General manager Ken Holland and the Los Angeles Kings were busy on the opening day of free agency, addressing some of the team's more pronounced roster needs with proven veteran signings.
In free agency, the Kings signed proven and experienced veterans to add more talent and depth at key positions in the roster lineup, including winger Mats Zuccarello and center Erik Haula. Despite those moves, the Kings still have a major question mark that hangs over the roster entering training camp late this summer.
The Hockey News believes that the biggest outstanding question remaining for the Kings to answer this offseason is finding a replacement for center captain Anze Kopitar.
The Los Angeles Kings are closer to contending post-free agency, but replacing Kopitar won't be easy
Going into this upcoming season, former top-five draft pick Quinton Byfield is expected to grow into the role of becoming the Kings' No. 1 center. After the Kopitar retirement this offseason, Byfield will be expected to take that next step for the Kings in the top-six forward group this upcoming season.
The Kings' franchise clearly believes that Byfield can handle a larger role offensively this upcoming season. Whether he's ready to carry the role and responsibility of being a true No. 1 center on a playoff contender remains one of the most burning questions for the Kings going into training camp and the preseason this fall.
There have been various rumors and reports out there that the Kings and Holland have been interested in trading for a top-line center this offseason, including Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson. We've also had discussions about the possibility of the Kings trading for a proven and established top-line center option on the trade block this offseason, like Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin.
Between the Kings' limited cap flexibility and there not being many realistic trade options at the center position this offseason, it will be tricky for LA to solve this issue going into training camp and the preseason this fall.
I do agree that the Kings and new head coach Peter Laviolette are closer to contender status post-free agency than they were earlier this summer. Adding key and proven veteran players like Zuccarello, Haula, and re-signing center Scott Laughton on low-risk contracts this offseason will only help the Kings improve the roster and depth going into this upcoming season.
Holland and the Kings' front office do deserve some credit for improving the Kings' depth and experience in the roster lineup this summer, but this piece from The Hockey News does identify one of the biggest problems that still separates LA from a real top-tier contender. Unless Byfield makes a big leap or the Kings can find another top-line center to arrive before the regular season begins this fall, that question will linger for LA going during the 2026-27 campaign.
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