Kings Without Kopitar: Can Byfield Lead? | Los Angeles Kings News

The LA Kings are in a season of seismic change after Anze Kopitar’s 20-year legacy ends with his retirement — leaving a massive void at center. New coach, no captain yet, and a forward group scrambling to fill the gap, but they’re not starting from scratch: Adrian Kempe led the scoring last year, and Quinton Byfield is poised to take over as the new No. 1 center. Despite setting an NHL record for overtime losses (20 games) and finishing fourth in the division with 90 points, they still made the playoffs for the fifth straight year. This offseason, GMs opted for veteran depth — bringing in Mats Zuccarello, Erik Haula, Corey Perry, and defenseman Erik Gustafsson — all late-career scorers who add experience but push the cap over $100 million. The lineup looks promising: Byfield anchors the top line, Fiala and Zuccarello bring speed, Laughton steadies the third, and Doughty leads defense. But the real test? Can Byfield rise to Kopitar’s level? With playoff odds at 30-1, the Kings’ ceiling hinges on whether this young core can find their next franchise cornerstone. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/02c4ab11279c5698