The Los Angeles Kings released their 2025-26 regular-season schedule, and while every season brings anticipation, this one carries extra weight. Captain Anze Kopitar has announced that this will be his final year in the NHL, and the Kings’ slate feels like the perfect stage for a farewell tour filled with rivalry clashes, long road swings, and a late-season push on home ice.
Kopitar’s farewell season begins at home
The Kings open at Crypto.com Arena on Oct. 7 against Colorado, part of the NHL’s Opening Night tripleheader. One night later, Kopitar leads the team into Vegas for an early-season showdown with the Golden Knights. The back-to-back to open the year is fitting: Kopitar’s career has always been about grinding through challenges, and this season will be no different.
Key rivalry nights to circle
Several dates stand out as part of Kopitar’s farewell lap through the league:
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Oct. 31 vs Vancouver – Halloween hockey in LA, a date fans will pack the arena for.
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Jan. 16 vs Anaheim and Jan. 17 at Anaheim – A home-and-home back-to-back in the Freeway Faceoff. Few players have tormented the Ducks more than Kopitar.
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Feb. 5 at Vegas and Feb. 25 vs Vegas – Games before and after the Olympic break against the Golden Knights, division rivals that have defined the Kings’ recent battles.
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Apr. 11 vs Edmonton – Kopitar’s final regular-season clash with Connor McDavid and the Oilers, a matchup that’s become must-watch over the years.
The road grind and home-loaded finish
The Kings will be tested early, with eight of their first 11 games on the road. They’ll endure two six-game road trips, including one in November and another from late January into February.
But the schedule flips late. Beginning Feb. 25, the Kings play 15 of their final 25 games at home, including a seven-game homestand from March 28 through April 9. If Los Angeles is in the playoff mix, it means Kopitar’s final games at Crypto.com Arena could have massive stakes.
MORE: Lightning strike twice: Tampa Bay’s 2025-26 schedule brings outdoor game, heavy travel
The January gauntlet
January has haunted the Kings the last two seasons, and it won’t get easier in Kopitar’s finale. The team plays 16 games in 31 days, with heavy travel and minimal rest. For a veteran roster built around Kopitar, Drew Doughty, and Adrian Kempe, managing that stretch could define how competitive they’ll be in the spring.
Olympic break and tight calendar
The return of NHL players to the Winter Olympics creates a 20-day pause from Feb. 6–24. While several Kings, including Fiala and Kempe, are expected to skate for their countries, Kopitar’s break will mark one of the last long pauses of his NHL career. The condensed schedule also means 16 back-to-backs, the most for LA since 2021-22.
The last chapter
From opening night to what could be an April farewell against the Oilers, Kopitar’s final season is set against a schedule full of challenges, rivalries, and opportunities for drama. Every stop on the road and every night at Crypto.com Arena will feel a little different knowing the captain is suiting up one last time.
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