How Does The Kings 2025-26 Season Compare To The Last 3 Years?

The 2025-2026 season ended for the Kings the same way as the last 3 years: they were eliminated in the first round. The Kings have changed throughout those 4 seasons, and heading into the offseason, they have lineup gaps to fill. Looking back at the last 4 seasons will show whether they need minor or major changes. 

Looking back at the last 4 seasons for the Kings, they all seem to end the same way: getting eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The Kings have not won a playoff series since their Stanley Cup win in 2014. The results of the last 4 seasons are as follows: 

The common theme is the one-sided rivalry between the Kings and the Oilers, and while the Kings came close at times, the Oilers have gotten the better of them each time they have met recently in the playoffs. When comparing the endings of each King's season, they all end the same way, just in different formats. 

The regular seasons throughout each season have been different for each Kings team, with different successes and defeats. In the 2025-2026 season, the Kings finished 4th in the Pacific Division and 20th in the overall NHL standings. This was the worst season for the Kings, as they finished in the lowest spot in the standings they have occupied in 4 years. Another negative from this previous season was the offensive production, which was among the worst in the NHL. 

The Kings' offensive game has slowly gotten worse throughout each season. The offence has been the key factor in the Kings' decline over the 4 seasons, as player progression, age, and different schemes have affected the offensive output. One of the major takeaways from the Kings this season was their ability to defend. 

So while the Kings took a step back overall compared to the last 2 seasons, they are in a better spot when it comes to getting scored on, which has been a staple of the Kings' play, as they have been a much better defensive team over the last couple of seasons. 

Overall, this season is the worst in terms of offensive production but average on defence. For the Kings, their final regular-season placement makes it clear how poorly they have performed this season. 

The final standings for the Kings showcase that their best team was in the 2024-25 season and their worst was this season, while they went up and down throughout the 4 seasons. It is a concern that, heading into the offseason, they are coming off their worst season and are losing key pieces to their lineup. 

While many players were traded to and from the Kings, the core is the group that can show us how they perform next season and help us project their progress, and whether they can positively impact the Kings. 

Starting with the players who continue to be successful for the Kings, Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala stand out. 

Adrian Kempe Stats in the last 4 Seasons: 

Adrian Kempe has been a consistent player for the Kings and is regarded as one of the team's best. Throughout the good and bad seasons, Kempe still shows his ability to put the team on his back and help the Kings succeed. 

Kevin Fiala Stats in the last 4 Seasons: 

While Fiala has not been as consistent as Kempe and has had his share of injuries, he is still a player the Kings can depend on when they need to, and that is the type of player the Kings need more of, especially when it comes to their young players or new players coming in. 

Darcy Kuemper is also a big factor for the Kings and while he only has played in the last 2 seasons for the Kings those 2 seasons tell a very different story. 

The last 2 seasons for Kuemper have been extremely different: in 2024-2025, he was a Vezina Trophy nominee and one of the best goalies in the NHL, and a season later, he struggled and eventually lost the starting position to Anton Forsberg.

Overall, this past season was a step back for the Kings, even after making a big splash in the trade market by acquiring Artemi Panarin and signing him to a 2-year deal. When comparing each season, even though the ending result is the same, the feeling toward the Kings organization is very different. 

The Kings no longer have Anze Kopitar and now have to look for a centre in the offseason. The Kings' signing Artemi Panarin and having Adrian Kempe, Kevin Fiala, and Drew Doughty alongside the younger guys on the team, like Quinton Byfield, Brandt Clarke, and Alex Laferriere, means the Kings do not necessarily need to get younger. 

But they need to focus on improving their offence, as that has been the aspect of their game holding them back. Overall, this season was not a good one for the Kings, especially after coming off one of their best seasons in recent memory the year before. 

Unfortunately, when comparing this season to the previous 3 seasons for the Kings, it ranks last, and while there were some positives, the Kings have work to do to find success not only in the regular season but also in the playoffs.