The Kings’ Exit: The Good, The Bad, and The Disappointing

Monday’s exit interviews with the Los Angeles Kings revealed a mix of progress and disappointment. Six veteran players—Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Phillip Danault, Kevin Fiala, Adrian Kempe, and Trevor Moore—shared their thoughts on a season that ended too soon.

Looking Back on a Successful Regular Season

Despite finishing the regular season with a winning record, the Kings failed to meet expectations in the playoffs, falling once again to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round. Kopitar and Doughty, leaders of the team, echoed this sentiment:

“I think we definitely made progress… but at the end of the day, that’s not what you’re playing for. You’re playing to win a championship, and we failed to do so.” – Anze Kopitar

– Kopitar on the regular season vs. postseason results

“Losing is just painful… our ultimate goal is to win a championship, and we had a great opportunity this year to get the job done and we didn’t.” – Drew Doughty

– Doughty on the playoff loss

What Went Wrong in the Playoffs?

Doughty provided a candid analysis of the team’s playoff performance:

“The coaches weren’t telling us to just sit back… it just naturally happened. Even though we did sit back, we still should have gotten the job done. 6-on-5 has got to be better, and that’s on the players. I wouldn’t blame the coaches for that.” – Drew Doughty

– Doughty on the team’s approach in Games 3 and 4

Kopitar, meanwhile, emphasized the team’s ability to remain even-keeled and mentally reset between games:

“Yeah, we did, of course. You’ve got to put it behind you. That’s what a playoff series is all about… Did it affect you? Of course it does affect you. We’re human, and everybody gets affected by it.” – Anze Kopitar

– Kopitar on overcoming defeat

The Injury Factor

Doughty, playing through injury, admitted he wasn’t at 100% but still produced effectively. He attributed his early integration back into the lineup as a positive factor:

“I think in a way, it was good they kind of threw me into the fire like that, because I got back to where I wanted to be a little quicker than I think I would have if I only played 15 minutes.” – Drew Doughty

– Doughty on his early-season return

The Resurgence of Fiala and Danault

Kevin Fiala and Phillip Danault were among the team’s brightest spots in the second half of the season and the playoffs:

“I’m 28 years old, so I’m not very young anymore, and enough is enough in a few ways… I had more confidence in this year’s team than any of the other three I was a part of.” – Phillip Danault

– Danault on his and the team’s improved performance

“I made that switch and I’m going to continue to stay like I was the last 20 games now.” – Kevin Fiala

– Fiala on his improved play

Time to Refocus and Rebuild

As the Kings look towards next season, they’ll do so knowing they’ve made progress, but also aware that they fell short of their ultimate goal. Kempe and Moore echoed their teammates’ sentiments:

“It really felt like we had something going on this year. It felt like we were good enough to get past the first round, because that’s the goal, to get all the way and not just get past the first round.” – Adrian Kempe

– Kempe on the season’s disappointment

“This one was definitely the one I felt the most comfortable in and the group that could go the furthest, that’s for sure. It’s very unfortunate, what happened.” – Trevor Moore

– Moore on the playoff loss

Looking Ahead: Free Agency and Beyond

Kempe, an impending free agent, has expressed his desire to stay with the Kings and be a part of their future success. Meanwhile, the team will look to build on their progress this season and take that next step come 2025-26.

Did You Know?

This marks the fourth consecutive season in which Adrian Kempe has led the Kings in playoff scoring.

Pro Tips

For fans: Stay tuned for the latest free agency updates and see who the Kings might add to help them get over the hump.

For players: Use the offseason to reflect on the past season, improve your skills, and come back stronger next year.

Call to Action

Share your thoughts in the comments. What stood out to you from the exit interviews? Which Kings players are you most excited about heading into next season?