3 LA Kings Who Won't Be Back Next Season

The Los Angeles Kings saw their season come to an end in a first-round playoff defeat—for the 7th year in a row. There will be changes this summer, no doubt, as they try to figure out how to get to the next level.

One pundit has suggested that they should take a look at blowing it all up. 

Failing that, though, certainly some around the team will not be back next year. 

Of course, franchise legend Anze Kopitar is heading into the sunset in retirement, so we'll leave him out of this discussion. But let's take a look at three other members of the Kings who will likely not return for 2026-27.

Andrei Kuzmenko

The 30-year-old pending UFA missed the last 25 regular-season games with a torn meniscus. He came back and played just one game in the Kings' four-game defeat at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche, but skated for just 10 minutes, and registered not a single shot on goal. He signed a one-year, $4.3 million deal last summer to return to the Kings, but he had difficulty matching the production that he posted over a 22-game trial at the end of the previous season. The Russian forward managed just 13 goals and 25 points in 52 games this year, with a -4 rating. It's doubtful the Kings will spend their offseason cap space on bringing him back.  

Darcy Kuemper

The 36-year-old goalie lost his starting job down the stretch for the Kings, starting just three of their last nine games. Anton Forsberg, who started the majority of their games in April, and with better numbers all around, was named the starter for the playoffs. He tried valiantly to keep the Kings in the series even though they were outmatched against the vaunted Avalanche. 

Additionally, and more importantly, the Kings' goaltending pipeline is "as deep as it’s been in over a decade," writes Mayors Manor. Between Erik Portillo and two of the best goaltending prospects in the game, Carter George and Hampton Slukynsky, LA is stacked in net. 

They will almost certainly find a new home for Kuemper, who has one year to run on his deal, with a $5.25 million cap hit. 

DJ Smith 

The interim coach did a fine job to get the Kings into the playoffs after taking over behind the bench less than two months ago. But it's likely that the team will be looking to turn the page and head in a new direction. Insider David Pagnotta said this week that "they're probably going to have a new head coach next season... Talking to people, it looks like (the Kings are) going to look (around) this summer... I can't imagine a scenario where DJ Smith is the head coach (in LA) next season." 

Photo: © Brad Penner-Imagn Images