The Los Angeles Kings and new head coach Peter Laviolette will have a decision to make going in training camp and the preseason this fall with the starting netminder.
This upcoming season will be the first time in this past few years that the Kings don't have a solidified starting netminder going into training camp and the preseason in the fall. This past regular season, the Kings had a clear starting goaltender going into the fall, with then reigning Vezina Trophy finalist Darcy Kuemper being the unquestioned starter.
Yet, by the time the postseason arrived this past spring, Anton Forsberg had taken over the starting goalie job for the Kings. Forsberg started all four postseason games for the Kings in the first round vs. the Colorado Avalanche.
Anton Forsberg earned the opportunity to compete for the Los Angeles Kings' starting job
The Hockey News' Holden Douglas argued this week that Forsberg is the best choice to be the starting goalie for the Kings going into this upcoming season. There's definitely a compelling case to be made for Forsberg to take over the starting role, but the Kings shouldn't just hand him the job before training camp begins.
Forsberg was the more productive and reliable goalie for the Kings in the crease this past regular season. He clearly earned the starting goalie job over Kuemper this past spring and in the postseason.
He was the spark that the Kings needed to get over the hump defensively, posting a sparkling 5-1-0 record in the month of April, with a .943 save percentage, a 1.48 goals-against average, and one shutout.
It even sounds like the Kings anticipate Forsberg and Kuemper to go into training camp and the preseason camp this fall on level footing in the starting goalie position battle.
That said, it shouldn't be considered a done deal that Forsberg will win the starting job going into the regular season for the Kings. He'll have to earn the starting job in training camp and the preseason to prove he deserves to be the opening-night starter.
Kuemper is still a quality goalie who is just a couple of years removed from posting a .917 save percentage and being named a Vezina Trophy finalist. That was just before injuries and inconsistency in goal ultimately saw Kuemper post an .891 save percentage and a 2.78 goals-against average this past regular season for the Kings.
There is also the possibility that the Kings decide to go with more of a 1A/1B tandem in goal going into the regular season this fall. Both Kuemper and Forsberg only have one year remaining on their current contracts, which could open up more competition for both of them.
The Hockey News makes a good case that Forsberg should be the favorite to win the starting goalie job for the Kings coming out of training camp and the preseason this fall. But after Kuemper was a Vezina Trophy finalist just a couple of seasons ago before his disappointing 2025-26 campaign, the Kings shouldn't make that decision before seeing both goalies compete in training camp. Forsberg earned the opportunity to win the starting job, the question now is whether he can keep it.
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