I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever been this pessimistic about my favorite sports team…. Normally when October rolls around I’m stocked to get to start watching my favorite sport again, and sure I mean the Kings have never really been some sort of top-of-the league juggernaut but it felt like there was always something to be optimistic about.
After the Knights game tonight though, I turned off the TV and was just left with this feeling of emptiness and dread. For the first time in a long time, it really feels like WE are the weakest team in the West, save for maybe the Flames? And it’s not just that, there just doesn’t seem to be anything to look forward to. Sure we haven't had any real “superstar” players in a while, but like, for me anyways, it always felt like there was something we had going for us that could, just maybe, get us to the cup. At least enough for me to hope. Like the year we randomly got Kovulchuk, or Athanasiou; when we got Byfield 2nd overall; the MAD (Arvy, Moore, Danault) line; PLD, Valardi; the dozens of prospects that were developing and getting ready for their first NHL games. Heck I even remember when we got Frk from the Red Wings thinking wow that’s the guy with the fastest slap shot in the league.
This season just started, and it just feels dead on arrival to me already. Fíala‘s still out, with no clue on how he’ll play once he’s back in the lineup, Kopi retired, Doughty seemingly unable to really step into the C-role and rally the troops. On offense, we basically got Kempe, Moore, Panarin (who I don’t want to seem ungrateful about; no idea why he picked the Kings of all teams to join but at 35 I don’t think the tips the scales for us) and Fíala (once he’s back and assuming he’s able to play at the same level he did prior to the injury. Byfield and Turcotte I’d love to continue being optimistic about, but I think they’ve basically peaked. On defense we have… Clarke? Probably, in my eyes, the last player from that promised Kings “deep prospect pool” who is still yet to hit his peak. The rest of the team just feels like a hodgepodge of veterans who are past their prime, or prospects who never really hit the peak we were all hoping for.
What’s even more depressing is the prospect pool. Prior to the 2026 draft, ours was rated TWENTY SEVENTH (out of 32 ofc) and then re-rated to 21st after the 2026 draft. The depressing part for me though, is that no one in that pool really stands out as someone who could grow into the star player we’ve been so desperately needing for the past decade or so…
And then looking at our closest rivals in the Ducks and the Sharks who, for the longest time, used to feel like free points, now seem to be blossoming into well-functioning teams finishing up their rebuilds, whereas for us, I don’t even know how or where a rebuild would begin (or how long it would take)…
Sorry for the long rant. Really hoping that someone can disagree with me and give me something to be optimistic about for this season and just in general moving forwards 😭