pacific Division. In two out of the three games that he scored goals this past regular season, the Kings beat a Pacific Division foe.
Malott's limited offensive production ultimately put a ceiling on his impact on the Kings, as nine points in 58 games wasn't enough to push him into a larger role in the roster lineup. But for a player who was primarily asked to provide physicality, forechecking, and reliable fourth-line minutes, Malott gave the Kings pretty valuable contributions in areas that didn't always show up on the scoresheet.
Another underrated part of Malott's game is his skating ability. For a power forward that stands at 6-foot-5, Malott is surprisingly quick and good on his edges. Considering he averaged well under 10 minutes in average time on the ice this past regular season, Malott was an effective and versatile winger for the Kings on both ends of the ice.
2025-26 Season Grade: B-
Malott's contract expired with the Kings this offseason. He signed a three-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks in unrestricted free agency this summer, worth $1.85 million in average annual value through the end of the 2028-29 season.
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