The LA Kings have a few reasons to carry some extra motivation in 2025-26. Captain and legendary forward Anze Kopitar has already confirmed it will be his final season. But the Kings are also looking to finally break through to at least the second round of the NHL Playoffs to make sure Kopitar has a chance to contend for one last Stanley Cup.
So, while bold predictions can sound unrealistic at times, Kopitar and the Kings have a true incentive to make sure what's listed below will come to fruition. Expect Kopitar to kick his play into high gear and look like someone 10 years younger taking the ice while the Kings respond with strong defensive play and carry a relentless edge into the playoffs.
Anze Kopitar wows fans with a point-per-game season
Anze Kopitar may be heading into his age-38 season and snagged a point-per-game season just once, which occurred in 2017-18 when he put up 92 points and 35 goals. But he's not leaving the game behind following 2025-26 without putting up a memorable showing, which will nudge his point-per-game output to two in his career.
Last season, Kopitar showed Kings fans he can still play when he scored 21 goals and had 67 points in 81 contests. It showed us he's still capable of getting in range of the point-per-game mark, and putting up steady, reliable production.
Should Kopitar fire the puck at the net more often in 2025-26, there is a good chance he can be a 30-plus goal scorer, meaning he'll only need 52 assists should he play in all 82 games. What's the upside here? In 2024-25, Kopitar snagged a career-high 21.4 shooting percentage.
Kings finish the regular season with the fewest goals allowed
In 2024-25, the Kings got close to ending the year No. 1 in goals allowed, finishing second with 203. Only the Winnipeg Jets, with the Hart and Vezina Trophy winner in Connor Hellebuyck, put up a better number with 190.
This season, the Kings finish what they started, this time allowing under 200 goals and edging out the Jets in fewest goals allowed. Not only will the Kings want to make Kopitar's last season memorable, but they have youngsters on the blue line looking to prove they're worthy of a massive contract extension.
Los Angeles is still a defensive-oriented hockey team, and one that will keep winning games with an average goals for total while shutting opponents down in the defensive zone.
Kings finally beat the Oilers in the playoffs
The Kings have lost to the Oilers in the first round of the NHL Playoffs in each of the last four seasons. It's even worse because the Kings were just finishing off a rebuilding effort in their previous three campaigns. And before that, the Kings couldn't make it out of the first round, meaning you have to go back to when they won the Stanley Cup in 2014, if you're looking for the last time they won a playoff series.
That's disheartening, but with Kopitar making it clear he won't be back in 2026-27, and the Kings once again looking like one of the league's best defensive teams in hockey again, the four-year drought against the Oilers in Round 1 of the NHL Playoffs doesn't make it to Year 5.
There's way too much urgency in Southern California for the Kings to let this one slip. Plus, factor in the uncertainty that could still be facing the Oilers if they can't make a deal with Connor McDavid during the season. At least the Kings have assurance that their franchise legend is retiring, while nobody knows where McDavid's heading.
Overall, Kopitar will give fans something to cheer for throughout the season while the Kings do all they can to play their best defense imaginable with Kopitar's looming retirement in mind. That will lead to a deeper playoff run than they had in years past, and that win in Round 1 will come against the Oilers.