When veteran forward Brooks Laich signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings in July 2017, fans and analysts expected a stabilizing depth piece. Instead, his brief tenure in Southern California turned into a quiet, swift conclusion to a respected 770-game NHL career. Rather than anchoring a third-line checking role, Laich found himself squeezed out by younger organizational depth, leading to an abrupt contract termination by late November.
Understanding Laich's brief stint requires looking past basic box scores. His arrival in Los Angeles marked a transitional phase for both the player and the franchise. He arrived as a respected former alternate captain for the Washington Capitals, carrying a reputation for elite leadership, locker-room presence, and penalty-killing reliability. Yet, the NHL game had accelerated past his physical capabilities by 2017, exposing the harsh realities of veteran roster management in a salary-cap era.
The Path to Los Angeles: How the Deal Came Together
Before arriving on the West Coast, Laich spent the twilight of his prime years navigating injuries and shifting roles. After more than a decade of stellar service in Washington, where he regularly recorded 20-goal seasons and secondary scoring, he experienced a tough transition to the Toronto Maple Leafs and subsequent stints that tested his endurance.
In the summer of 2017, general manager Dean Lombardi and the Kings' front office looked for cost-effective veteran grit to bolster a forward group needing bottom-six insurance. Laich signed a one-year, league-minimum contract, hoping to prove he still had plenty left in the tank. Training camp battles proved fierce, but Laich earned a spot on the opening night roster, bringing instant veteran experience to a squad trying to bounce back from a playoff miss.
Deployment, Role, and Performance on Ice
Laich's deployment with the Kings bore little resemblance to his heavy-minute deployment years with the Washington Capitals. Head coach John Stevens utilized him sparingly, primarily as a fourth-line center and occasional penalty killer.
- Limited Minutes: Laich averaged under ten minutes of ice time per night, a sharp decline from the 17 to 18 minutes he logged during his peak years.
- Offensive Drought: Across his 12 regular-season appearances in a Kings sweater, Laich registered zero goals and just one assist.
- Positional Squeeze: Younger call-ups from the American Hockey League's Ontario Reign pushed for regular roster spots, offering higher speed and dynamic energy that the aging veteran couldn't match.
Without secondary scoring or prominent special teams responsibilities, his value hinged entirely on defensive zone starts and faceoff reliability. While he competed hard, the offensive production vanished completely, lowering his utility to a club trying to keep pace in a fast Pacific Division.
The Mutual Termination and Roster Crunch
By November 2017, the writing was on the wall. The Kings needed roster flexibility to recall younger assets like Adrian Kempe and other rising prospects who fit Stevens's up-tempo system.
Rather than sending Laich through waivers down to the AHL's Ontario Reign—a tough demotion for a veteran of his stature—management worked out a mutual agreement. On November 27, 2017, the Kings placed him on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract. This graceful exit allowed Laich to evaluate his professional future without dragging out an awkward healthy-scratch status in Los Angeles.
Legacy and Post-Playing Career
Laich did not sign with another NHL franchise after leaving Southern California. He spent time reflecting on his options before officially announcing his retirement from professional hockey in June 2021. Though his 12 games in Los Angeles represent a minor footnote in franchise history, his broader legacy across the league remains defined by his durability, leadership, and community impact during his long tenure in Washington.
Today, former players often transition into coaching, media, or private enterprise. Laich has largely focused on personal ventures, fitness initiatives, and public advocacy for mental health and wellness. While his time as a King was brief and statistically quiet, it marked the final chapter of a hard-working prairie kid's impressive journey to the highest level of professional hockey.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many games did Brooks Laich play for the Los Angeles Kings?
Laich appeared in exactly 12 regular-season games for the Los Angeles Kings during the 2017-18 NHL season.
Did Brooks Laich score any goals with Los Angeles?
No. During his 12 games with the Kings, he recorded one assist and zero goals.
Why did Brooks Laich leave the Kings mid-season?
The Kings needed roster space for younger prospects, and with Laich's ice time and offensive production declining, both parties agreed to a mutual contract termination in November 2017.
What teams did Brooks Laich play for in his NHL career?
Throughout his career, Laich played for the Washington Capitals, Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings, and briefly started his journey within the Ottawa Senators organization.
