Empire Classic Preview – Today’s Game Group + Laferriere Entering Year 3, Armia’s Preseason Debut, Broadcast Info

WHO: Los Angeles Kings (0-0) vs. Anaheim Ducks (0-0)
WHAT: 2025 Empire Classic, Preseason Game 1
WHEN: Sunday, September 21 @ 3:00 PM Pacific
WHERE: Toyota Arena – Ontario, CA
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: SLVR & LAKings.com – AUDIO – ESPN LA App & LA Kings App – TWITTER: @dooleylak & @lakings

*Per LA Kings PR, SLVR Sports and Entertainment on Samsung TV Plus channel 2328 available across Samsung devices or on Android devices through the Google Play Store.

TODAY’S MATCHUP: The Kings begin their 2025 exhibition schedule this afternoon, as they host the Anaheim Ducks at Toyota Arena in Ontario, CA, home of the Kings’ AHL affiliate.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: The Kings and Ducks square off today for the first of four preseason games over the next two weeks. The two teams will play four games in four different cities, including the preseason finale at Crypto.com Arena on October 4. Los Angeles and Anaheim will also play on Wednesday, September 24 at Honda Center in Anaheim and Saturday, September 27 at Dignity Health Arena in Bakersfield.

KINGS VITALS: The Kings will run with a pretty mixed lineup for today’s game versus the Ducks, including a healthy mix of veterans and young players.

Here is the expected game group for this afternoon’s tilt –

Forwards (12) – Alex Laferriere, Alex Turcotte, Akil Thomas, Jeff Malott, Joel Armia, Martin Chromiak, Andre Lee, Quinton Byfield, Glenn Gawdin, Liam Greentree, Samuel Helenius, Logan Brown

Defensemen (7) – Kyle Burroughs, Jacob Moverare, Jack Millar, Jakub Dvorak, Henry Brzustewicz, Jared Woolley, Brandt Clarke

Goaltenders (3) – Pheonix Copley, Carter George, Isaiah Saville

From that group, expect one defenseman to warm up but not play, with Saville likely coming along as an emergency goaltender option, should he be needed. How these names form into lines to follow later today!

DUCKS VITALS: Unclear exactly what the visitors will look like in today’s game, but like the Kings, expect a mix of veterans and younger players.

Per the Anaheim team account, here’s the Ducks camp roster –

Training Camp starts tomorrow!

Open to the public and free of charge.

@The_Rinks Great Park Ice
10 a.m.

Details: https://t.co/igmME51YAT#FlyTogether | #BYLTforthis pic.twitter.com/YvssayOs5r

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) September 17, 2025

From that group, the Ducks made eight transactions yesterday, reassigning the following players to their respective junior teams –

Emile Guite (Chicoutimi, QMJHL)
Maxim Masse (Chicoutimi, QMJHL)
Alexis Mathieu (Baie-Comeau, QMJHL)
Ethan Procyszyn (North Bay, OHL)
Noah Read (London, OHL)
Tarin Smith (Everett, WHL)
Brady Turko (Brandon, WHL)
Darels Uljanskis (Flint, OHL)

More on the lineup front to come.

Storyline Of The Day – InLAF Empire
It’s Year 3 for Alex Laferriere in Los Angeles.

And things are a little bit different.

Laferriere signed a new, three-year contract extension over the summer, carrying a salary-cap hit of more than $4 million per season, a hefty raise on his entry-level contract. With that comes new expectations, for a player who is no longer thought of as a young player but is now expected to produce as a veteran would, despite still being a relatively young player.

With that also comes his best chance at doing so. As has been discussed, the Kings have the same lines entering training camp as they finished last season with. Laferriere is slated to skate alongside Quinton Byfield and Kevin Fiala on a very exciting line for the Kings. That consistency has been helpful in getting up to speed early in camp.

“I think for me personally, I work better when I know my linemates and know where they’re going to be and their little tendencies and stuff like that,” he said. “It’s been really nice to have that break period and then still have a little chemistry in the back of your head and re-learn that pretty quickly once you come back. It’s been good and I’m happy with it.”

In his 2024-25 season, Laferriere started absolutely on fire. He scored 12 goals in his first 25 games played, helping to keep the team afloat as other scorers struggled. His goalscoring form didn’t continue, though, as he finished with 19 goals after a midseason slump.

19 goals, overall, is a good output for Laferriere in his second season in the NHL. And, despite the discrepancy in his goals, his overall play didn’t really waver. But he enters this season in search of more consistent production, which is a goal of his to help establish during training camp.

“I’m just trying to add a little bit of consistency,” he said. “I think my play has been pretty consistent over the couple years, but just little dips here and there. Just being able to eliminate those and kind of stay saying the same throughout the whole year.”

The Kings need players like Laferriere to take that step forward, to complement the external acquisitions they brought in. Consistency is a good word for what he’s looking to do. Laferriere seems to understand and embrace that. First step for him begins with his preseason debut today in Ontario.

3 To Watch For –
– 10 of the players expected to play today have played games both for the Kings and the Reign. Certainly a bit of an Ontario-infused lineup for this afternoon’s game.

Headlining the group is forward Quinton Byfield, who played in 59 career AHL games with Ontario from 2020-22. Byfield ranked fourth on the Kings this past season in goals (23) and points (54). While he’s still one of the youngest players on the team, he’s now got two 50+ point seasons under his belt and he’s set up with the most consistent and best setup of his career to take the next step.

Byfield and Laferriere will likely play on a line this afternoon in Ontario, as they are expected to at the start of the regular season. Joining that duo in today’s lineup are forward Alex Turcotte and defenseman Brandt Clarke, who are preparing to take steps forward of their own.

That’s the quartet making up the younger part of the Kings roster, a group that will be leading the group here today. Even last year, we referred to those guys as younger players. While they still are by age, none are now by experience. That’s the sign of what internal growth needs to look like for this team heading into the coming season. More on that front to come this week!

– One player not included in that group of Reign alums is forward Joel Armia, who we’ll see in a Kings jersey for the first time here this afternoon.

Armia was one of five players signed on July 1 with an NHL role clearly defined. Armia has skated with Alex Turcotte and Jeff Malott over the last few days but he’s a versatile forward who is capable of playing throughout the lineup, as required. Just ask the guys who played with him in Montreal, Phillip Danault and Joel Edmundson.

Danault on Armia – Big guy in front of the net, can finish too and for the size he is, he can skate well. He’ll get some highlights too, he can make some really nasty moves out there out of nowhere. I like adding a righty too, he’s a big add for us.

Edmundson on Armia –You’ll see it throughout some games where he’ll take over games, he’s got that, he’s got that ability, for sure, but he’s still responsible defensively. Also, he’s a guy who’s on the PK and just reliable 200 feet. He’s a good player, for sure.

Armia will be one of the most experienced player for the Kings in today’s game, and should feature in a larger role. Come Game 1, he’ll likely be a fixture on the penalty kill and play a prominent bottom-six role, as an addition brought to Los Angeles to deepen the team. First glimpse at what he has to offer this afternoon.

– Lastly, Insiders, sharing the full preseason broadcast schedule. Bookmark this page for the 2025-26 season as all changes will be implemented here.

2025-26 Broadcast Schedule HERE

Today’s game will be available on LAKings.com and SLVR, with links in the Game Thread coming up in a few hours. Also an audio stream on the ESPN LA App as well as the LA Kings App.

It’s the Kings and the Ducks from Toyota Arena in Ontario. 3 PM puck drop as the 2025 exhibition season gets underway!