Alex Laferriere’s Versatility Could Shape the Kings’ Future Down the Middle

EL SEGUNDO, CA — The Los Angeles Kings made a quiet but meaningful move this week, re-signing forward Alex Laferriere to a three-year contract extension. While the deal doesn’t carry the headline shock of a blockbuster trade or marquee free agent signing the team sought in the early days of free agency, it speaks volumes about the organization’s belief in the 23-year-old’s upside and versatility. 

For a team balancing a veteran core with an emerging next generation, locking up Laferriere is more than just a depth signing. It’s about creating flexibility in a roster that has seen plenty of its up and coming forwards show ability to play wing and center.

Laferriere’s Journey and Impact

Drafted in the third round (83rd overall) in 2020, Laferriere arrived in Los Angeles as an intriguing prospect out of Harvard University. He was known for his high-energy style, relentless forechecking, and willingness to play in all three zones. His transition to the NHL has been defined by exactly those traits—he doesn’t take shifts off, plays with noticeable pace, and has the kind of competitive edge that coaches trust in high-leverage moments.

Echoing Alex Iafallo, Laferriere shocked both team and non-team personnel with his opening NHL camp and his first full NHL season, as he not only made the roster but quickly earned a reputation for reliability, versatility, and a knack for complementing more offensively gifted linemates. That would diminish down the stretch in his first season with Kings’ fan favorite Pierre Luc Dubois.

Laferriere has shown promise, potentially emerging as a high-end secondary scoring threat even after his second season on a potent line with Quinton Byfield and Kevin Fiala. He posted modest point totals (42 points), threatened to score 20 in his second season (19), while showing flashes of dominant responsible play (+22) to keep the door open for further growth.

Perhaps the most appealing part of Laferriere’s game is his ability to seamlessly shift between roles of winger and center. He can play up and down the lineup, handle tough defensive assignments, and, critically for the Kings, has the potential to take on minutes at center if needed.

The Center Question in Los Angeles

For years, the Kings have been spoiled down the middle. Anze Kopitar has been the franchise’s future Hall of Fame rock, combining Selke-level defense with offensive production. Phillip Danault has provided elite shutdown capability and secondary scoring. Behind them, the team envisioned a future with Byfield as the next top-line centerpiece and Alex Turcotte anchoring the middle six.

Hockey development is rarely linear, which can be said even about well thought out plans. For the Kings, Byfield has taken encouraging strides, but Turcotte’s journey has been marred by injuries and inconsistency. Once viewed as a sure bet to claim a full-time NHL center role, Turcotte has yet to cement himself in the lineup, despite showing signs of growth while getting top line wing time with Kopitar and Adrian Kempe last season. 

General Manager Ken Holland has projected Turcotte to anchor the fourth line this upcoming season, next to Joel Armia and Corey Perry. A brand new line never seen before in Los Angeles should be cause for excitement, though the ceiling of a line that might get max 10-13 minutes should dampen expectations. History is also against Turcotte here, with their higher-end prospects seemingly dying on the vine in the bottom six (Rasmus Kupari, Jared Anderson-Dolan, Arthur Kaliyev, and now Akil Thomas). 

The Kings could face a significant gap in their depth chart within the next two to three years if Turcotte cannot form into a low end 2C, Kopitar in his potential last year and Danault, despite defying expectations in LA, stepping closer to his mid-thirties.

That’s where Laferriere’s extension becomes more strategic than it appears at first glance.

Laferriere as a Center Option

While Laferriere has spent most of his NHL time on the wing, he has experience playing center at lower levels, including during his NCAA days. His defensive responsibility, hockey IQ, and skating make him a plausible option to transition back into the middle if the Kings need to fill a spot, either due to injury, roster reshuffling, or Turcotte’s up-and-down developmental journey.

As I asked Laferriere in his recent availability about the potential at center:

“I think for how I am as a player, I’ve always kind of prided myself on being someone who can be put anywhere in the lineup and try to do my best there… I think Jimmy trusts me in that role [at center]”

– Alex Laferriere Media Availability August 6th, 2025

For a player who rarely played center growing up, the move wouldn’t be without challenges, though to have an NHL coach (regardless in his first year as a benchboss in the league) trusting a player like Laferriere at center, speaks volumes. Center in the NHL is a demanding position, requiring more defensive reads, faceoff responsibilities, and the ability to facilitate offense from the middle of the ice. But Laferriere’s style, driven by anticipation, work ethic, and adaptability, suggests he could handle at least a hybrid role.

Even if he doesn’t become a full-time pivot, having him capable of spot duty at center provides Los Angeles with lineup flexibility. In the postseason, when injuries and matchup needs often force changes, that kind of utility can be the difference between stability and scrambling.

What If Turcotte Doesn’t Pan Out?

The Turcotte situation looms large over the Kings’ forward group. Drafted fifth overall in 2019, in a wave of great up and coming USHL players, Turcotte was projected to be a top-six, two-way center in the mold of Jonathan Toews, a player who could dominate at both ends of the ice and impose himself as a natural leader. Instead, injuries and developmental setbacks have limited his NHL exposure and slowed his progression.

If Turcotte can’t secure a consistent center role, the Kings have three options:

First, shift an existing winger to center. Laferriere should be the leading candidate here, given his profile. It wouldn’t be an ideal full-time solution, but it could work in specific scenarios. Kempe has played center, but is better weaponized on the wing.

Secondly, rely on other internal prospects. Though the pipeline, which includes some intriguing names, are not remotely surefire NHL-ready centers in the next year or two. This approach carries the most risk in the fallout of a once brimming with talent center pipeline.

Lastly, acquire a center via trade or free agency. This would be the most expensive option in both cap space and assets, especially for a contending team. 

It is important to note however, that the projected cap will continue to rise, with Kopitar coming off the books and Drew Doughty's AAV due to come back down to earth for his next contract. There could be some money to play with despite Kempe destined to be the next eight digit player on the Kings.

In this context, Laferriere’s three-year deal acts as insurance. If Turcotte emerges as a reliable middle-six center, Laferriere remains a valuable winger with the flexibility to move around. If Turcotte doesn’t, the Kings have at least one internal player capable of stepping in without completely overhauling the roster.

Cap and Contract Implications

From a financial perspective, the Laferriere extension is a low-risk, high-upside move. His cap hit remains manageable, giving the Kings room to maneuver as they navigate contracts for other young players and potentially add reinforcements. The three-year term also ensures cost certainty during a period when the roster may undergo significant changes.

For a team walking the line between “win now” and “develop for the future,” cost-controlled versatility is gold. Laferriere fits that bill perfectly.

Looking Ahead

The Kings are at an inflection point. The Kopitar-Doughty era is winding down, and the Byfield-Clarke generation is just beginning to take shape. In between sits a group of players like Laferriere, core upside but essentially bridge pieces who can connect the eras while carving out their own place in the team’s identity.

If Turcotte finally breaks through, the Kings will have enviable depth down the middle. If not, Laferriere’s adaptability could quietly become one of the organization’s most important assets if they cannot bolster their center corps with an external move.

Either way, this three-year deal isn’t just about locking up a promising young forward. It’s about keeping options open in a league where flexibility often dictates success.

Bottom Line

Laferriere’s extension is a savvy, strategic and forward-thinking move for the Kings. It ensures lineup stability, provides potential coverage at a critical position, and reinforces the team’s commitment to building around players who can adapt to whatever the future holds. For a franchise navigating the balance between legacy and next-generation talent, that might be exactly what they need.

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