It’s been hard enough for first-year draft picks to earn a preseason game in recent years, yet with the change to just four games, it’s become even more challenging in 2026.
Thus, it wasn’t that surprising Liam Lefebvre wasn’t part of the Kings lineup Saturday night, as the team kicked off their exhibition run in Ontario.
Selected in the second round this past June and standing 6-foot-3, Lefebvre was one of the most impressive players at Development Camp earlier this summer, then turned the spotlight up even brighter at the Rookie Faceoff tournament in San Jose. Game 1 there saw him take on a 7-foot-1 giant and more than hold his own, then he scored a pair of goals in Game 2.
Thoughts from Lefebvre on Fighting a Giant, Scoring Goals, and Being a Rising Kings Prospect
Reign coach Andrew Lord also took immediate notice of the 19-year-old forward last weekend, saying:
“Exciting [player]. I think you can see that one — you project that one a few years from now, I think you have a heck of a player. The size, some of the craft around the net, some of the small board plays, and then obviously the compete, he’s into it. We saw that, and then the fight’s awesome. But aside from that, just a lot of chippiness, a lot of second efforts, a lot of puck protection, a lot of net-front battles. Lots of good signs.”
In the coming days, his run in SoCal is likely coming to an end — for now.
Kings GM Ken Holland will be meeting with coach Peter Laviolette, and the first round of training cuts are believed to be imminent. Given that junior hockey’s 2026-27 regular-season games began a few days ago, Lefebvre — along with other prospects like Jan Chovan, Adam Goljer, and Giorgos Pantelas — will be heading back to their regular clubs pretty soon.
All such players are expected to skate at Kings camp on Monday, specifically in an afternoon scrimmage. Then, roster cuts will be made.
Before that happens, though, Lefebvre made sure to catch up with Mayor’s Manor and review how things have gone thus far.
On if there was anything specific he worked on improving while in LA for camp, especially after his performance at the Rookie Faceoff:
I think that first game was a little bit of a learning experience, playing with some older guys and stuff. But after that I was kind of able to adapt to the rhythm, and I thought I did pretty well after that. And then just coming here, continuing to learn from those older, experienced guys, kind of taking stuff away from their game and trying to implement that into mine. So just a big learning experience for sure.
On the mindset of knowing he’s going back to the QMJHL, yet still wanting to show well during training camp:
I just [wanted] to continually show I can play a 200-foot game, physical game, but also my offensive abilities — shoot the puck, make plays. So, kind of the whole nine yards.
On what it will mean to him when he does eventually get to play in a preseason game, and how that’s the natural evolution after first wearing a Kings jersey at the Rookie Faceoff:
I think that’d be a cool experience to get out there and have the jersey on for a more official game. So that’d be a great honor.
On Lord talking about the bonding experience that comes along with traveling out of SoCal for the Rookie Faceoff event, and if he felt the group came together over those four days in San Jose:
Definitely. Whenever you’re spending three, four days with the same guys, you’re for sure gonna connect a little bit more. And I felt like in those second and third games, you kind of really felt that bond a little bit more. The talk in the locker room was good, the pregame and everything, and I feel like that kind of gelled on the ice after that. So definitely building a little chemistry there.
On if there were any memorable comments or suggestions from Lord throughout camp:
I think a lot of the little details that he was honest about — for me specifically, just when I get back to the bench, the little things, he’s harping on those. And I think that’s good for a young guy like me to learn from a guy who’s been in the pros. So definitely enjoyed that experience with him.
On one area of his game we should be tracking while watching him in Cape Breton (QMJHL) this season:
I think the skating, definitely. This past year I’ve worked on that a lot, especially this past summer — that was kind of the main thing when I was talking to teams and stuff leading up to the Draft. So, I’ll continue to work on that.
ed. note: Cape Breton have already played their first two games of the season. The team’s next contests are scheduled on back-to-back nights this coming Friday and Saturday. We’re assuming Lefebvre will get into at least one of those. We’ll have to see if he skates in both. Either way, he’s expected to be a major factor in the Eagles offensive attack this year, as they’re ranked among the favorites to challenge for the QMJHL championship.
Lead photo by Megan Sanders
MORE LA KINGS NEWS:
High-End Prospect Liam Lefebvre Researched Coach Before Joining Kings for Rookie Faceoff
LA Kings Select Liam Lefebvre No. 46 – What You Need to Know
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