The Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers offered several takeaways for the LA Kings as they evaluate their roster and strategy for the coming season. While many factors come into play during a winning season, like top-end talent, goaltending, and special teams here are three key lessons the Kings can draw from this year’s final.
Elite Defensive Structure Wins Championships
The Kings have a solid defensive core, but need to be more aggressive on the forecheck, be willing to block shots, and stay within a structured defensive system to slow down talented offenses. Many times, during the first round, you can see the Kings' defense chasing after players like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Florida had success, especially in the neutral zone, where they remained disciplined, physical, and played a suffocating team defense.
Depth Scoring
The third and fourth line matters when it comes to scoring, especially in the playoffs. Both Florida and Edmonton got timely goals when it mattered most in close games. Brad Marchand was one of the top goal-scorers in the Stanley Cup Final and he is listed on the third line.
The Kings need to take notes and step up in this area and will need more secondary scoring from players like Trevor Moore and Alex Laferriere.
Adjustments and Coaching Strategy
For the second year in a row, Paul Maurice has made some great decisions for the Florida Panthers. He has made some in-series adjustments and kept his team calm under pressure. It is rare to see the Panthers come out unprepared and not ready to play each game.
The same needs to be true for Jim Hiller as he must focus on adaptability and preparation for next year’s Kings team. The Kings need a more flexible and modern system, especially in late-game situations and during the playoffs.
Time for Los Angeles Kings to apply what they have learned
The Kings can draw critical lessons from the Panthers and Oilers, starting with elite structure and high-end talent. Florida’s physical, defensive sound system and Edmonton’s superstar-driven offense show that success requires both.
The Kings have a defensive core and veteran leadership from Kopitar and Doughty, but their window is closing. Time to take advantage of lessons learned from this past season and apply them in the 2025-26 campaign. Off the ice, head coach Jim Hiller must modernize the system and focus on adaptability.
It is also time for Los Angeles to target grittier, playoff-ready depth to manage postseason physicality. The lesson moving forward is clear that the Kings need some impact pieces and identity to compete with the league’s best.