Kings to kick off preseason Sept. 23 in Utah

Normally, a preseason schedule doesn’t provide much in the way of intrigue or novelty, but the Kings’ exhibition slate for the upcoming campaign may offer an exception.

Not one game will be played at the under-renovation Crypto.com Arena, though, like last year, two will unfold in another country. Even the Kings’ annual “Frozen Fury” showcase underwent enough abrupt changes that it was technically canceled and converted into a standard exhibition match.

The Kings’ competition will open Sept. 23 in Utah, where they were initially expected to face the Vegas Golden Knights as part of Frozen Fury. But as happened with Las Vegas, the prior site of Frozen Fury, the city went from hosting a solitary NHL exhibition game to having an NHL franchise. The Kings will now face Salt Lake City’s Utah HC, the artists formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes, who should have a new name, mascot and branding next season when Utah Jazz and Utah HC owner Ryan Smith’s group gets that all sorted.

Since Kings preseason games have been harbingers of expansion and relocation, fans in Quebec might start laundering their Nordiques jerseys and saving up for season-ticket deposits. The Kings will play two preseason clashes at Quebec City’s Videotron center as their final tuneups when they face the Boston Bruins on Oct. 3 and the Florida Panthers on Oct. 5.

That’ll bring Kings executives Luc Robitaille and Marc Bergevin to their home province, which is decidedly nearer by than last year’s big excursion. The Kings played spring hockey in the fall by traveling to Australia in 2023.

They will also head to Vegas on Sept. 25 to face the Golden Knights in addition to a pair of meetings with the Ducks. The first will take place Sept. 28 at Ontario’s Toyota Arena for the Empire Classic, with a rematch two days later at Honda Center.