Kuemper was not at practice on Wednesday and is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. The 35-year-old Kuemper is off to a sluggish start to the 2025-26 season, posting a 3.35 GAA and .868 SV% in three games (0-2-1). The Kings recalled goalie Erik Portillo from the Ontario Reign (AHL), but Anton Forsberg is expected to start for the Kings on Thursday against the Penguins.
Anze Kopitar is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury and was not at practice on Wednesday, but could be an option on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. In the self-proclaimed final season of his career, the 38-year-old Kopitar is off to a hot start with four points (0G / 4A) in his first four games.
Portillo played one game with the Kings last season, his NHL debut, saving 28 of 29 shots (.966 SV%) to record a victory. The 25-year-old goalie was the 67th-overall pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. It's unclear if he was recalled for precautionary reasons or if there is an injury concern with one of Darcy Kuemper or Anton Forsberg.
The Kings (1-2-0) have only one win this season, and it came with Anton Forsberg between the pipes, but they will roll with Kuemper on Monday against the Minnesota Wild. Kuemper was sensational in the 2024-25 season, finishing as a Vezina runner-up after posting a 2.02 GAA and .921 SV% in 50 outings (31-11-7). That said, he has not started the 2025-26 season on the same track, posting a 3.63 GAA and .860 SV% in two games (0-2-0). The Kings enter Monday's contest as slight -106 road favorites against the Wild.
The Kings (1-2-0) have only one win this season, and it came with Anton Forsberg between the pipes, but they will likely roll with Kuemper on Monday against the Minnesota Wild. Kuemper was sensational in the 2024-25 season, finishing as a Vezina runner-up after posting a 2.02 GAA and .921 SV% in 50 outings (31-11-7). That said, he has not started the 2025-26 season on the same track, posting a 3.63 GAA and .860 SV% in two games (0-2-0). The Kings enter Monday's contest as slight -106 road favorites against the Wild.
After a 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in their season opener on Tuesday, the Kings will switch to Forsberg between the pipes on Wednesday against the Golden Knights. Forsberg to a two-year deal worth $2.25 million AAV in the offseason to slide into their backup goalie position behind Darcy Kuemper. The 32-year-old Forsberg has been inconsistent in his career but recorded a career-high three shutouts last season in addition to a 2.72 GAA and .901 SV% in 30 appearances (11-12-3) with the Ottawa Senators. The Kings enter Wednesday's matchup against the Golden Knights as +177 road underdogs.
After a 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in their season opener on Tuesday, the Kings will switch to Forsberg between the pipes on Wednesday against the Golden Knights. Forsberg to a two-year deal worth $2.25 million AAV in the offseason to slide into their backup goalie position behind Darcy Kuemper. The 32-year-old Forsberg has been inconsistent in his career but recorded a career-high three shutouts last season in addition to a 2.72 GAA and .901 SV% in 30 appearances (11-12-3) with the Ottawa Senators. The Kings enter Wednesday's matchup against the Golden Knights as +177 road underdogs.
Lafferiere was banged up in the Kings' preseason game last Thursday and missed the preseason finale on Saturday, but was a full participant in the team's last two practices. The 23-year-old Laferriere had an impressive 2024-25 campaign, scoring 42 points (19G / 23A) in 77 games.
Kuemper's first season in Los Angeles was a major success, following his decline to mediocrity in his final season as a Washington Capital. The 35-year-old veteran netminder finished the 2024-25 campaign as the second runner-up for the Vezina trophy after posting an excellent 2.02 GAA, .921 SV%, and five shutouts in 50 games (31-11-7). Kuemper will be between the pipes for the Kings' season opener on Tuesday, entering the action as slight -101 home underdogs against the Colorado Avalanche.
Lafferiere was banged up in the Kings' preseason game last Thursday and missed the preseason finale on Saturday, but was a full participant in the team's last two practices. The 23-year-old Laferriere had an impressive 2024-25 campaign, scoring 42 points (19G / 23A) in 77 games.
Kuemper's first season in Los Angeles was a major success, following his decline to mediocrity in his final season as a Washington Capital. The 35-year-old veteran netminder finished the 2024-25 campaign as the second runner-up for the Vezina trophy after posting an excellent 2.02 GAA, .921 SV%, and five shutouts in 50 games (31-11-7). Kuemper will be between the pipes for the Kings' season opener on Tuesday, entering the action as slight -101 home underdogs against the Colorado Avalanche.
Lafferiere was banged up in the Kings' preseason game last Thursday and missed the preseason finale on Saturday, but was a full participant in Monday's practice. The Kings are "optimistic" but said that is's "not a guarantee" that Lafferiere will be in the lineup on opening night when the Kings host the Avalanche.
Laferriere is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and his status for their season opener is up in the air. If Laferriere doesn't play on Tuesday, expect Joel Armia to move up the lineup to skate with Quinton Byfield and Kevin Fiala.
Copley is no stranger to the NHL, with 77 games of experience, and could work himself into a backup role for Tampa Bay behind Andrei Vasilevskiy. The 33-year-old Copley spent the majority of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, tallying a 2.49 GAA and .904 SV% in 42 games with the Ontario Reign (24-17-1).
Los Angeles has locked up one of their key young players on Friday after they announced the signing of Alex Laferriere to a three-year contract extension worth $4.1 million AAV ($12.3M total). The 23-year-old right-winger improved on nearly all his rookie numbers in his sophomore campaign last season, putting up 19 goals, 42 points, and a +22 plus/minus in 77 games played. He is expected to occupy a top-six role again in 2025-26.
Springfield (AHL) will bring back one of their best scorers from the 2024-25 season after St. Louis announced on Saturday it had signed Nikita Alexandrov to a one-year, two-way contract extension. The 24-year-old last appeared with the Blues in 2023-24 but still had a successful seaosn in the minors with Springfield last year, putting up 21 goals and 49 points in 48 games played.
Ward made his NHL debut last season, scoring a goal in one game with the Los Angeles Kings and has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract extension. The undrafted 27-year-old forward spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, tallying 27 points (12G / 15A) in 66 games with the Ontario Reign.
