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5 L.A. Kings Who Won't Return Next Season

After a disappointing playoff elimination at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers, don't expect to see these five Los Angeles Kings returning for the 2024-25 NHL season.

By Devon Platana

Viktor Arvidsson is one King who might not return for the 2024-25 NHL season.
Viktor Arvidsson is one King who might not return for the 2024-25 NHL season. / Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports
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2. Cam Talbot, G

There was a point early on in the regular season where Cam Talbot looked like one of the league's better goaltenders. After an abysmal campaign with the Ottawa Senators, Talbot looked like in, playing to a 14-8-3 record with a .925 save percentage, 2.10 goals-against average, and two shutouts in his first 25 appearances.

But much to the Kings' dismay, Talbot couldn't maintain his stellar play. The 11-year veteran netminder's play began to fall off a cliff beginning in January, resulting in his going 13-12-3 with a .903 SV%, 2.88 GAA, and one shutout in his final 29 games, finishing 13 of those outings with a sub-.900 SV%.

What's worse is that the postseason's arrival couldn't help Talbot to step up his game. He allowed a whopping 16 goals with a .861SV% in the first three games of the Kings-Oilers series, eventually getting replaced by David Rittich for the remainder of the battle.

Winning a Stanley Cup requires a reliable goalie and the Kings know that from Jonathan Quick's time with the franchise. With that in mind, I can't imagine Talbot continuing his career in Los Angeles next season, so expect him to leave as a UFA this summer.

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