The Los Angeles Kings are rolling into the 2025 Stanely Cup Playoffs with confidence and a lineup that appears deeper and more potent than in recent years. After three straight playoff eliminations at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers, the Kings are hoping to reverse the trend—and they just might have the personnel to do it.
From breakthrough stars, elite goaltending, and veteran scoring depth, here are five bold predictions for the Kings as they enter the playoffs on a roll.
1. Darcy Kuemper Steals the Playoffs—and Excels
Picked up from Washington during the offseason, Darcy Kuemper has been under the radar as one of the NHL’s best goalies down the stretch with a .922 save percentage, the best he’s had in years.
His numbers right now have him as a top 5 goalie in the NHL, given how he’s been performing this season and the difference-maker he’s had in leading the King’s defense to be one of the best in the league.
Kings goals against in the last 15 Darcy Kuemper starts:
— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) April 11, 2025
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0
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1
2
1
2
0
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Kings fans already know Kuemper from his earlier stint with the club, but this version is harder, more exacting, and battle-tested. He backstopped the Colorado Avalanche to a Stanley Cup in 2022 and looks poised to do it again in L.A. if given the keys.
Bold prediction: Kuemper starts every playoff game for the Kings and leads the NHL in save percentage through the west playoffs.
2. Quinton Byfield Becomes a Playoff Star
This is the moment Quinton Byfield has been building toward. After a breakout regular season that included a six-game goal streak and playing heavy minutes in the last two seasons, the 2020 No. 2 overall pick looks ready for prime time.
Byfield's size, speed, and two-way maturity make him a playoff weapon. If he can elevate his offense to another level, he could be the X-factor that L.A. requires to get through a grueling Western Conference bracket.
Only the beginning 📈 pic.twitter.com/KI0wA1dr8Z
— x - LA Kings (@LAKings) April 11, 2025
Depth will be required to win playoff games and series, which could awaken Byfield to shine in the most significant moments the Kings will ask of him against the top-heavy teams in the Western Conference.
Bold prediction: Byfield leads the Kings in playoff points with 14+ points in the first two rounds.
3. Kevin Fiala Takes Over a Series
The Kings are built on depth, and Kevin Fiala is the engine of their secondary scoring. The Swiss winger has the skill set to take over a playoff series—especially if teams attempt to clamp down on the Kempe-Kopitar-Kuzmenko line.
CELLIES ALL AROUND pic.twitter.com/WSKnIMM8WU
— x - LA Kings (@LAKings) April 11, 2025
Fiala's playmaking, edge work, and power-play presence render him a nightmare in open ice. Fiala will likely be front and center if the Kings are involved in a high-scoring series (as they have with Edmonton in years prior).
Bold prediction: Fiala scores three game-winning goals throughout the Kings' playoff run and leads all of the Kings wings in assists.
4. Adrian Kempe Scores 10+ Goals
Year in and year out, Adrian Kempe proves he's among the most underappreciated snipers in the league. The Swedish winger enters the playoffs with a team-high 33 goals and has a knack for scoring in bunches. His elite shot, top-line usage, and power play time set him up to do severe damage.
Count it, that was 3 (‼️) power play goals last night!@JoshSchaeferPxP had your Calls of the Game on @ESPNLosAngeles presented by @GetSpectrum 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/x8FeKtj6VT
— x - LA Kings (@LAKings) April 11, 2025
In a long playoff run, Kempe can enter rarefied territory—double-digit goals in a single postseason.
Bold prediction: Kempe scores 10+ playoff goals and creates Conn Smythe chatter if the Kings make a deep run.
5. Kings Finally Dethrone the Oilers–and Make the Conference Finals
The narrative has hung over L.A. like a cloud: three straight playoff eliminations at the hands of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the Edmonton Oilers. But this Kings team is not the same. They're deeper on the back end, more experienced up front, and have elite goaltending for the first time in years.
If they draw the Oilers again, the Kings won't back down. With Kuemper in the net, a breakthrough from Byfield, and clutch goal-scoring from Fiala and Kempe, Los Angeles is built to go toe-to-toe with anyone in the West.
The LA Kings are 38-0-2 when scoring 3 goals or more. #GoKingsGo
— Jesse Cohen🌴All The Kings Men (@KingsMenPodcast) April 11, 2025
Bold prediction: The Kings beat the Oilers in six games and advance to their first Western Conference Final since 2014.
Final Thoughts
These 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs could be the start of something special for the Kings. Having a nice mix of veterans and young stars, elite-level goaltending, and a chip on their shoulder from their recent failures, Los Angeles is entering this playoffs with something to prove—and the roster to get it done.