2026 Exit Interviews – Moore, Forsberg, Clarke, Dumoulin, Byfield, Laughton

With exit interviews for Kings players happening last week, continuing through the players here with a look at guys with a variety of different things to say.

Some positive, some negative, some individual, some team centric. Sharing takeaways below from six additional players – Trevor Moore, Anton Forsberg, Brandt Clarke, Brian Dumoulin, Quinton Byfield and Scott Laughton – from their end-of-season remarks.

The videos were posted on YouTube as one video, so each embed below is the same, just timestamped to the start of the conversation of the players mentioned. For those interested, you can watch every video at once in any of the embedded players below.

Trevor Moore & Anton Forsberg

Trevor Talking Scoring
Trevor Moore has been here. He’s been through the playoff disappointments before.

While he acknowledged that a first-round matchup with Colorado was always going to be a difficult one, he spoke at length about the team’s offensive struggles this season, which were the reason why the Kings had that matchup in the first place.

“It just felt like we just didn’t really get into a good rhythm offensively. Obviously, we scored not a ton of goals for the first half of the year and it’s a league right now where you have to be able to score goals and put pucks in the net. Finding our identity offensively, which we ended up finding later, we needed more of that throughout the year.”

Moore said that D.J. Smith made clear to the team that he didn’t feel they were playing hard enough offensively before the coaching change. Moore spoke about a renewed emphasis on hitting the net, getting to the net, bringing physicality and puck battles into the offensive zone as much as they were stressed defensively.

He also hesitated from using a coaching change as an excuse for the team’s play before that, taking ownership on the players for not finding that level sooner.

“I think that when a new coach comes in, you get that adrenaline and all that, but I’d hate to have that cop out where we needed a new coach earlier. That’s on us. We should have been able to, as players, rally earlier and change the course of our season without needing that outside influence.”

I think the style of play, specifically offensively, will be a massive talking point over the summer. Moore didn’t offer a ton on what he might want in a coach or a system next season, whether it’s Smith returning or not. But more goals, however they come, will have to be a part of it.

Use The Fors
For the first time in his career, Anton Forsberg got to be the guy.

He’s obviously started games in the NHL but Game 1 in Colorado was his first playoff game at any level since the Calder Cup Playoffs in the AHL in 2016. He had never appeared in a game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs until this series and it was earned, based on his play down the stretch.

“Yeah, it was my first experience of playing in the playoffs in the NHL, it was a lot of fun, it’s a lot of meaningful games going down the stretch. Good for the experience, good for the confidence, and I had a lot of fun with it.

Forsberg was among the biggest reasons why the Kings made the playoffs in the first place and his play, particularly in Games 1 and 2, was a huge reason why the Kings had a real chance at winning a game early in the series. He was good throughout and gave the team a chance.

Overall, he played quite well in his first season with the Kings.

He was asked about feeling the trust from D.J. Smith, who also coached him in Ottawa. He said he felt the trust all season long from the coaching staff, pointing to game he started versus playoff teams dating back even into October. He enjoyed the assignments, though, and will come back in the fall better for it.

“I felt like even when Jim was here, he was trusting me too, I was playing games. Yeah, I wasn’t in the same situation as the end of the season here, but I always felt like they trusted me. I got to play important games against the better teams, at the start of the season too. Obviously getting to play down the stretch was really exciting and gives you confidence. I had a history with DJ, I don’t know if that really mattered in that aspect but I enjoyed playing for him.”

Moore Thoughts
Moore has been here. He’s been through the playoff disappointments before.

Here’s his evaluation of this series, in response to a question about if he feels the Kings are close to being a contender –

“I hard for me to say, because obviously we got swept. I think that those games were close and maybe that’s loser talk, but I feel like in the first three games, we really had a chance to win all those games. Playing against the best team in the league and again, we didn’t win a game, but it felt like we could have. To answer your question, I don’t know. I don’t know what we’re at in terms of that, but I know we’re competitive, and that’s always a good thing.”

In a separate answer, he almost acknowledged that with the matchup against Colorado, the feeling going in was different. Against the Oilers, I think the Kings were always looking at the matchup as being the start of a playoff run, not just a series. Not sure if it had that same feeling this year. The Kings aren’t in a contending state as they stand right now, whereas last season. It’s a tough spot to be entering the offseason.

Brandt Clarke & Brian Dumoulin

Clarke’s Time
Brandt Clarke took some serious steps forward this season.

There’s still more to come. He was asked during his interview a few questions about what the next steps for him are. I thought he handled this one with a very detailed, honest and accurate answer, regarding if he feels it’s the right time for him to step into a top role on the blueline for the Kings.

“Yeah, I do, that’s what I want, that’s what I feel like I’ve been molded into trying to be since I got here. I think my two-way play has grown immensely. I give credit to them for being on me and showing me the way and I think they give credit to me for listening along and kind of doing what it takes to do that I think it’s a two-way street in that in that department. All I want to do is help the LA Kings win. If that means taking a bigger role and fitting in that role, that’s what I want to do. I don’t want to say, like, ‘it’s time’ or anything like that. It doesn’t really work like that. It’s just kind of who fits in the right spot, whenever it may be, and if they want to kind of entrust me with that spot, I’m honored to do that and I want that and I’m the kind of player that embraces that. I think we’ll just see what happens. Going into the summer, going into the mindset of that’s the job I want to take for sure.”

Clarke pushed back on the notion that he was at all being held back in certain areas. He doesn’t believe that is the case. He’s also immensely competitive and wants to take on more. The Kings need him to do so, but they also need to give him the opportunity to do so. While he was given substantially more this season, it wasn’t as much as it could be. He feels ready and with his age and development, the Kings have to see if he can handle that type of role next season. Only one way to find out and it’ll be interesting to see it he is afforded that opportunity.

bR(F)Andt
It’s also the first time we’ll see what free agency looks like for Clarke.

He’s a restricted free agent without offer-sheet capabilities, so there isn’t a ton of urgency here. But at the same time, Clarke is a key piece for the Kings and at least from his perspective, he is open to a long-term extension. There are multiple ways to look at it. You can save money up front with a short-term deal and put it on the player to earn more. Or, the two sides could agree to a long-term deal that has more money now, but possibly leaves money on the table later in his career.

Bottom line is, Clarke was adamant that he wants to stay. He said there have already been preliminary conversations regarding an extension, though he and the Kings both preferred to table those after the Olympic break, to put full focus towards pushing to make the playoffs. With the season now over, those can resume and likely will at some point.

“I want to be here, I love Los Angeles, I love my teammates, I love being in that locker room. That’s what I want. We’ll see what happens. In terms of the type of contract, I don’t really know. I think it all comes down to what they’re saying and I hope it comes to the point where it comes long term, I want to be here long term, I want to lock myself in and I want to be a part of this core. I think I’ve expressed that since I got to Los Angeles, I love being here and my mentality hasn’t changed over the years.”

AFP Analytics, a website that does contract projections based on performance, pegged a bridge deal for Clarke at around $5,000,000 per season and a long-term extension around $8,000,000. Not always accurate, but it’s a good depiction of a short-term contract versus a long-term contract.

It’s a good sign that Clarke is so eager to want to stay. Assuming the Kings feel the same way, it’s one that will feel good to get signed when the time comes.

The New Guys
Naturally, a big talking point this season was the performance of the Kings’ third defensive pairing, with Brian Dumoulin and Cody Ceci.

Here is Dumoulin’s assessment of that pairing this season –

“I thought me and Cec got better, definitely as the year got on. I think that was one thing where we’re learning each other’s games, we’re learning each other’s roles in the team, what they’re looking for in us, as a partner, as players, individually. When you come to a new team, you’re trying to find that yourself and that identity, where you’re going to fit in the lineup, what’s your role, how you’re going to play in those situations, whether there’s injuries and you step up into a different role. I think a lot of it was just trying to find the communication and what they were looking for from us. I thought, as the year went on, we realized that we’re going to take a lot more defensive draws and just try to be hard defensively and play in that role, then we started getting better as a pair.”

I do think there is something to the notion of putting two guys together, who are both new to the organization, as being tricky right off the start. However, the numbers would show that both players performed better apart than together, specifically in the case of Dumoulin, who had very different splits both on and off that pairing. Both players have term on their contracts, so you’d expect both to be back. Exploring some different combinations, perhaps even with Dumoulin and Clarke together, could be worthwhile going forward.

Quinton Byfield & Scott Laughton

Right on Q
It’s time for Quinton Byfield.

Has to be.

With Anze Kopitar now retired, Byfield is the only top-six center on the Kings roster. He has three consecutive seasons with 20+ goals, including a career-high 24 in 2025-26. He started to pour it on down the stretch and was arguably one of the biggest reasons the Kings overcame a six-point gap to reach the postseason. In the playoffs, while the Kings lost in four, Byfield was among the best players on the team in the series with Colorado.

Now, the Kings need players to step up, especially up front. Byfield is at the top of that list heading into next season.

“Kopi has meant so much to this organization and I was just able to learn a lot off of him, just through conversations, seeing his day to day and kind of just go with that approach. Obviously there’s more for myself, there’s more opportunity and I want to elevate myself.”

With that needs to come consistency, which has eluded Byfield over his time in the league thus far. Flashes of dominance show that it’s in there. But the flashes haven’t been long enough.

He understands that. Next season, it can’t be flashes from Byfield. It has to be there more regularly in order to take the next step, which the Kings will desperately need going forward.

“Yeah, I think for the last two or three years, there’s flashes and for myself, it’s just being consistent and being able to do that every night, not just at periods of time. So, for myself, just trying to maintain that throughout the whole season and play at the high level that I know I can play at.”

Great Scott
Scott Laughton really enjoyed his time in Los Angeles. That wasn’t new information, as he has been very open and up front about that. I asked him even just a few weeks into his time with the Kings if he would be open to re-signing and he said that he was.

Both Laughton and Kings wanted to focus on playoff qualification when he was acquired from Toronto at the trade deadline. So, as such, there haven’t really been any in-depth extension conversations to this point. However, from Laughton’s perspective, should there be a fit going forward, he would certainly be open to extending his time in Los Angeles.

“The interest level is high for me, for sure,” he said. “The opportunity I was given here, the guys here, the staff, the way I was treated, my family came down, which was awesome, and they absolutely loved it, so yeah, the interest level is high. Not the ending you want, but there’s guys in there that really care and I had a lot of fun in the two months I was here.”

The Kings need two centers this summer, in one form or another. Laughton is likely a 3C for this team going forward, so in some ways, it depends on how the Kings see their top-six shaping up, with Kevin Fiala returning and Anze Kopitar retiring. Laughton is universally loved by teammates and was a good fit in his short time with the Kings. The Kings need guys like that in the room, but obviously the priority is on-ice fit. One to keep an eye on and it was positive to hear Laughton speak as glowingly as he did about his time with the Kings.

Playing Through The Pain
What was interesting about Byfield’s rise in play is that he was operating at well below 100 percent as he did so.

“I tore my right oblique, in my abdomen and then after that kind of healed, in a month’s time, I did the same thing on the other side,” he said. “For like the last two months, it was one oblique and then the other. It was a battle.”

That’s a heck of an injury to play through and Byfield did so twice. For reference, Austin Reaves with the Los Angeles Lakers just missed over a month with an oblique injury. It’s quite painful. That Byfield was not only able to battle through it, but actually elevate his game despite it, says a lot about what he’s made of.

Byfield added that the injury will heal naturally, so there’s no need for a procedure or anything to correct it. He said he had injections and things of that nature to help manage the pain but he’s “heading in the right direction” now, heading into the summer.