The Calgary Flames have a cautionary tale to heed in the Los Angeles Kings, a team that squandered a promising rebuild through hasty decisions and costly trades. When the Kings selected Quinton Byfield second overall in the 2020 NHL entry draft, they appeared poised to return to Stanley Cup contention. However, their journey serves as a stark warning for any franchise aiming to accelerate its path to success.
The Kings' Downward Spiral
After winning the Stanley Cup in 2013-14, the Kings endured a prolonged decline, missing the playoffs in five of the next seven seasons. Their lowest points came in 2018-19 and 2019-20, when they finished 30th and 28th in the league, respectively. These bottom-out years yielded high draft picks, including Alex Turcotte, Tobias Bjornfot, Arthur Kaliyev, Jordan Spence, Brock Faber, Alex Laferriere, and Byfield. The following year, they added Brandt Clarke at eighth overall, building a formidable prospect pipeline in just three drafts.
A Return to the Playoffs
The Kings eventually clawed back into playoff contention, but their dreams of championship glory have faded. Since returning to the postseason, they have suffered five consecutive first-round exits, including a 20th-place finish in 2025-26 that saw them limp into a wild-card spot only to be swept by the Colorado Avalanche. The question remains: where did Los Angeles go wrong?
A Rushed Rebuild Process
With high-profile prospects like Turcotte and Byfield, the Kings attempted to fast-track their rebuild. In 2021, they traded picks for Brendan Lemieux and Viktor Arvidsson. At the 2021 draft, they started with seven selections but aggressively traded up in the second and third rounds, netting Samuel Helenius and Kirill Kirsanov while shrinking their total picks to just four—a low number for a team that finished 25th overall.
The following offseason, they dealt Brock Faber for established winger Kevin Fiala, signing him to a seven-year, $7.875 million annual contract. While Fiala has been productive, Faber quickly became a top-pairing defenseman for the Minnesota Wild at a much lower cost. The Kings doubled down in 2023 with the disastrous trade for Pierre-Luc Dubois, sending Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari, and a 2024 second-round pick to the Winnipeg Jets. Dubois managed just 40 points in 82 games before being moved as a cap dump to the Washington Capitals—the first major sign of a derailed rebuild.
More recently, they acquired 35-year-old Artemi Panarin for Liam Greentree, their top prospect, further draining a system now devoid of high-end futures. Panarin remains a star but is expensive and aging, and his addition failed to push the team over the top.
Retaining Key Veterans
A key factor in the Kings' missteps was their reluctance to trade franchise legends Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty. Despite the team's struggles, both players remained on the roster, creating pressure to compete immediately rather than allowing the rebuild to mature naturally. This tension between honoring veterans and building for the future ultimately led to a series of shortsighted moves.
The Flames, currently navigating their own rebuild, would be wise to learn from Los Angeles's mistakes. Rushing the process, trading away prospects for short-term gains, and holding onto aging stars can derail even the most promising futures. Patience and a long-term vision remain the surest path to sustained success.
