LA Kings Should Prioritize Skill Over Size

It’s that time again where in the middle of the offseason, front offices of NHL teams are working overtime on signing their players and making impressive moves through trades or draft picks. Now that the 2026 Draft has passed, one team separates themselves from the pack and that team is the Los Angeles Kings. It’s easy to look at this organization and arrive at the obvious conclusion where this team has plenty of size but could use room for improvement on skill. Let’s dive into whether the Kings should be prioritizing size or skill for the upcoming 2026-27 campaign.

History of LA

For much of the past decade, the Kings have attempted the physical, gritty style that helped them win two Stanley Cups while adding the speed and skill needed in today’s NHL. While they’ve remained a competitive team, they haven’t found much playoff success. Four straight first-round exits showed that although they could defend well, they often didn’t create enough offense to win when it mattered most.

The question shouldn’t be whether the franchise should prioritize size over skill (or vice versa). The answer is in which should take priority when building the roster for the upcoming season in October. Today’s NHL continues to evolve towards players who remain competitive, fierce, consistent, and can be a dynamic playmaker with a high hockey IQ in defining moments.

Skill Makes the Difference

Physicality remains an important part of winning, especially in the playoffs. However, it’s no longer enough to win Stanley Cup championships on its own. Some of the league’s best teams have players who can create offense and make plays. That is especially what the Kings need more of. Los Angeles already has plenty of players who play a physical and defensive game. A player like Brandt Clarke gives them something different.

His vision and ability to transition the puck add another layer to the blue line and are exactly the type of skill the Kings need to embrace moving forward. By signing the Canadian to a five-year extension shows Los Angeles believes those skills will be a key part of the team’s future.

Where the Problem Lies

The problem is what happens once they have the puck. Too often, the Kings rely on long shifts instead of skill in each player to create scoring chances. Their offense can become predictable, especially against strong defensive teams that take away time and space. In the playoffs, when the game gets tighter, Los Angeles has struggled to score unless everything is set up perfectly. Their offense can become predictable, especially against strong teams that limit time. In the playoffs, when games tighten up, Los Angeles has struggled to score unless everything goes exactly as planned. It’s not a criticism of effort, but it is a reflection of the roster that has been built.

The Winning Strategy

Fortunately, the Kings already have some of that foundation in place. Adrian Kempe has become one of the Kings’ reliable players. Kevin Fiala is still one of the team’s most impactful forwards when healthy. Quinton Byfield is developing slowly into a strong mix of size, speed, and skill. The Kings didn’t win because they were just bigger than everyone else. They won because they mixed high-end talent with physical play. That’s why they need players who can add speed and offense to their lineup. It becomes even more crucial once the 2026-27 season rolls around.

The Kings have shown they can be dangerous at times, but they haven’t been consistent. Skilled players make the biggest difference because they think faster, and make tougher plays in critical moments, and create better chances. Adding another physical forward won’t do much for the power play. This doesn’t mean the Kings should become a soft team. What it does mean is that hockey still requires strength, effort, and gritty play. If the Kings can add players who bring both size and skill, that’s ideal. But those types of players aren’t easy to develop. If they have to choose, they should lean toward offense.

The Kings already defend well enough to hold their own and make the playoffs. The next step is scoring enough to go past the first round. The Kings’ approach for the upcoming season shouldn’t be to change their identity at its core. They can still remain a tough team that’s difficult to play against, but the next step requires more players who can produce offense. Los Angeles just needs to build on it by adding more scoring to an already established foundation.