5 LA Kings Milestones to Keep an Eye on This Season

The 2026-27 season is still in its early stages, but there are already several career milestones worth watching for the Los Angeles Kings. With veterans such as Drew Doughty, Artemi Panarin, and Adrian Kempe assuming important roles this season, it is worth observing several notable milestones.

Kuemper Close to 500 Games

Darcy Kuemper is approaching a significant career milestone, as the Kings goaltender closes in on 500 NHL games played. He entered the Oct. 29 game against the Ottawa Senators with 497 career appearances, putting him just three games away from the mark. Reaching 500 would be another notable achievement for the veteran netminder. I’d expect him to suit up for his 500th game before December.

Kempe Reaching 500 Points Soon

After leading Los Angeles with 73 points last season, Kempe is closing in on a major career milestone. He currently has 482 career points, putting him just 18 points away from reaching the 500-point mark. The Swede has become one of the Kings’ most reliable offensive players, as he consistently contributes as both a goal scorer and playmaker.

Reaching 500 points would be another accomplishment in his development and a reflection of the impact he has made since joining Los Angeles. With the regular season still underway, it will be worth watching how quickly he reaches the mark.

Panarin’s 1,000 Career Points Milestone

Panarin is quickly reaching one of the biggest milestones of his NHL career. The Russian forward currently has 965 career regular-season points, putting him 35 points away from reaching 1,000. Since entering the professional league in the 2015-16 season, Panarin has established himself as one of the league‘s most productive players, consistently setting his teammates up and creating scoring opportunities. His ability to produce both goals and assists has made him a valuable asset to the Kings’ offense. Reaching 1,000 career points would be a major accomplishment and another milestone to watch as he continues his first full season with Los Angeles.

Doughty Soon to Reach 1,300 Games

Captain Doughty will reach a notable accomplishment in his career as he closes in on 1,300 regular-season games played. The defenseman entered the 2026-27 campaign with 1,279 career appearances and has since added 10 more. He is now just 11 games away from becoming the 22nd defenseman in NHL history to reach the 1,300-game mark.

Not just one milestone but there’s a second one, as well. With 1,289 games played in a Los Angeles Kings jersey, he is seven appearances away from tying Dustin Brown’s 1,296 games for second on the franchise’s all-time list. Former Kings captain Anze Kopitar holds the franchise record with 1,521 games, but Doughty has an opportunity to move past Brown and further cement himself in Kings history.

Byfield to Close On 100 Career Goals

Byfield is also approaching an important personal milestone, as the young forward works toward 100 career NHL goals. He currently sits at 76, leaving him 24 away from reaching the mark. The Canadian has continued to develop into an important part of the Kings’ forward group, taking on more responsibility after the retirement of Kopitar. He recorded a career-high 24 goals during the 2025-26 season, showing his ability to provide more offense as his role continues to grow. At 24 years old, Byfield still has plenty of room to develop, and reaching 100 career goals would be another significant step in his progress.

Tune In!

That’s not all, Kings fans. I’ll throw in one more important milestone and that will be Kopitar’s No.11 retirement and the reveal of a bronze statue, honoring one of the greatest players in franchise history. The ceremony will take place Feb.24, 2027 at Crypto.com Arena before the Kings take on the Montreal Canadiens. It’s a special moment you won’t want to miss!

There you have it, five major career milestones to keep an eye on for Los Angeles during the regular season. From players approaching major career milestones to franchise history being made, there are several noteworthy accomplishments worth following. Be sure to tune in and keep an eye on these achievements as the season unfolds!