The Los Angeles Kings have built a reputation over the past five seasons as a resilient and consistent presence in the Stanley Cup playoff picture. For a franchise that prides itself on maintaining a competitive edge in the Western Conference, reaching the postseason has become an expected standard. However, that hard-earned consistency was severely undermined midway through last season when star left winger Kevin Fiala suffered a devastating leg injury while representing his country at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The repercussions of that Olympic setback continue to cast a long shadow over the organization. Following another recent leg procedure, Fiala is officially slated to miss the start of training camp, leaving a gaping void in the team’s top-six forward group. With the 2026-27 NHL regular season looming, the pivotal question facing the franchise is simple yet daunting: Which Los Angeles Kings players will have to step up in Fiala’s absence to keep the team afloat?
The timing of the injury could not be worse for a club facing a remarkably tight window in the Pacific Division. General manager Ken Holland has worked diligently during the summer months to stock the organization’s shelves with above-average talent and veteran presence, aiming to keep the team competitive. Yet, external evaluations have painted a sobering picture of the team’s summer transactions. Recent off-season power rankings from The Hockey News placed the Kings 22nd in the league regarding the overall influx of talent brought in during the summer window.
While veteran additions like Mats Zuccarello, Erik Haula, and Corey Perry bring invaluable experience and professionalism to the locker room, they are not structural replacements for an elite offensive catalyst like Fiala. If Fiala is forced to miss any significant stretch of regular-season action, hockey analysts and fans alike are left wondering if the Kings can realistically be expected to secure a playoff berth in a conference that grows more competitive by the year.
The Pacific Division offers no nights off, and Los Angeles will face incredible pressure just to maintain its status as a postseason contender, let alone emerge as a true Stanley Cup front-runner. The margin for error is razor-thin, and if Fiala remains sidelined for weeks or months, the Kings will require immediate, elevated production from a handful of key returnees.
That internal rescue mission starts at the top with elite left winger Artemi Panarin and star center Adrian Kempe. Alongside them, the spotlight shines brightly on 24-year-old forwards Quinton Byfield and Alex Laferriere. Byfield, in particular, represents a massive X-factor for the franchise. While he has flashed undeniable brilliance and spurts of greatness on the ice, he has yet to fully elevate his game to cement himself among the upper echelons of the NHL’s premier young players. Last season, Byfield recorded 24 goals and 49 points across 79 games, a respectable output that nevertheless leaves room for the dynamic progression the organization envisions for his long-term future as a number-one center.
The expectations surrounding Laferriere, meanwhile, are calibrated differently. Laferriere put together a solid campaign last year, chipping in 21 goals and 44 points in 82 games. However, his competitive ceiling has not been projected to reach the same stratospheric heights as Byfield’s. It would be unfair and unrealistic to expect Laferriere to replicate the offensive production and dynamic game-breaking ability that Fiala provides when healthy. Laferriere is a reliable, hardworking contributor who projects to be a foundational piece of the core in Los Angeles for years to come, but asking him to shoulder the scoring burden of an injured star stretches the limits of his current developmental trajectory.
General manager Ken Holland is thus left hoping that his summer acquisitions can punch above their weight class while Fiala works his way back to full health. Zuccarello remains a perfectly serviceable and intelligent playmaker who can navigate top-nine responsibilities. Haula provides sturdy, responsible depth down the middle. Perry, meanwhile, enters what could prove to be the final NHL season of a legendary career, attempting to squeeze every last ounce of competitive fire out of his body. Yet, placing the heavy lifting of carrying the offense onto the shoulders of veterans at this stage of their careers is a risky proposition.
Compounding these roster concerns is the stark reality of the team’s financial flexibility. The Kings have spent all but $1.775 million of their available salary cap space for the upcoming season. In the rigid economic landscape of the modern NHL, what you see is largely what you get. Absent substantial internal improvement and career years from supporting players, Los Angeles runs a genuine risk of taking a step backward in the standings. If Fiala’s recovery timeline extends deep into the autumn, the Kings could find themselves facing a steep uphill battle before training camp even opens its doors.