The NHL officially dropped its full 2026-27 schedule for all 32 teams on Thursday, July 16, and man, the Los Angeles Kings have got some serious tests right out of the gate. This new league calendar is looking spicy with each club playing 84 games, including four matchups against every division opponent. The Kings kick off their season on September 30, and it's not gonna be easy.
Laviolette's Baptism By Fire Starts in Denver
After an up-and-down 2025-26 season where Jim Hiller got canned on March 1 following a slump that left them out of the playoff picture, the Kings rallied hard. Interim coach DJ Smith got them back on track with an 11-6-6 record, clinching a playoff spot for Anze Kopitar's final ride. But that ride ended quick, a first-round sweep by the Colorado Avalanche. So what's the best way for new head coach Peter Laviolette to start his tenure? By facing the same team that swept them! The Kings open their season on September 30 against the Avalanche in Denver. Talk about a brutal opener! The Avs won the Stanley Cup in 2022, then followed that up by snagging the Presidents' Trophy last season, so they're no joke. They made quick work of the Kings in the playoffs before getting swept themselves by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference finals. Laviolette has a huge chance to set the tone if he can get a win in that hostile territory.Panthers Power, Ducks Drama, and a Hat Trick
After that Denver showdown, the Kings head north to face the San Jose Sharks on October 3. Then, they finally get to host their home opener against the Florida Panthers on October 6. The Panthers have been an absolute force, winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2024 and '25. Even though injuries and inconsistent play led them to miss the postseason last year for the first time since 2019, you know they'll be coming out hungry. It's actually a wild bit of history, as Florida became the first defending champion to miss the playoffs since , get this , the 2015 Kings. Later in the season, circle November 27-28 on your calendars. The Kings have ten back-to-backs this year, but none feel bigger than their rivalry series against the Anaheim Ducks. The "Freeway Face-Off" used to lean the Kings' way, but that flipped last season when the Ducks took three of the four meetings. LA's lone victory, a decisive 6-1 thrashing on December 27, 2025, even saw Alex Laferriere net his first NHL hat trick. That's the kind of intensity we live for. With the first puck dropping on September 30 against the Avs, Laviolette's crew better be ready to go. The early schedule is a serious test, but it’s also a massive opportunity to show what this new era of Kings hockey is all about.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.