Kings Push for Playoffs

The Los Angeles Kings are inching closer to the playoffs with 65 points as of Feb. 17, 2025. The team's performance this season suggests a hopeful playoff run past the first round.

The Los Angeles Kings are two months away from the 2025 Playoffs, standing at 65 points before facing the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday night, Feb. 22. A win against Utah would increase their chances of securing a playoff berth. The Kings hold third place in the Pacific Division with 65 points below the Vegas Golden Knights in second place with 72 points, following the Edmonton Oilers, tied in the first. The Kings are eager to close the gap as every two points are crucial in clinching a spot. The Oilers' strong performance this season may be a challenge again, as LA has exited the first round of the playoffs twice.

With the right strategic moves and effective coaching, it's a possibility the Kings will see a second round. Here's what would need to change: the team needs a reliable and steady goaltender in playoff mode. Darcy Kuemper could be the solution, given his experience as a veteran athlete; however, his ability to perform under pressure would be a huge advantage. Throughout his career, he has posted a solid .914 save percentage (SV%) and was a key contributor in assisting the Colorado Avalanche to the Stanley Cup in 2022. 

Beyond goaltending, the Kings will need to improve their consistency on scoring opportunities and create more traffic in front of the net. A weakness of the Kings is their approach when it comes to puck possession. There's not a lot of net-front presence, which limits their scoring chances and a lack of control on the team's power-play. The NHL's average of a power play percentage is 21.44. Meanwhile, the Kings are at a low of 14.63. This difference is where the team can improve further ahead and hopefully advance past the first round. 

With the trade deadline less than a month away, the Kings placed Andreas Englund on waivers a week ago, and the Nashville Predators quickly claimed him. This move creates additional cap space for the Kings, whose current cap space is $3,201,743, according to PuckPedia. With eyes on Nashville's Jonathan Marchessault, the Kings may consider him as a potential right winger who could add speed and skill to their top-six forward group. 

If the team were to add a dependable goaltender and a right-handed defenseman, it would significantly improve its chances of a deeper playoff run and become a complete team.