The Los Angeles Kings are adjusting to a new system under head coach Peter Laviolette after an uneven start to the 2026-27 NHL season, with early defensive problems affecting the team at Toyota Sports Performance Center and during games.
The changes have contributed to four opening losses, according to Daily Faceoff.
Daily Faceoff reported that Los Angeles ranked eighth in goals against last season but dropped to 29th early this year.
The team also fell from 11th to 24th in shots against, while its scoring rank remained near the bottom after finishing 25th last season and reaching 26th this season.
Steve Peters of Daily Faceoff explained that the Kings are adapting to a different defensive approach after years of playing another structure.
"Their goals-against is a team that defended really well last season. Darcy Kuemper was solid.
They were eighth last year in goals against. This year?
They’re 29th. Shots against from 11th to 24th.
That’s a huge problem.
This isn’t a team that scored a lot last year under Hiller – 25th in the league- and now they’re 26th, but they are supposed to be better and create more offense right now under Laviolette.
They’re supposed to defend better through the neutral zone, and that’s one of the problems. You make a big coaching change with structure changes.
A team is stifling through the neutral zone, playing a 1-3-1…Big difference.
They’re going to a 1-2-2, something they haven’t played in years, and it changes your structure." said Steve Peters, Daily Faceoff analyst.
Peters also highlighted concerns about the age of Los Angeles’ defensive group while noting that injured forwards could provide offensive support when they return.
The Kings entered the season with several changes to their lineup and coaching structure.
"Hopefully, it’s going to create more offense for this team, and hopefully they can break out. The biggest concern I have for this team is their back end.
They got four defensemen that are 33 years or older, and we know how quick this league is, how fast this league is, how you need to move the puck up the ice quickly.
I am concerned about the aging defense in L. A.
But the bright spot, Fiala’s out. That’s not a bright spot, and Zuccarello is out.
But it’ll be a bright spot when they have people coming back…Fiala and Mats Zuccarello will really add to this offense."
said Steve Peters, Daily Faceoff analyst.
At practice on October 8, Los Angeles also worked on improving areas identified after early games, according to LA Kings Insider.
Associate coach Phil Housley said the team used recovery time before returning to higher-intensity sessions at Toyota Sports Performance Center.
"I thought the Florida game was physical, 1-1, going into the third period and it was tight, they don’t give you a lot of space and the physicality part of the game.
I thought it was good that we just did a recovery day, get a good workout, get a sweat, a stretch, whatever you needed to do to get ready for Saturday and come back.
We had a good practice today, I thought there was good pace, we worked on some things that we’re trying to improve and areas that we’re trying to improve on.
Three days of practice is going to be pretty tough on the guys and you’re not only thinking now, you’re thinking February just to keep the guys fresh."
said Phil Housley, Kings associate coach.
Brandt Clarke also used additional ice time to work on his game after a difficult performance against Florida.
LA Kings Insider reported that Clarke focused on puck-related improvements during an individual session with assistant coach Chris Hajt.
"A good opportunity to just work on stuff I want to work on, it was productive day.
I wasn’t too thrilled with the way I played [against Florida] overall, so I was like, let me get out there and just do what I want to do, touch pucks, and feel good."
said Brandt Clarke, Kings defenseman.
Los Angeles faces early defensive issues after changing systems under Peter Laviolette, with goals against and shots allowed rising.
