Los Angeles Kings Add Joseph, Laughton Before March 7 Game
The Los Angeles Kings made two roster moves Friday, signing Maxim Joseph for the rest of the season and acquiring forward Scott Laughton from the Toronto Maple Leafs, per NHL.com. Both moves landed ahead of Saturday’s home game against the Montreal Canadiens on March 7, 2026.
The back-to-back additions give Los Angeles two new faces at a stretch when the club sits 25-22-14. Joseph is set to debut Saturday. Laughton’s availability for that game is still unclear heading into puck drop.
Where Do the Kings Stand Right Now?
At 25-22-14, the Kings enter Saturday’s contest in a tight spot in the Western Conference. Their opponent, Montreal, arrives at 33-18-10 after dropping a 6-5 shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday. That stumble gives Los Angeles a real shot at a home win to close out the week.
The Canadiens had played 61 games before this matchup, giving them a slight edge in games played over the Kings. That context matters when you weigh the salary cap cost of adding two forwards late in the year. Both Laughton and Joseph were brought in to push for wins now, not six months down the road.
The Kings held an optional skate Friday rather than a full practice, a common call before a back-to-back stretch or light travel day. That move signals the coaching staff trusts its veterans to stay sharp without heavy legs going into a home game.
Joseph is expected to dress against Montreal after signing with the Kings for the rest of the season on Friday. His deal closed in time to play Saturday, giving Los Angeles a fresh wing without the uncertainty hanging over Laughton’s status.
Signing a forward for the final months is a clean cap move. No draft picks change hands, and the team gets an immediate option to slot into the lineup. Late-season signings like this one typically fill a bottom-six or penalty kill spot, where coaches want depth and reliability over flash.
Joseph gets tested right away. Montreal carries one of the stronger records in the NHL at 33-18-10 despite Friday’s loss. That is not an easy debut opponent by any measure.
Scott Laughton’s Status Remains Up in the Air
Laughton was acquired from Toronto on Friday, but his debut with the Kings is not confirmed. NHL.com reported that his availability for Saturday’s game against Montreal is unclear, making his timeline one of the bigger storylines before tip-off.
Trades completed close to game time often leave players in limbo. Paperwork, travel, and physical logistics can all push a debut back by a day or more. No firm timeline has been confirmed for when Laughton will take the ice for Los Angeles, per the NHL.com preview.
If Laughton sits out Saturday, the Kings still have Joseph ready to go, so the forward depth question does not hinge entirely on the Toronto deal. The acquisition still adds punch for the upcoming five-contest road swing that opens Monday at Columbus.
Joseph signed with the Kings for the remainder of the 2025-26 season on Friday, March 6, and is expected to play Saturday against Montreal.
Laughton was acquired from Toronto in a trade Friday, though his debut date is not confirmed.
Quinton Byfield is listed as a game-time decision after missing two games; the center will travel with the club on the upcoming road swing.
That road swing opens Monday at the Columbus Blue Jackets, making this weekend’s roster calls critical for travel planning.
Montreal enters Saturday at 33-18-10 after a 6-5 shootout defeat to Anaheim on Friday, March 6.
The Road Trip and What Comes Next
The Kings open a five-game road swing Monday at Columbus, and the roster decisions made this weekend will shape how they line up for that stretch. Byfield traveling with the club despite missing two games is a strong signal the coaching staff expects him back soon, though no firm return date has been set.
This franchise has leaned on its depth forward group during long road swings before. Adding Laughton and Joseph before five straight road dates away from Crypto.com Arena tells you management wants real options at center and wing, not just a warm body on the fourth line.
Trading with Toronto for Laughton also signals where the Kings front office thinks the team stands. They are not punting on the season. Laughton brings NHL experience in high-pressure spots, and that kind of depth matters during a grueling stretch that shapes playoff positioning.
How coach Todd McLellan deploys the new pieces against Montreal’s power play Saturday will depend on which forwards clear the lineup in time. Based on the NHL.com preview, the Kings enter this stretch with genuine roster momentum, even if the standings do not yet reflect it fully.
When will Maxim Joseph make his Los Angeles Kings debut?
Maxim Joseph is expected to debut for the Kings on Saturday, March 7, 2026, against the Montreal Canadiens. He signed with Los Angeles for the rest of the 2025-26 season on Friday, March 6, per NHL.com.
Where did the Kings acquire Scott Laughton from?
The Kings acquired Scott Laughton in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday, March 6, 2026. Whether Laughton will dress for Saturday’s game against Montreal is uncertain, per NHL.com.
Is Quinton Byfield playing for the Kings this weekend?
Byfield is listed as a game-time decision after missing two games. He will travel with the Kings on their upcoming road trip, which opens Monday at the Columbus Blue Jackets, per NHL.com.
What is the Kings’ record in March 2026?
The Kings hold a 25-22-14 record entering their March 7, 2026 home game against Montreal, per NHL.com. They are competing for a Western Conference playoff spot.
What is Montreal’s record going into the March 7 game?
The Canadiens enter March 7 at 33-18-10 after a 6-5 shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday, March 6, per NHL.com.
