With Anze Kopitar retired before the 2026 offseason, the Los Angeles Kings faced the challenge of replacing the greatest player in franchise history at center. The team did not acquire a long-term top-six center during the summer, instead opting to develop internal players and add veteran depth behind Quinton Byfield.
Byfield enters the 2026 training camp as the Kings’ top center for the first time, having led all team centers in ice time during the 2025-26 season with an average of 20:01 minutes per game. He scored a career-high 24 goals that season and nearly reached a third consecutive 50-point campaign, but the organization expects him to further elevate his game and surpass his previous production with a target of 55 points for the upcoming season.
Veterans Erik Haula and Scott Laughton joined the team over the summer to provide experienced depth behind Byfield. Haula, on a two-year contract, has recorded 35 or more points in four of the last five seasons, including 38 points last year. Laughton, re-signed by the Kings after a midseason acquisition, maintained a pace of 31 points over a full season and contributed leadership both on and off the ice.
Adrian Kempe was considered for a center position by new head coach Peter Laviolette, but it is likely he will start the season on the wing. Other centers under contract competing for roster spots include Alex Turcotte and Samuel Helenius, who have shown flashes but have not yet secured consistent NHL roles. Rookie Kenny Connors, who had a promising AHL season and brief NHL experience last year, and veteran Lane Pederson also provide depth and are competing for playing time.
The Kings’ approach entering the 2026 season centers on the internal development of their center group, as no new top-six center acquisition was made this offseason. Much of the team’s success will depend on Byfield’s progression to fill the void left by Kopitar’s retirement.
CSB Take
The Los Angeles Kings are at a pivotal moment following Anze Kopitar’s retirement. Quinton Byfield is poised to assume the lead center position, which marks a significant step in his career and the franchise’s direction. His ability to advance beyond a second-line role will be critical to the team’s competitiveness in the National Hockey League. With no long-term top-six center added this offseason, the Kings are relying heavily on Byfield’s development and the supporting depth veterans to stabilize the position throughout the 2026 season.
Source: Original report
