2025–26 Los Angeles Kings season

National Hockey League season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2025–26 Los Angeles Kings season was the 59th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 5, 1967.[1]

Division4th Pacific
Conference8th Western
2025–26 record35–27–20
Home record15–17–9
Quick facts Los Angeles Kings, Division ...
2025–26 Los Angeles Kings
Division4th Pacific
Conference8th Western
2025–26 record35–27–20
Home record15–17–9
Road record20–10–11
Goals for225
Goals against247
Team information
General managerKen Holland
CoachJim Hiller (Oct. 7 – Mar. 1)
D. J. Smith (interim, Mar. 1 – Apr. 26)
CaptainAnze Kopitar
Alternate captainsMikey Anderson (Dec. – Apr.)
Phillip Danault (Oct. – Dec.)
Drew Doughty
Adrian Kempe (Dec. – Apr.)
ArenaCrypto.com Arena
Minor league affiliatesOntario Reign (AHL)
Greenville Swamp Rabbits (ECHL)
Team leaders
GoalsAdrian Kempe (32)
AssistsAdrian Kempe (37)
PointsAdrian Kempe (69)
Penalty minutesBrandt Clarke (61)
Plus/minusAnze Kopitar (+17)
WinsDarcy Kuemper (19)
Goals against averageAnton Forsberg (2.74)
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This was the final season of longtime captain Anze Kopitar, who announced before the season that he would retire afterwards.[2]

The Kings broke the NHL record for overtime losses in the regular season with their 19th of the season, a 5–4 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators on April 2, 2026.[citation needed] On April 13, the Kings clinched a playoff berth for the fifth consecutive season after winning against the Seattle Kraken, and following a win by the San Jose Sharks against the Nashville Predators.[3] In the first round of the playoffs, the Kings got swept out by the Colorado Avalanche in four games[4]

Standings

Divisional standings

More information Pos, GP ...
Pacific Division
Pos Team
 GP W L OTL RW GF GA GD Pts
1 y – Vegas Golden Knights 82 39 26 17 30 265 250 +15 95
2 x – Edmonton Oilers 82 41 30 11 32 282 269 +13 93
3 x – Anaheim Ducks 82 43 33 6 26 273 288 −15 92
4 x – Los Angeles Kings 82 35 27 20 22 225 247 −22 90
5 San Jose Sharks 82 39 35 8 27 251 292 −41 86
6 Seattle Kraken 82 34 37 11 26 226 263 −37 79
7 Calgary Flames 82 34 39 9 27 212 259 −47 77
8 Vancouver Canucks 82 25 49 8 15 216 316 −100 58
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Source: National Hockey League[5]
Rules for classification: 1) Fewer number of games played (GP, only during regular season); 2) Greater number of regulation wins (RW); 3) Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime, excluding shootout wins (ROW); 4) Greater number of total wins, including shootouts (W); 5) Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded; 6) Greater goal differential (GD); 7) Greater number of goals scored (GF)
x – Clinched playoff spot; y – Clinched division

Conference standings

More information Pos, Div ...
Western Conference Wild Card
Pos Div Team
 GP W L OTL RW GF GA GD Pts
1 CE x – Utah Mammoth 82 43 33 6 33 268 240 +28 92
2 PA x – Los Angeles Kings 82 35 27 20 22 225 247 −22 90
3 CE St. Louis Blues 82 37 33 12 33 231 258 −27 86
4 CE Nashville Predators 82 38 34 10 28 247 269 −22 86
5 PA San Jose Sharks 82 39 35 8 27 251 292 −41 86
6 CE Winnipeg Jets 82 35 35 12 28 231 260 −29 82
7 PA Seattle Kraken 82 34 37 11 26 226 263 −37 79
8 PA Calgary Flames 82 34 39 9 27 212 259 −47 77
9 CE Chicago Blackhawks 82 29 39 14 22 213 275 −62 72
10 PA Vancouver Canucks 82 25 49 8 15 216 316 −100 58
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Source: National Hockey League[6]
Rules for classification: 1) Fewer number of games played (GP, only during regular season); 2) Greater number of regulation wins (RW); 3) Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime, excluding shootout wins (ROW); 4) Greater number of total wins, including shootouts (W); 5) Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded; 6) Greater goal differential (GD); 7) Greater number of goals scored (GF)
x – Clinched playoff spot

Schedule and results

Preseason

The preseason schedule was published on June 20, 2025.[7]

More information #, Date ...
2025 preseason game log: 5–2–0 (Home: 3–1–0; Road: 2–1–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecord
1ASeptember 21Anaheim3–1Los AngelesGeorge (1–0–0)Toyota Arena9,5331–0–0
2September 23Los Angeles3–1VegasForsberg (1–0–0)T-Mobile Arena17,4392–0–0
3September 24Los Angeles3–0AnaheimKuemper (1–0–0)Honda Center11,5173–0–0
4BSeptember 27Anaheim5–3Los AngelesPortillo (0–1–0)Dignity Health Arena—3–1–0
5CSeptember 30Utah2–3Los AngelesCopley (1–0–0)Idaho Central Arena—4–1–0
6October 2Los Angeles1–2UtahForsberg (1–1–0)Delta Center12,4784–2–0
7October 4Anaheim4–5Los AngelesOTKuemper (2–0–0)Crypto.com Arena11,1515–2–0

Legend:   Win   Loss   Overtime/shootout loss A – Game played in Ontario, California B – Game played in Bakersfield, California C – Game played in Boise, Idaho

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Regular season

The regular season schedule was released on July 16, 2025.

More information #, Date ...
2025–26 game log: 35–27–20 (Home: 15–17–9; Road: 20–10–11)
October: 5–3–4 (Home: 0–2–2; Road: 5–1–2)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
1October 7Colorado4–1Los AngelesKuemperCrypto.com Arena18,1450–1–00[8]
2October 8Los Angeles6–5VegasSOForsbergT-Mobile Arena18,3931–1–02[9]
3October 11Los Angeles2–3WinnipegKuemperCanada Life Centre14,2041–2–02[10]
4October 13Los Angeles3–4MinnesotaSOKuemperGrand Casino Arena17,1021–2–13[11]
5October 16Pittsburgh4–2Los AngelesForsbergCrypto.com Arena14,7371–3–13[12]
6October 18Carolina4–3Los AngelesOTForsbergCrypto.com Arena18,1451–3–24[13]
7October 21Los Angeles2–1St. LouisOTKuemperEnterprise Center16,7102–3–26[14]
8October 23Los Angeles3–2DallasOTKuemperAmerican Airlines Center18,5323–3–28[15]
9October 25Los Angeles4–5NashvilleSOKuemperBridgestone Arena17,1593–3–39[16]
10October 26Los Angeles3–1ChicagoForsbergUnited Center16,6204–3–311[17]
11October 28Los Angeles4–3San JoseKuemperSAP Center12,8045–3–313[18]
12October 30Detroit4–3Los AngelesSOKuemperCrypto.com Arena16,0135–3–414[19]
November: 7–3–3 (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 4–1–2)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
13November 1New Jersey4–1Los AngelesKuemperCrypto.com Arena16,1105–4–414[20]
14November 4Winnipeg0–3Los AngelesKuemperCrypto.com Arena14,6716–4–416[21]
15November 6Florida5–2Los AngelesForsbergCrypto.com Arena16,9096–5–416[22]
16November 9Los Angeles3–2PittsburghKuemperPPG Paints Arena18,3437–5–418[23]
17November 11Los Angeles5–1MontrealKuemperBell Centre20,9628–5–420[24]
18November 13Los Angeles4–3TorontoOTKuemperScotiabank Arena18,3059–5–422[25]
19November 15Los Angeles1–0OttawaForsbergCanadian Tire Centre17,77210–5–424[26]
20November 17Los Angeles1–2WashingtonKuemperCapital One Arena17,64910–6–424[27]
21November 20Los Angeles3–4San JoseSOForsbergSAP Center16,38710–6–525[28]
22November 21Boston2–1Los AngelesOTKuemperCrypto.com Arena18,14510–6–626[29]
23November 24Ottawa1–2Los AngelesKuemperCrypto.com Arena17,42111–6–628[30]
24November 28Los Angeles4–5AnaheimSOKuemperHonda Center17,17411–6–729[31]
25November 29Vancouver1–2Los AngelesOTForsbergCrypto.com Arena18,14512–6–731[32]
December: 4–7–2 (Home: 2–4–1; Road: 2–3–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
26December 2Washington3–1Los AngelesKuemperCrypto.com Arena16,50912–7–731[33]
27December 4Chicago2–1Los AngelesKuemperCrypto.com Arena16,22512–8–731[34]
28December 6Chicago0–6Los AngelesKuemperCrypto.com Arena18,14513–8–733[35]
29December 8Los Angeles4–2UtahKuemperDelta Center12,47814–8–735[36]
30December 10Los Angeles2–3SeattleOTForsbergClimate Pledge Arena17,15114–8–836[37]
31December 13Calgary2–1Los AngelesOTKuemperCrypto.com Arena18,14514–8–937[38]
32December 15Los Angeles1–4DallasForsbergAmerican Airlines Center18,53214–9–937[39]
33December 17Los Angeles2–3FloridaForsbergAmerant Bank Arena19,61214–10–937[40]
34December 18Los Angeles2–1Tampa BayForsbergBenchmark International Arena19,09215–10–939[41]
35December 22Columbus3–1Los AngelesForsbergCrypto.com Arena18,14515–11–939[42]
36December 23Seattle3–2Los AngelesCopleyCrypto.com Arena18,14315–12–939[43]
37December 27Anaheim1–6Los AngelesForsbergCrypto.com Arena18,14516–12–941[44]
38December 29Los Angeles2–5ColoradoForsbergBall Arena18,14316–13–941[45]
January: 6–4–4 (Home: 3–2–3; Road: 3–2–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
39January 1Tampa Bay5–3Los AngelesKuemperCrypto.com Arena18,00116–14–941[46]
40January 3Minnesota4–5Los AngelesSOKuemperCrypto.com Arena18,14517–14–943[47]
41January 5Minnesota2–4Los AngelesKuemperCrypto.com Arena16,87418–14–945[48]
42January 7San Jose4–3Los AngelesOTKuemperCrypto.com Arena17,47318–14–1046[49]
43January 9Los Angeles1–5WinnipegKuemperCanada Life Centre14,41218–15–1046[50]
44January 10Los Angeles4–3EdmontonSOForsbergRogers Place18,34719–15–1048[51]
45January 12Dallas3–1Los AngelesKuemperCrypto.com Arena17,08819–16–1048[52]
46January 14Vegas3–2Los AngelesOTKuemperCrypto.com Arena18,14519–16–1149[53]
47January 16Anaheim3–2Los AngelesSOKuemperCrypto.com Arena18,14519–16–1250[54]
48January 17Los Angeles1–2AnaheimOTForsbergHonda Center16,21419–16–1351[55]
49January 20NY Rangers3–4Los AngelesForsbergCrypto.com Arena18,14520–16–1353[56]
50January 24Los Angeles5–4St. LouisSOKuemperEnterprise Center17,21421–16–1355[57]
—January 26Los AngelesColumbusGame postponed due to severe weather. Makeup date: March 9
51January 27Los Angeles3–1DetroitForsbergLittle Caesars Arena19,51522–16–1357[58]
52January 29Los Angeles1–4BuffaloKuemperKeyBank Center19,07022–17–1357[59]
53January 31Los Angeles3–2PhiladelphiaOTKuemperXfinity Mobile Arena19,77123–17–1359[60]
February: 1–4–1 (Home: 1–3–0; Road: 0–1–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
54February 1Los Angeles2–3CarolinaOTForsbergLenovo Center18,29923–17–1460[61]
55February 4Seattle4–2Los AngelesKuemperCrypto.com Arena18,14523–18–1460[62]
56February 5Los Angeles1–4VegasForsbergT-Mobile Arena18,02023–19–1460[63]
57February 25Vegas6–4Los AngelesForsbergCrypto.com Arena18,14523–20–1460[64]
58February 26Edmonton8–1Los AngelesKuemperCrypto.com Arena17,03723–21–1460[65]
59February 28Calgary0–2Los AngelesForsbergCrypto.com Arena18,14524–21–1462[66]
March: 5–5–4 (Home: 1–4–1; Road: 4–1–3)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
60March 2Colorado4–2Los AngelesForsbergCrypto.com Arena15,49224–22–1462[67]
61March 5NY Islanders3–5Los AngelesKuemperCrypto.com Arena17,07825–22–1464[68]
62March 7Montreal4–3Los AngelesKuemperCrypto.com Arena18,14525–23–1464[69]
63March 9Los Angeles5–4ColumbusOTForsbergNationwide Arena14,83826–23–1466[70]
64March 10Los Angeles1–2BostonOTKuemperTD Garden17,85026–23–1567[71]
65March 13Los Angeles3–2NY IslandersKuemperUBS Arena17,25527–23–1569[72]
66March 14Los Angeles4–6New JerseyForsbergPrudential Center16,07227–24–1569[73]
67March 16Los Angeles4–1NY RangersKuemperMadison Square Garden17,75228–24–1571[74]
68March 19Philadelphia4–3Los AngelesSOKuemperCrypto.com Arena18,14528–24–1672[75]
69March 21Buffalo4–1Los AngelesForsbergCrypto.com Arena18,14528–25–1672[76]
70March 22Los Angeles3–4UtahOTKuemperDelta Center12,47828–25–1773[77]
71March 24Los Angeles2–3CalgarySOKuemperScotiabank Saddledome16,66528–25–1874[78]
72March 26Los Angeles4–0VancouverKuemperRogers Arena18,61129–25–1876[79]
73March 28Utah6–2Los AngelesKuemperCrypto.com Arena18,14529–26–1876[80]
April: 6–1–2 (Home: 5–0–1; Road: 1–1–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
74April 1St. Louis1–2Los AngelesOTForsbergCrypto.com Arena14,18830–26–1878[81]
75April 2Nashville5–4Los AngelesSOKuemperCrypto.com Arena18,14530–26–1979[82]
76April 4Toronto6–7Los AngelesOTKuemperCrypto.com Arena18,14531–26–1981[83]
77April 6Nashville2–3Los AngelesSOForsbergCrypto.com Arena17,54032–26–1983[84]
78April 9Vancouver1–4Los AngelesForsbergCrypto.com Arena18,14533–26–1985[85]
79April 11Edmonton0–1Los AngelesForsbergCrypto.com Arena18,14534–26–1987[86]
80April 13Los Angeles5–3SeattleForsbergClimate Pledge Arena17,15135–26–1989[87]
81April 14Los Angeles3–4VancouverOTKuemperRogers Arena18,96935–26–2090[88]
82April 16Los Angeles1–3CalgaryForsbergScotiabank Saddledome18,71135–27–2090[89]

Legend:   Win   Loss   Overtime/shootout loss

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Playoffs

Main article: 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs
More information 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, # ...
2026 Stanley Cup playoffs
Western Conference first round vs. (C1) Colorado Avalanche: Colorado won 4–0
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeriesRecap
1April 19Los Angeles1–2ColoradoForsberg18,1010–1[90]
2April 21Los Angeles1–2ColoradoOTForsberg18,1420–2[91]
3April 23Colorado4–2Los AngelesForsberg18,1450–3[92]
4April 26Colorado5–1Los AngelesForsberg18,1450–4[93]

Legend:   Win   Loss

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Player statistics

As of the end of the season [94]

Skaters

More information Player, GP ...
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Goaltenders

More information Player, GP ...
Regular season
Player GP GS TOI W L OT GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Darcy Kuemper50502887:541914151342.781234.8913016
Anton Forsberg36312032:0616125872.57952.9103004
Pheonix Copley1158:3401033.0728.8930000
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More information Player, GP ...
Playoffs
Player GP GS TOI W L GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Anton Forsberg44244:1204112.70121.9090000
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†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Kings.
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Kings only.
Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Awards and honours

Awards

Milestones

  • On March 5, 2026, Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar played his 1,500th NHL game, becoming the 25th player to reach the mark.[95]

Records

Transactions

The Kings have been involved in the following transactions during the 2025–26 season.

Key:

 †  Contract is entry-level.
 ‡  Contract initially takes effect in the 2026–27 season.

Trades

More information Date, Details ...
DateDetailsRef
June 27, 2025 To Los Angeles Kings
EDM 1st-round pick in 2025
WSH 2nd-round pick in 2025		 To Pittsburgh Penguins
1st-round pick in 2025		 [96]
June 28, 2025 To Los Angeles Kings
NSH 3rd-round pick in 2025 (67th overall)
COL 6th-round pick in 2026		 To Ottawa Senators
Jordan Spence		 [97]
June 28, 2025 To Los Angeles Kings
4th-round pick in 2025
DAL 3rd-round pick in 2026		 To Carolina Hurricanes
NSH 3rd-round pick in 2025		 [98]
October 15, 2025 To Los Angeles Kings
Pheonix Copley		 To Tampa Bay Lightning
future considerations		 [99]
December 2, 2025 To Los Angeles Kings
Nikita Alexandrov		 To St. Louis Blues
Akil Thomas		 [100]
December 19, 2025 To Los Angeles Kings
CBJ 2nd-round pick in 2026		 To Montreal Canadiens
Phillip Danault		 [101]
February 4, 2026 To Los Angeles Kings
Artemi Panarin*		 To New York Rangers
Liam Greentree
conditional CBJ 2nd-round pick in 2026
              or LAK 2nd-round pick in 2026
              or DAL 3rd-round pick in 2026
              or LAK 3rd-round pick in 2026
conditional DAL 4th-round pick in 2028		 [102]
March 5, 2026 To Los Angeles Kings
BUF 2nd-round pick in 2026
conditional[a] OTT 3rd-round pick in 2026
                  or WSH 3rd-round pick in 2026		 To Ottawa Senators
Warren Foegele
conditional[b] DAL 3rd-round pick in 2026
                  or LAK 3rd-round pick in 2026		 [103]
March 6, 2026 To Los Angeles Kings
2nd-round pick in 2028		 To Tampa Bay Lightning
Corey Perry*[c]		 [104]
March 6, 2026 To Los Angeles Kings
Scott Laughton		 To Toronto Maple Leafs
conditional[d] 2nd-round pick in 2026
                 or OTT 3rd-round pick in 2026
                 or WSH 3rd-round pick in 2026		 [105]
March 12, 2026 To Los Angeles Kings
Jan Jenik		 To Ottawa Senators
Samuel Bolduc		 [106]
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Notes

  1. [a]
    Los Angeles will receive the higher-placed of Ottawa's or Washington's third-round picks in 2026 if one or both of the teams qualify for the 2026 Playoffs; otherwise Los Angeles will received the worse of Ottawa’s or Washington's third-round picks in 2026.
  2. [b]
    Ottawa will receive the lower-placed of Los Angeles' or Dallas' third-round picks in 2026.
  3. [c]
    Los Angeles retained 50% of Perry's contract.
  4. [d]
    Toronto will receive a second-round pick in 2026 if Los Angeles qualifies for the 2026 playoffs. Toronto will receive the better of Ottawa's or Washington's third-round picks in 2026 if Los Angeles fails to qualify for the 2026 playoffs, but at least one of Ottawa or Washington do; otherwise, Toronto will receive the worse of Ottawa's or Washington's third-round picks in 2026.

Players acquired

More information Date, Player ...
DatePlayerFormer teamTermViaRef
July 1, 2025 (2025-07-01)Joel ArmiaMontreal Canadiens2-yearFree agency[107]
Cody CeciDallas Stars4-yearFree agency[107]
Brian DumoulinNew Jersey Devils3-yearFree agency[107]
Anton ForsbergOttawa Senators2-yearFree agency[107]
Corey PerryEdmonton Oilers1-yearFree agency[107]
July 2, 2025 (2025-07-02)Samuel BolducNew York Islanders1-yearFree agency[108]
Logan BrownTampa Bay Lightning1-yearFree agency[108]
Cole GuttmanChicago Blackhawks2-yearFree agency[108]
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Players lost

More information Date, Player ...
DatePlayerNew teamTermViaRef
July 1, 2025 (2025-07-01)Vladislav GavrikovNew York Rangers7-yearFree agency[109]
Tanner JeannotBoston Bruins5-yearFree agency[110]
Caleb JonesPittsburgh Penguins2-yearFree agency[111]
David RittichNew York Islanders1-yearFree agency[112]
July 2, 2025 (2025-07-02)Samuel FagemoWinnipeg Jets1-yearFree agency[113]
Jack StudnickaFlorida Panthers1-yearFree agency[114]
July 23, 2025 (2025-07-23)Joseph CecconiAvangard Omsk (KHL)1-yearFree agency[115]
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Signings

More information Date, Player ...
DatePlayerTermRef
June 30, 2025 (2025-06-30)Andrei Kuzmenko1–year[116]
July 2, 2025 (2025-07-02)Taylor Ward1–year[108]
August 2, 2025 (2025-08-02)Alex Laferriere3–year[117]
November 17, 2025 (2025-11-17)Adrian Kempe8–year‡[118]
December 2, 2025 (2025-12-02)Samuel Helenius2–year‡[119]
December 10, 2025 (2025-12-10)Vojtěch Čihař3–year†[120]
January 29, 2026 (2026-01-29)Taylor Ward2–year‡[121]
February 4, 2026 (2026-02-04)Artemi Panarin2–year‡[102]
March 6, 2026 (2026-03-06)Mathieu Joseph1–year[122]
April 4, 2026 (2026-04-04)Henry Brzustewicz3–year†‡[123]
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Draft picks

See also: List of Los Angeles Kings draft picks

Below are the Kings selections at the 2025 NHL entry draft, which was held on June 27 and 28, 2025, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California.

More information Round, # ...
Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team League
1 31[A] Henry Brzustewicz D  United States London Knights OHL
2 59[B] Vojtěch Čihař LW  Czech Republic HC Energie Karlovy Vary Czech Extraliga
3 88 Kristian Epperson LW  United States Saginaw Spirit OHL
4 120 Caeden Herrington D  United States Lincoln Stars USHL
125[C] Jimmy Lombardi C  Canada Flint Firebirds OHL
5 152 Petteri Rimpinen G  Finland Kiekko-Espoo Liiga
6 184 Jan Chovan C  Slovakia Tappara U20 U20 SM-sarja
7 196 Brendan McMorrow C  United States Waterloo Black Hawks USHL
216 Will Sharpe D  Canada Kelowna Rockets WHL
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Notes

  1. [A]
    The Edmonton Oilers' first-round pick went to the Los Angeles Kings as the result of a trade on June 27, 2025, that sent a first-round pick in 2025 (24th overall) to Pittsburgh in exchange for Washington's second-round pick in 2025 (59th overall) and this pick.[96]
  2. [B]
    The Washington Capitals' second-round pick went to the Kings as the result of a trade on June 27, 2025, that sent a first-round pick in 2025 (24th overall) to Pittsburgh in exchange for a first-round pick in 2025 (24th overall) and this pick.[96]
  3. [C]
    The Carolina Hurricanes' fourth-round pick went to the Kings as the result of a trade on June 28, 2025, that sent Nashville's third-round pick in 2025 (67th overall) to Carolina in exchange for Dallas' third-round pick in 2026 and this pick.

References

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