What the LA Kings Need to Do to Get Their First Home Win

Good morning readers. We are halfway into the month, and the Los Angeles Kings are struggling to find their footing. After four regular games, the Kings have two points and are ranked 31st in the league, marking their record of 0-3-2. It’s frustrating witnessing a team with developing prospects remain at the bottom of the league, and while it’s important to remember the season has just begun, the two-time Stanley Cup champion team needs to remember to find their rhythm much quicker.

So, what needs to change?

For Los Angeles to hit the ground running at the start of the regular season, the Kings need to integrate their young core more consistently into the lineup and establish reliable, steady goaltending.

Use The Youth

Giving younger players meaningful opportunities could inject speed and energy, while consistent performances in net would provide the stability needed to compete night after night. This also creates a healthy sense of competition within the team, as younger players push themselves to earn their place in the lineup and prove they belong at the NHL level. Friendly locker room chirping can bring a new level of intensity and energy to the game, ultimately benefiting the team as a whole.

Just take a look at 2020 prospect Martin Chromiak. Selected by the team in the 5th round, 128th overall, the Slovakia native is a gifted playmaker and exceptionally skilled. As of the 2025-26 season with the Ontario Reign, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Kings, Chromiak had posted 56 points in 71 games and led the group as the top scorer of the season. His highlights include 28 goals and assists along with a leadership role of seven game-winning goals (GWG). That’s the kind of player who should have the opportunity to compete for a spot on an NHL roster, battling along the boards night after night.

Play With Urgency

One observation I’ve noted is the Kings need to improve on their urgency and pace their game. They should look to apply more pressure on the forecheck and be able to switch from defense to offense quickly. If they could improve in these areas, that could help Los Angeles maintain pressure and get the scoring on board.

In the 2025-26 season, the Kings averaged 2.68 goals per game and ranked 29th in the league. When a team struggles to maintain scoring consistently, it puts more pressure on its goaltenders to leave less room for mistakes and to keep the matchups close. A better balance could be found to give themselves a stronger chance of winning these games.

Goaltending Needs to Be Cleaned Up

I would like to see Erik Portillo get more opportunities with the Kings. The 26-year-old, 6-foot-6 goaltender from Gothenburg, Sweden, is currently with the Reign, occasionally tending to the net. However, the Kings also have two promising young goaltenders in Carter George and Hampton Slukynsky. George, 20, was selected in the second round (57th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft, while Slukynsky was drafted in the fourth round of the 2023 NHL Draft. Both were selected by Los Angeles.

This could cause an issue as to where Portillo would play and my answer is that he should be given another opportunity to compete in an NHL game. In his debut with the Kings, the Swedish-born netminder earned his first 2-1 victory against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center, as he turned away 28 of 29 shots. Giving Portillo another chance would allow the organization to evaluate his readiness for a larger role while providing more stability in net.

Tighten Things Up!

When those three areas are polished, I think we would see a different but stronger team with a more cohesive core and a recognizable style of play and identity. Until those issues are addressed, the Kings may continue to fall short of their potential and backslide in their overall performance.