.jpg)
If you’ve spent any time staring at the Los Angeles Kings' books lately, you probably feel like you’re doing high-level calculus while someone screams "rebuild" in your ear. It’s messy. Between the massive legacy contracts and the kids finally asking for their real paychecks, the los angeles kings cap space situation for 2026 is basically a high-stakes game of Tetris.
Honestly, the Kings are in that awkward middle-child phase. They aren't the scrappy underdogs anymore, but they aren't exactly the powerhouse they were in 2014 either. They’re right up against the ceiling, and every dollar counts.
The Elephant in the Room: Drew Doughty and the $11 Million Question
Let’s just get this out of the way. Drew Doughty’s contract is a lot. At 36 years old, he’s still carrying an $11,000,000 cap hit through the 2026-27 season. Some fans love to complain about it, but you've gotta realize he’s still eating up nearly 30 minutes a night when healthy. That’s a lot of ice time to replace if you move him, which, let’s be real, isn't happening anyway.
The salary cap is projected to jump to around $95.5 million for this 2025-26 season. That sounds like a lot of breathing room, right? Not really. When you have one guy taking up over 11% of your total budget, your margin for error with the rest of the roster is paper-thin.
👉 See also: Ohio State Football All White Uniforms: Why the Icy Look Always Sparks a Debate
Why the 2026 Trade Deadline is Gonna Be Stressful
Rob Blake is in a weird spot. He’s already made some moves—like bringing in Andrei Kuzmenko and moving Phillip Danault to free up some space—but the team is still basically broke. As of mid-January 2026, the Kings are sitting on roughly... well, almost nothing. They are essentially $0 over/under the cap depending on the day and who is on IR.
When Anze Kopitar or Trevor Moore go on the shelf, it’s not just a blow to the lineup; it’s a logistical nightmare for the front office.
- Anze Kopitar ($7M): He’s the heart of the team, but he’s 38. His current deal runs through the end of this season. What happens next? Does he take a massive pay cut to stay, or do the Kings have to find $7 million worth of leadership elsewhere?
- The Byfield Factor ($6.25M): Quinton Byfield’s bridge deal was smart, but it’s a ticking clock. He’s becoming the face of the franchise, and when this deal ends in a couple of years, that $6.25M is going to look like a bargain compared to what he’ll ask for next.
Managing the los angeles kings cap space Like a Pro (Or Trying To)
The Kings are currently carrying about 26 guys on the active roster or IR. That’s a crowded house. To stay under the limit, they’ve been cycling guys like Cole Guttman and Andre Lee back and forth to Ontario. It’s the "AHL Shuttle," and it’s the only way they can afford to keep the lights on at Crypto.com Arena.
✨ Don't miss: Who Won the Golf Tournament This Weekend: Richard T. Lee and the 2026 Season Kickoff
The real problem is the middle class of the roster. You've got Kevin Fiala at $7.875M, which is fine because he produces. But then you’ve got Darcy Kuemper at $5.25M. Goalies are expensive, and if the save percentage isn't elite, that $5M starts to feel like a heavy anchor.
What Most People Get Wrong About the "Cap Ceiling"
People think the cap is a hard wall. It’s more like a bungee cord. You can stretch it with LTIR (Long-Term Injured Reserve), but eventually, it snaps back. The Kings have been relatively lucky with health this year, but that actually makes the los angeles kings cap space harder to manage because they don't have "hidden" money sitting on the sidelines.
If they want to be buyers at the 2026 deadline—maybe looking for a scoring winger like Alex Tuch from Buffalo—someone has to go. You can’t just add a $4.75M contract without sending a similar salary back the other way.
🔗 Read more: The Truth About the Memphis Grizzlies Record 2025: Why the Standings Don't Tell the Whole Story
The Youth Movement Is Saving Their Necks
Thank god for the ELCs (Entry-Level Contracts). Brandt Clarke at $863k and Samuel Helenius at $805k are the only reason this team functions. Without cheap, high-end labor, the Kings would be forced to dress a roster of 18 skaters just to stay legal.
Practical Next Steps for the Kings Front Office
If you’re Rob Blake, your to-do list for the next six months looks something like this:
- Decide on the Kopitar Extension: You need to know if he’s staying at a "hometown discount" (think $3-4M) or if you need to clear a massive hole for a new 1C.
- Scout the "Value" Market: The Kings can’t afford superstars right now. They need the next Trevor Moore—guys making $1M who play like they make $4M.
- The D-Man Logjam: With Doughty, Anderson, and Clarke taking up big spots, do you keep Joel Edmundson’s $3.85M on the books, or do you flip him for assets to free up space?
The los angeles kings cap space situation isn't a disaster, but it is a puzzle that requires a lot of patience. They’ve got about $25 million coming off the books in the next two years, but most of that is already earmarked for raises. It’s a cycle. You pay the legends, you pay the kids, and you pray the cap keeps rising fast enough to cover the difference.
Keep an eye on the waiver wire as we get closer to March. That’s where the real cap gymnastics will happen. If the Kings can navigate this winter without a major financial meltdown, they might actually have the flexibility to make a real run in the playoffs.