The Los Angeles Kings are entering a pivotal week as they look to correct a mediocre first half of the 2025-26 season. Sitting with a record of 16-12-9, the team is battling offensive inconsistency and swirling trade rumors as they prepare to face one of the league’s top teams, the Colorado Avalanche, tonight.
The Phillip Danault Trade
On Dec. 19 the Kings traded forward Phillip Danault to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a second-round 2026 pick. Danault, 32, had only contributed five assists in his 30 games with the Kings. He is a Quebec native and had one of his best seasons with the Canadiens in 2018-19.
Brandt Clarke’s Breakout Season
A bright spot amidst the offensive struggles has been young defenseman Brandt Clarke. He has effectively taken over the top power-play quarterback role and is on pace for a 40-point campaign. His development into a bona fide top-four defenseman is one of the few successes of the season so far, providing a glimpse of the future on the blue line.
Facing the Juggernaut
Tonight’s matchup is a daunting test. The Kings travel to Denver to face the Colorado Avalanche, who are dominating the league with a 28-2-7 record. This game will be a major measuring stick for whether Los Angeles can compete with the NHL’s elite this season.
Kings Schedule Dec 29 – Jan 4
| Date | Day | Opponent | Time (PST) | Venue |
| Dec. 29 | Monday | @ Colorado Avalanche | 6:00 PM | Ball Arena |
| Jan. 1 | Thursday | vs. Tampa Bay Lightning | 4:00 PM | Crypto.com Arena |
| Jan. 3 | Saturday | vs. Minnesota Wild | 6:00 PM | Crypto.com Arena |
AI tools were used to support the creation or distribution of this content, however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of The Hockey Writers editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our Editorial Standards page.
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