Top 10 Questions: 2026 LA Kings Training Camp – Who will be the next Captain of the LA Kings?
With the retiremnt of Anže Kopitar the Kings are about to enter training camp for the 2026-27 season without their Captain for the first time in a decade.
Kopitar was announced as the Captain of the LA Kings in June of 2016. Dustin Brown had previously served as Captain for eight seasons having been named Captain in October of 2008.
Brown was named Captain at the end of training camp meaning the Kings haven’t entered a training camp without a designated Captain in 18 years. Who replaces Anže Kopitar is one of, if not THE, biggest story heading into training camp for the LA Kings this season so let’s take a look at the candidates to replace him.
THE OBVIOUS CHOICE – DREW DOUGHTY
In any other season Drew Doughty would be the de facto option to replace Anže Kopitar. Doughty was drafted second overall by the Kings in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and has played his entire career in a Kings uniform.
Doughty is the franchise leader among defensemen in games played, points, assists and goals in both the regular season and the playoffs. He has represented the Kings at the NHL All-Star Game five times (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), he is only the second LA Kings player to win the Norris Trophy, he’s an Olympic Gold Medalist and a two time Stanley Cup Champion. Doughty was also an alternate captain for the full ten year run with Kopitar as Captain.
In addition to his resume, Doughty is also the only player to publicly express a specific desire to serve as captain, mentioning it at the 2026 Exit Interviews with the media at Toyota Sports Performance Center in April.
The ONLY reason this isn’t a done deal is that Doughty is in the final year of his contract and LA Kings GM publicly stated that the team and Doughty had agreed that no extension would be discussed this summer meaning Doughty enters the season scheduled to become an Unrestricted Free Agent July 1st, 2027. Given his contract status, age and resume, Doughty’s future with the club remains uncertain tho he has publicly expressed an interest in finishing his career in Los Angeles.
Would new Head Coach Peter Laviolette name Drew Doughty as his Captain without knowing how long he would be with the organization? Here are the leading candidates if the organization goes a different route.
THE RUNNERS UP – ADRIAN KEMPE
Adrian Kempe signed an eight year extension with the Kings in November of 2025. The 2014 first round pick has played his entire career in a Kings uniform and is the franchise leader in scoring since the 2020-21 season (371 points). Kempe’s contract makes him the player commited to the franchise for the longest amount of time and makes him the third highest paid player behind Drew Doughty and Artemi Panarin. Kempe currently ranks 11th all time in games played and 12th all time in scoring for the LA Kings franchise.
Kempe was also directly asked about interest in serving as Captain. He referenced the leadership group already in place including Drew Doughty but did not advocate for the job the way Doughty did.
THE RUNNERS UP – MIKEY ANDERSON
The leadership qualities of Mikey Anderson have been mentioned since the day he was drafted by the Kings in the 4th round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Anderson was named Captain of the US Team at the 2019 World Junior Championship.
Photo: Joel Marklund
Mikey Anderson has also worn a letter for the Kings for the past two season and is under contract until the summer of 2031 having signed an eight year extension in 2023. Anderson was also directly questioned about his interest/willingness to serve as Captain if called upon.
Anderson also mentioned the strength of the leadership group mentioning Doughty and Kempe by name.
WILD CARD OPTION – QUINTON BYFIELD
Byfield has yet to wear a letter in the NHL but lead all forwards in ice time last season with over 1,580 minutes played. Drafted second overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Byfield is expected to increase his role on the team on and off the ice. Byfield was named as an Alternate Captain for the Sudbury Wolves in January of 2020.
CAPTAIN TRIVIA
Thirteen different players have served as Captain of the LA Kings with Rob Blake serving twice and Wayne Gretzky being temporarily replace by Luc Robitaille due to injuries in the 1992-93 season. Of those thirteen players, six have been defensemen. Rob Blake, Mattias Norstrom, Dave Lewis, Larry Cahan and the first Captain Bob Wall back in 1967.
Would the Kings name a seventh defensemen as Captain or go with another forward?
Who would YOU choose?
