The Los Angeles Kings open the regular season at Ball Arena against the Colorado Avalanche on Oct. 1, with both teams debuting key offseason additions and looking to set an early tone.
The Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche open the 2026-27 NHL season against each other on Oct. 1 at Ball Arena, a matchup that pits a Pacific Division contender against a Central Division favorite. Colorado enters as the top team in the Central, while Los Angeles sits fourth in the Pacific, and both sides used free agency to address specific needs. The Avalanche added veteran winger Jaden Schwartz, while the Kings brought in Erik Haula, Mats Zuccarello, and Corey Perry. With no preseason games yet played, this opener is the first true test for two rosters looking to prove their offseason moves were the right ones.
Los Angeles Kings: Veteran Infusion Aims to Boost Playoff Push
The Kings finished last season in the Pacific’s fourth spot and spent the summer adding proven depth. Erik Haula signed a two-year deal to anchor the middle six, and Scott Laughton was re-signed to a three-year extension, giving the team a rugged penalty-killing presence. Mats Zuccarello and Corey Perry each arrived on one-year deals, with Zuccarello’s playmaking and Perry’s net-front savvy expected to help a power play that struggled to find secondary scoring. Head coach Jim Hiller will have to integrate these new faces quickly, and the opener at Colorado is a stiff test for a team that needs early points in a tight division.
Colorado Avalanche: Schwartz Adds Cup Pedigree to Central Leader
The Avalanche enter as the Central Division’s top team, and they made one of the summer’s more intriguing signings by adding Jaden Schwartz on a three-year, $3.25 million AAV deal. The 34-year-old winger won a Stanley Cup with St. Louis in 2019 and brings a two-way game that should fit seamlessly into Colorado’s top nine. Meanwhile, the contract chatter around Cale Makar remains a storyline, as his next deal could reset the defenseman market following Bowen Byram’s $12.5 million AAV pact. The Avalanche’s offseason grades have been solid, but the real evaluation begins with this home opener against a structured Kings team.
Head-to-Head: New Faces, Early-Season Stakes
Both teams are essentially starting from scratch, with no preseason results to gauge form. The Kings’ edge lies in their added depth and penalty killing, while the Avalanche boast the higher-end talent, particularly on the blue line with Makar. Colorado’s home-ice advantage is significant, but Los Angeles has been a tough, disciplined opponent in recent years. The key battle will be whether the Kings’ new veterans can contain Colorado’s speed and whether the Avalanche’s revamped forward group can solve a Kings defense that prides itself on structure.
- Los Angeles Kings: 4th in Pacific, added Haula, Laughton, Zuccarello, Perry
- Colorado Avalanche: 1st in Central, signed Jaden Schwartz
- No preseason games played yet for either team
- Regular-season opener at Ball Arena
Prediction: Avalanche Take Opener in a Tight One
Expect a low-scoring, tightly contested game as both teams shake off rust. Colorado’s superior star power and home crowd give them the edge, but the Kings’ new-look depth should keep it close. Look for the Avalanche to prevail 3-2 in a game that could be decided by special teams.
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