Kopitar will retire after this season, closing a 20-year Kings chapter as a captain noted for defense and playmaking. He sits atop LA’s games played and assists while remaining 29 points shy of Marcel Dionne’s franchise mark, eyeing a final Cup chase in 2025-26. LA responded with veteran depth this summer to push for a title, signaling a push for June hockey while Kopitar maximizes his last run.

In fantasy terms, Kopitar’s farewell season likely preserves sturdy totals, but the shift in leadership and extra depth from Perry, Armia, Ceci and Dumoulin could lift several role players. With Kempe buoying production and the team aiming for a deep run, opportunistic late-round targets across the Kings’ lineup become more intriguing as the season unfolds.