The Road Ahead: Dissecting the LA Kings’ 2026-27 Schedule and the Elton Hermansson Signing
The Los Angeles Kings are officially on the clock. With the dust settling from the frenzy of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft and the opening days of free agency, the organization has shifted its focus toward the grueling 84-game marathon that awaits them in the 2026-27 season.
This week, the NHL released the full regular-season schedule, marking a return to the 84-game format for the first time since the 1993-94 campaign. For the Kings, the expanded calendar brings a renewed emphasis on divisional rivalries, a grueling late-season stretch, and a highly anticipated opening night in Denver.
Simultaneously, General Manager Ken Holland and the front office secured a crucial piece of their future, officially signing 2026 first-round pick Elton Hermansson to a three-year, entry-level contract. The move signals a clear commitment to integrating high-end offensive talent into a system that is undergoing a massive philosophical shift under new Head Coach Peter Laviolette.
As the dog days of summer approach, let’s break down the key takeaways from the schedule release and what the Hermansson signing means for the franchise moving forward.
The 84-Game Marathon: Schedule Highlights and Quirks
The return to an 84-game schedule fundamentally alters the rhythm of the NHL season. For the Kings, the additional two games eliminate the frustrating divisional disparities of years past. Los Angeles will now play exactly four games against every team in the Pacific Division—two at Crypto.com Arena and two on the road. This balanced approach ensures that critical matchups against rivals like the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights carry equal weight throughout the year.
A Trial by Fire in October
The Laviolette era will begin with a massive test on September 30, as the Kings travel to Denver to face the Colorado Avalanche in a nationally televised season opener. It marks the first time the Kings have played a regular-season game in North America during the month of September, and it sets the tone for a demanding opening month.
October will be a trial by fire for a roster integrating several new pieces, including Mats Zuccarello, Erik Haula, and Scott Laughton. The Kings will play eight of their first 13 games on the road, including a daunting five-game Eastern Conference swing that begins in Washington and concludes in Chicago.
However, the early schedule also features a heavy dose of divisional action. The Kings will play three Pacific Division opponents in their first five games, including the highly anticipated home opener against the Edmonton Oilers on October 6. With former interim head coach D.J. Smith returning to Los Angeles on the visiting bench, the emotional stakes will be high from the opening puck drop.
The Saturday Night Showcase
If you are a Kings fan in Southern California, clear your weekend calendar. The 2026-27 schedule leans heavily into Saturday night hockey at Crypto.com Arena. The Kings will host 14 Saturday home games, the most active day of the week on their calendar.
This scheduling quirk is a massive win for the local fanbase, providing ample opportunities to see the team in prime time. The start times will alternate between 6:00 PM, 7:00 PM, and 7:30 PM, ensuring a vibrant atmosphere in downtown Los Angeles throughout the winter.
Conversely, the Kings will play only one Friday home game all season (March 5). This is a familiar pattern, as Fridays in Los Angeles are traditionally dominated by the Lakers, but the sheer volume of Saturday games more than makes up for the absence of Friday night hockey.
The Late-Season Gauntlet
While the early months feature significant travel, the true test of the Kings’ depth and endurance will come in the final stretch of the season. Following a brief eight-day break in early February for the NHL All-Star Game in New York, the Kings will face a relentless gauntlet.
From February 8 through the regular-season finale on April 10, Los Angeles will play 31 games in just 62 days. That equates to a game every other day for two solid months. This condensed stretch will place a premium on sports science, load management, and the ability of the Ontario Reign to provide capable call-ups when injuries inevitably strike.
March will be the busiest month at Crypto.com Arena, with the Kings slated to play nine home games. The divisional schedule is also heavily backloaded, with eight of the final 11 games coming against Pacific Division opponents. If the Kings are fighting for playoff positioning in April, they will have to earn it against the teams they are directly competing with in the standings.
Securing the Future: The Elton Hermansson Signing
While the schedule release provided a roadmap for the upcoming season, the front office was busy securing a vital piece of the franchise’s long-term vision. On July 15, the Kings officially signed 18-year-old Swedish winger Elton Hermansson to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Selected 19th overall in last month’s draft, Hermansson represents the exact type of player the Kings have desperately needed: a dynamic, offensive-minded winger with elite vision and puck skills.
Why Sign Him Now?
The decision to sign Hermansson immediately, rather than waiting as the team did with Henry Brzustewicz last year, comes down to one word: control.
By signing the entry-level contract, the Kings gain significant influence over Hermansson’s development path. While he is eligible to play in the AHL this season, the organization has made it clear that the plan is for him to return to Sweden to play for MoDo Hockey in HockeyAllsvenskan.
“It’s a perfect place, playing big minutes against men in the second division there,” said Kings Director of Amateur Scouting Mark Yannetti. “There’s a history of guys going back to the Allsvenskan and being pretty good. The development situations in Europe are all really good.”
Because Hermansson will be playing in Europe, the first year of his entry-level contract will “slide,” meaning it will not count against the three-year term. This arrangement allows the Kings to monitor his progress closely, provide him with signing bonus money, and ensure he is playing in an environment that maximizes his offensive potential.
A Standout at Development Camp
The urgency to sign Hermansson was undoubtedly fueled by his spectacular showing at the Kings’ Development Camp in El Segundo. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound forward was highly visible during the afternoon scrimmages, showcasing an innate ability to slow the game down, identify passing lanes, and create offense in tight areas.
Hermansson’s style of play has drawn comparisons to New York Rangers superstar Artemi Panarin, a comparison the young Swede embraces.
“I just like how he plays,” Hermansson said during camp. “I love how William Nylander plays too; so I would say those two, Panarin and Nylander. But I think skating-wise, shooting-wise, and stickhandling, I’m pretty similar to Panarin. He had been my choice before the Kings drafted me. Some people told me about the comparison, then I watched him, and I agree.”
The International Stage Awaits
While Kings fans won’t see Hermansson in a black and silver jersey this fall, he will be highly visible on the international stage. He is expected to join Team Sweden at the Summer Showcase later this month, where he will likely face off against fellow Kings prospect Henry Brzustewicz, who will be representing Team USA.
Furthermore, Hermansson is a lock to represent Sweden at the World Junior Championships in Edmonton this December. After dominating the 2026 IIHF Under-18 World Championships—where he recorded a tournament-best 12 points in seven games to earn a gold medal and Best Forward honors—the World Juniors will provide the perfect platform for Hermansson to showcase his elite offensive toolkit against the best young players in the world.
The Laviolette Blueprint Takes Shape
As the summer progresses, the blueprint for the 2026-27 Los Angeles Kings is coming into sharp focus. The roster has been fortified with veteran experience, the schedule has been set, and the prospect pipeline has been secured.
Peter Laviolette was brought in to implement an aggressive, “attack mode” philosophy, and the pieces are now in place for him to execute that vision. The addition of players like Mats Zuccarello and the eventual arrival of talents like Elton Hermansson signal a departure from the rigid, defense-first identity that defined the Kings for the past decade.
The 84-game schedule will test this new philosophy immediately. With a grueling opening month and a relentless sprint to the finish line in March and April, the Kings will need every ounce of depth and resilience they can muster.
The road ahead is long, but for the first time in years, the Los Angeles Kings appear to have both the veteran firepower to compete today and the high-end prospects to sustain success tomorrow. The 2026-27 season cannot arrive soon enough.
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