Kings aim to finalize roster in preseason showdown against Ducks

The Los Angeles Kings travel to Anaheim on Wednesday evening for the third preseason game of the 2026 NHL schedule, meeting the Ducks at the Honda Center at 7:00 p.m. Pacific time. The contest follows a previous four-game preseason series between the clubs in 2025, in which the Kings won three meetings.

Both teams are expected to field lineups that blend veterans with younger prospects. The Kings will feature forwards Joel Armia, Erik Haula, Alex Laferriere and Alex Turcotte, as well as defensemen Drew Doughty and Brian Dumoulin, who have not yet appeared in the preseason. Goaltender Anton Forsberg is slated for his second start.

Anaheim’s projected roster includes former Kings forward Jeff Malott and defenseman Pavel Mintyukov, who recently signed an extension with the Ducks. The club is also likely to give additional ice time to younger players as it prepares for a full-lineup game on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena.

The game is viewed as a pivotal evaluation opportunity for players on the roster bubble. "I’m trying to do my best out there and show the staff what I’m about," forward Andre Lee said, emphasizing the importance of the camp. Rookie forward Jared Wright described his early experience as "nerve-wracking" but expressed confidence after his first preseason appearance.

Erik Haula, who signed a two-year contract on July 1, is expected to make his Kings debut and could see top-six minutes. He noted that the team’s style is "fast-paced, demanding" and that success will depend on making the right reads in the neutral zone.

Veteran defenseman Drew Doughty, who has not played in the opening two exhibition games, is anticipated to wear the captain’s "C" for the first time this season in Anaheim. The Kings hope the matchup will help solidify line combinations ahead of the final preseason contest on Saturday.