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.

Brown was the 11th overall pick of the Ottawa Senators but has struggled to establish himself at the NHL level. The 27-year-old played 69 games across two seasons for the Blues from 2021-22 to 2022-23, scoring 17 points (6G / 11A), but has exclusively played in the AHL since. He scored 29 points (33G / 11A) in 33 games with the Syracuse Crunch (AHL) last season.

Los Angeles added to its defensive depth on Day 2 of Free Agency by signing Samuel Bolduc to a one-year, two-way contract. The 24-year-old has 52 career NHL games to his name, but spent the majority of the 2024-25 season with Bridgeport (AHL), where he had nine goals and 35 points in 69 games played. He is expected to compete for one of Los Angeles' final defensive spots to start the 2025-26 season.

After a successful season in Rockford (AHL), Cole Guttman has earned himself a two-year, $1.55 million contract ($750,000 AAV) with the Los Angeles Kings. The 26-year-old is likely to start the 2025-26 season in Ontario (AHL), where he is likely to continue his minor league success after putting up 23 goals and 57 points in 70 games played with Rockford (AHL) in 2024-25.

With the departure of David Rittich, joining the New York Islanders, the Kings have signed Forsberg to a two-year deal worth $2.25 million AAV 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).

Dumoulin joins his fifth team in the last three years, signing a three-year deal with the Kings worth $4 million AAV. The veteran 33-year-old defenseman averaged 19:33 time-on-ice, recording 109 blocks, 74 hits, and 22 points (3G / 19A) in 80 games between the Anaheim Ducks and New Jersey Devils last season.

Ceci joins his fourth team in the previous three seasons, signing a four-year contract worth $4.5 million AAV with the Kings. The 31-year-old Ceci joined the Dallas Stars before the trade deadline last season, recording nine points (0G / 9A), 55 blocks, and 24 hits in 31 games.

Perry has built a reputation in the latter portion of his career, making the Stanley Cup Finals in five of his previous six seasons, and will join the Los Angeles Kings on a bonus-heavy one-year deal. The 40-year-old Perry scored 30 points (19G / 11A) in 81 games with the Oilers last season and was an integral part in their postseason run, scoring 14 points (10G / 4A) in 22 games. The Kings have not won a playoff series since winning the Stanley Cup in 2014 and will hope that Perry can help them change that trend.

After spending the previous seven seasons in Montreal, Armia has signed a two-year contract worth $2.5 million AAV, sending him to the Los Angeles Kings. Joining Corey Perry as another July 1st acquisition, Armia adds some grit to the Kings' bottom-six forward group. The 31-year-old Armia finished the 2024-25 season with 29 points (11G / 18A) in 81 games while averaging 14:18 time-on-ice.

After struggling in stints with the Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers last season, Kuzmenko found success in his third stop in the 2024-25 campaign, scoring 17 points (5G / 12A) in 22 games with the Los Angeles Kings. The 29-year-old Kuzemnko ended the season with 17 points (5G / 12A) in his last 15 games while playing on the Kings' top line alongside Anze Kopitar and Andrian Kempe.

Copley only appeared in one game for Los Angeles in 2024-25 but will provide some goaltending depth yet again after signing a one-year, $775,000 contract extension on Monday with the Kings. The 33-year-old Alaskan netminder appeared in 42 games with Ontario (AHL) in 2024-25, posting a 24-17-1 record with a .904 SV%.

Fresh off a seven-game showing with Slovakia at the World Championships, Martin Chromiak has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with Los Angeles. The 22-year-old winger was Los Angeles' 2020 5th round pick (128th overall) and had 18 goals and 39 points in 69 games with Ontario (AHL) last season.