The Los Angeles Kings added some proven experience and depth to key parts of the roster in this free agency cycle this offseason to beef up the top forward lines and the blue line going into the 2025-26 campaign this fall. It will be imperative for the Kings and general manager Ken Holland to get the most out of the new acquisitions, namely veteran forward Corey Perry from the Edmonton Oilers.
Who will step up for the Los Angeles Kings' blue line for the 2025-26 NHL regular season?
It will also be imperative that the Kings continue to develop their younger and more talented on-the-rise players on the blue line.
When Kings veteran defenseman Drew Doughty suffered an injury that caused him to miss a long stretch of this past regular season, Brandt Clarke rose to the occasion and filled valuable icetime minutes for head coach Jim Hiller in the Pacific Division.
Clarke performed well when he was moved up into the top four defensemen for the Kings this past season, leading the team's blue line in takeaways and points per 60 minutes (1.6). He also stepped up when the Kings needed him on the first and second power play units, scoring two power play goals in the second half of the 2024-25 regular season for LA.
Clarke, the former first round pick of the Kings (eighth overall) in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, is expected to be among the team's breakout young candidates for the upcoming 2025-26 season. Hiller and the Kings are expecting Clarke to fill a more consistent role on the blue line among the top six defensemen this upcoming season.
Justin Giampietro of The Hockey Writers projected Clarke to be the Kings' breakout candidate from the blue line going into the 2025-26 season in the Pacific Division. Clarke needs more consistent and reliable minutes on the back end for the Kings this upcoming season to establish himself as a force on the blue line in the West.
It's also noteworthy that Giampietro gave young center Quinton Byfield an honorable mention for the Kings' breakout player in the 2025-26 regular season.