Alex Hutton
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Writer/broadcaster. @LoyolaMarymount ‘21, @MedillSchool ‘22. Current: @ladailynews, @SportingTrib. Former: @mymoinfo, @argonautnews, @NUonBTN (and more)
Articles by Alex Hutton
Kings' offense and Kuemper step up against Capitals for first win of season
Kings' offense and Kuemper step up against Capitals for first win of season Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe (9) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Washington Capitals during the first period at Capital One Arena. Entering Tuesday's road game against the Washington Capitals, the Los Angeles Kings needed to break out of two bad streaks: opening the season with six straight losses, and going four straight games scoring exactly one goal.
Kings' disparity in special teams makes difference in loss to Panthers
In the Los Angeles Kings' first home game of the season on Tuesday night, their penalty kill made its presence felt at Crypto.com Arena, but their power play didn't. While the Kings held the Florida Panthers to an 0-for-6 night on the power play, their own man advantage went 0-for-5 in a 2-1 loss. The penalty kill was a clear step in the right direction.
UCLA prepares for ranked matchup with Oregon after bye week
During a UCLA football team meeting on Sunday, head coach Bob Chesney showed his players the Bruins' No. 21 ranking in the Associated Press (AP) poll and followed it up with a simple message. “If you pay attention to this number, it will go away,” he said.
Kings open new season with previous playoff foe Original
While the first two games of that series were close, the final two were less so, and the Kings in total were outscored 13-5 over the course of the series. After winning the Presidents’ Trophy last season, the Avalanche return the vast majority of the core players from that team, including stars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, and expect to be Stanley Cup contenders once again.
Kings preseason notebook: young forwards and power play finding footing Original
The Los Angeles Kings lost to the Utah Mammoth 6-3 on Tuesday night in their second of four preseason games and the first of two at Crypto.com Arena. Here are a couple of the major takeaways from the contest. While the Kings did dress a handful of their established players in this game, the best individual plays came from up-and-coming skaters.
Drew Doughty fulfilling longtime desire as new Kings captain
On April 29, 2026, during exit interviews for the Los Angeles Kings' 2025-26 season, defenseman Drew Doughty discussed the possibility of being named the team's next captain following Anze Kopitar's retirement. He made his feelings on the matter very clear. “I would love to be captain of this team,” he said. “When I was younger, it was something I never thought of, and I kind of grew into a leadership role and now it's something I cherish.
San Diego State's offense can't match defense's performance in loss to UCLA Original
PASADENA -- San Diego State’s defense did practically everything they could to keep the Aztecs in the game against UCLA. They just needed the offense to come along for the ride. “Inefficiency on offense led to a bunch of snaps for the defense,” head coach Sean Lewis said. “Starting three and out there constantly, we were behind in the field position game. So I think just the culmination of snaps, the inefficiency on offense.
Kings practice ahead of Rookie Faceoff
Kings practice ahead of Rookie Faceoff Los Angeles Kings prospect gather at center ice during practice at Toyota Sports Performance Center on Friday, September 11, 2026. EL SEGUNDO -- The Los Angeles Kings held a practice in preparation for the 2026 Rookie Faceoff today at Toyota Sports Performance Center. The Rookie Faceoff is an annual event held every year before the start of the season for some of the top prospects on certain teams, and one of many such events held throughout the NHL.
Newbury Park’s passing game leads the way in rout of Thousand Oaks
THOUSAND OAKS — From the moment the ball was snapped, Thursday night’s football rivalry game between Newbury Park and Thousand Oaks belonged to the visiting Panthers. Newbury Park quarterback Aiden Tasci connected with wide receiver Darrien Johnson for an 80-yard touchdown on the game’s first play from scrimmage, setting the tone for a dominant win, 50-0. Newbury Park, which scored all of its points in the first half, improved to 2-2, while Thousand Oaks fell to 1-3.
Harvard-Westlake football defeats Venice to start the season 3-0 Original
STUDIO CITY — Maybe Harvard-Westlake’s Ellis Robinson is taking some inspiration from the team’s head coach Dameon Porter. Robinson, a wide receiver and cornerback, had a receiving touchdown, an interception and several other big plays as Harvard-Westlake defeated Venice 22-10 in a nonleague football game Thursday night. With the victory, the Wolverines (3-0) equaled their win total from last season while Venice dropped to 1-2.
UCLA's Cal transfers prepared for season opener against former team
UCLA's Cal transfers prepared for season opener against former team UCLA running back Jaivian Thomas (21) takes a handoff during practice on Friday, Aug. 7, 2026 in Los Angeles. As soon as the UCLA football team's 2026 schedule came out, Jaivian Thomas circled week 1 on his calendar. The Bruins' first game against Cal stood out like no other. For the senior running back, a Bay Area native and Cal transfer, opening the season in Berkeley means a little more.
Martin Jarmond dismissed as UCLA athletic director, Tim Harris to serve as interim Original
UCLA has dismissed athletic director Martin Jarmond, according to multiple reports. In a message to the university, chancellor Julio Frenk cited the program’s significant financial deficit as a key reason for the move. “UCLA Athletics currently carries a significant financial deficit, and its current path is not sustainable,” Frenk wrote.
UCLA gains clarification on Trent Hendrick's eligibility Original
Less than three days after the Bruins signed linebacker and reigning Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year Trent Hendrick, a new set of policies from the Big Ten confirms that he is currently able to play.
Success goes beyond game results for UCLA football
At UCLA’s own Media Day on Wednesday, various Bruins coaches and players shared their own thoughts on this philosophy and how to translate it into the best season possible. “The process leads to wins and losses,” defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler said. “I think that mentality, that brand that we’re talking about, that fight for every inch, as long as you’re doing that, if the scoreboard comes up with a loss, doesn’t mean that you didn’t win the game from how you prepared and how you played.
Success goes beyond game results for UCLA football
Success goes beyond game results for UCLA football UCLA players and coaches celebrate a successful drill during practice on Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, in Los Angeles. LOS ANGELES - In his time as UCLA's head football coach, Bob Chesney has made it clear that he doesn't just define success by wins and losses. "Success looks like a united disciplined group that continues to grow every moment that they have," he said during Big Ten Media Day on July 29.
UCLA's starting offense beginning to take shape Original
As soon as he announced his return to UCLA for his redshirt junior season, Iamaleava left very little drama for the Bruins’ starting quarterback competition. He was the team’s biggest offensive bright spot, throwing for nearly 2,000 yards and 13 touchdowns while also leading the team with 505 rushing yards. Chesney has spoken positively about Iamaleava throughout their time together in Westwood, and this continued after Monday’s practice.
Kings sign Brandt Clarke to 5-year extension
The Los Angeles Kings have signed defenseman Brandt Clarke to a five-year contract extension with an average annual value (AAV) of $7.4 million. Clarke was entering this offseason as a restricted free agent, but now leaves the market. The deal keeps Clarke under contract to the Kings through the 2030-31 season, when he will become an unrestricted free agent unless he receives another extension. The 23-year-old blueliner just completed his fourth season and second full season in Los Angeles.
Kings hiring Peter Laviolette as head coach
The Los Angeles Kings have hired Peter Laviolette to be their next head coach, according to multiple reports. The agreement is for three years. Laviolette, 61, most recently served as an NHL head coach in the 2024-25 season. He has 23 seasons of NHL head coaching experience across six different franchises: the New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals and New York Rangers.
San Jose Sharks at the NHL Combine – So, Who’s Coming to Dinner? Original
With the 2026 NHL Entry Draft less than a month away, the San Jose Sharks continue to work to determine who they should select with the second overall pick. While dinners between teams and prospects at the Draft Combine don’t give the full story of who a team is targeting, they do offer some angles to examine and an opportunity to dive deeper into certain players. At this year’s combine, the Sharks reportedly had dinner with six attendees, and publicly revealed four of them.
4 Teams Under the Most Pressure at the 2026 NHL Draft
The NHL Draft is important for every team, but it’s not equally important for all of them. Certain franchises in particular, thanks to their results this season or the past few seasons, need to nail their picks to avoid tumbling down the standings or repeating their past mistakes. Let’s take a look at the organizations under the most pressure to have a successful draft a few weeks from now in Buffalo. The Edmonton Oilers are at a crossroads.
Collin Graf May Be an Integral Piece of the Sharks’ Future Original
It’s probably too early to say that San Jose Sharks forward Collin Graf is one of the NHL’s most underrated players, but it is fair to say that his importance to the team is significantly undervalued throughout the league. While his name has been thrown around in certain trade rumors, he plays a much bigger role for the Sharks than those trade proposals suggest.
Sharks Prospect Filip Bystedt Entering Make-or-Break Offseason Original
In the NHL, long-term prospects often find their roles change well before they reach the highest level. San Jose Sharks center prospect Filip Bystedt is experiencing that phenomenon right now. When he was drafted, he had a high placement within the team’s prospect pool. Since then, the circumstances around him have changed significantly. He’s now trying to figure out exactly where he fits in at the NHL level, and this offseason will be his best — and possibly last — chance to prove he belongs there.
Sharks Need to Name Macklin Celebrini Captain Original
What’s been obvious in theory for a while now has to be put into reality. Macklin Celebrini needs to be the captain of the San Jose Sharks by the start of the 2026-27 season. In the first two seasons of his career, Celebrini has proven exactly why he’s worthy of the title. He’s commanding the respect a captain should have, and the Sharks can firmly establish the next chapter of franchise history by giving him the role.
Sharks’ Forward and Defense Prospects in Very Different Places Original
As the San Jose Sharks prepare for an upcoming season in which they have genuine hope for the playoffs for the first time in years, they’ll need to make some crucial personnel decisions. This obviously impacts players throughout the organization, but perhaps none more than San Jose’s prospects trying to establish roles as NHL players. They have this offseason to prove themselves, at which point the Sharks will solidify a large portion of their roster.
Sharks Have Several Good Choices With 2nd Pick at 2026 NHL Draft
Stenberg is so good that he remains a dark-horse candidate to be the top pick, even though the general consensus remains with McKenna. But assuming the Maple Leafs’ decision breaks as expected, the Sharks will have a lot of reasons to take Stenberg. Yes, defenseman is a greater need for them than forward, but they might have an easier time signing or trading for already-developed blueliners than drafting and trying to develop one themselves.
Sharks Have Several Good Choices With 2nd Pick at 2026 NHL Draft
It feels like we were just here last year. Though under very different circumstances, the San Jose Sharks have earned the second overall pick at the NHL Entry Draft for the second straight season. Despite the new context, this year’s draft has one thing in common with last year’s for the Sharks — they’ll have a few different options for what to do with the second pick, and no clear best choice.
Tomas Galvas — 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Profile
2025-26 Team: Bílí Tygři Liberec (Czechia) Date of Birth: Feb.
On the career of Anze Kopitar Original
Both of those moments were rare occurrences, but for Kopitar, they shouldn’t be surprising. He commands a unique level of respect, not only for the NHL but for the sports world in general. This season marked my first year covering the Los Angeles Kings, and in Kopitar’s final season, nothing about him stood out to me more than that. He’s treated with a certain reverence throughout the league. Players and coaches hold his play, his personality and his leadership in tremendous esteem.
Holland disappointed by Kings' season, but focused on retooling
Alex Hutton In his opening remarks at Friday's end-of-season media availability, Los Angeles Kings general manager Ken Holland made clear his disappointment with the team's regression and playoff result. “As I sit here today, I'm not happy,” he said. “I know [team president] Luc Robitaille is not happy. Our players aren't happy. It was a disappointing season. It was a disappointing season for our fans.
Holland disappointed by Kings' season, but focused on retooling Original
“As I sit here today, I’m not happy,” he said. “I know [team president] Luc Robitaille is not happy. Our players aren’t happy. It was a disappointing season. It was a disappointing season for our fans. Under .500 at home, 29th in the league in goals scored, squeaked into the playoffs, got swept out by a Presidents’-Trophy-winning [Colorado Avalanche] team. So I’m not happy.” “I think there’s only six teams in the league that have made the playoffs five years in a row,” he said.
Tempers flare, competition intensifies in UCLA's final spring practice
UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava drops back to pass during spring practice on Thursday, April 30, 2026. LOS ANGELES — UCLA running back Anthony Woods took a handoff and ran through a crowded Bruins frontline before being wrapped up by defensive back Kuron Jabari Jr. during a live drill in Thursday’s practice. After both players refused to let the play go, a scuffle ensued between the two, prompting running back Jaivian Thomas to run off the sideline and get involved.
3 Overachieving & 2 Underachieving Sharks From the 2025-26 Season Original
In the 2025-26 season, the San Jose Sharks exceeded expectations thanks to a handful of players who had far better seasons than anticipated. At the same time, they fell just short of the playoffs in part due to certain players not quite providing what the team had hoped for or expected of them this season. Let’s take a look at a handful of players who fell on either side of that line, and how they told the story of the Sharks’ campaign.
Kings exit interview notebook: left searching for answers
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Immediately after the Los Angeles Kings’ fifth straight season with a first-round playoff exit, this time via a sweep by the Colorado Avalanche, Drew Doughty didn’t have any answers. “Obviously, we want more and want to win a playoff series or two, and I don’t have any answers as to why it’s not happening,” he said. “But we gotta make it happen.” At Wednesday’s exit interviews, after a few days to reflect, he still hadn’t found much more. “I don’t know,” he said.
Liam Ruck — 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Profile
2025-26 Team: Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) Date of Birth: Feb.
Kings face unfamiliar offseason after familiar playoff exit Original
The fact that the introduction and conclusion of the Kings’ season line up almost identically feels like a symbol of where the team stands as a whole. Their most notable numbers were not good: 22 regulation wins, fewest of any playoff team, and an NHL-record 20 overtime and shootout losses.
Kings in danger of being swept after third straight loss to Avalanche
The Los Angeles Kings are learning in real time just how hard it can be to beat the Colorado Avalanche this season. After playing arguably their two best periods of the series to open the game, the Kings struggled with puck possession and pace control in the third period, ultimately suffering a 4-2 loss. Unable to get a much-needed win for momentum in the series, they instead find themselves in a 3-0 series deficit against the Presidents’ Trophy winners.
2 Position Groups the Sharks Need to Improve This Offseason Original
After narrowly missing the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the San Jose Sharks are shifting their attention to the offseason and making the necessary moves to return to the postseason. The good news is that after this season, they have clear areas to focus on improving. They need to bolster their defense, and they would benefit from upgrading their bottom-six wingers as well. If they can add the right players at those two positions, they’ll be able to take a major leap next season.
Kings' narrow loss to Avalanche places them in 2-0 series deficit
The Los Angeles Kings got 34 saves from Anton Forsberg. They blocked 26 shots. They watched Mikey Anderson almost singlehandedly shut down a 3-on-1 rush. They got a lucky bounce, leading Artemi Panarin to score a goal. It still wasn’t enough to stop them from going down 2-0 in the series.
UCLA battling against letup in middle of spring practices
After a high-energy first spring practice on Thursday, April 2, UCLA head coach Bob Chesney was honest about his team’s level of enthusiasm. “It’s day one, so you expect that,” he said. “It’s like everybody talks about, what about day five, six, seven, eight, you know? Right in the middle of that. You get to nine, 10, 11, you’re on the other side of it. I want every day, [we] keep doing this.” Two weeks later, those concerns have manifested themselves.
Sharks’ Season Shows Significant Improvement Despite Missing Playoffs
Although they remained in contention for longer than anyone expected, the San Jose Sharks were officially eliminated from the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday. Despite that, their 2025-26 campaign was an undeniable success. The Sharks improved by more than 30 points in the standings from last season and showed positive development from several key players. Before the start of this season, I noted that the Sharks needed to prove their rebuild was making progress.
Kings fail to move up in standings with loss to Canucks
Alex Hutton With the playoffs clinched, the last two games for the Los Angeles Kings are about positioning in the postseason. Tonight's game may prove to be a missed opportunity. Although the Kings got the majority of chances in the contest, they snapped a five-game winning streak with a 4-3 overtime loss to the last-place Vancouver Canucks. It is their NHL-leading 20th overtime loss of the season. The loss is made more painful by other results around the league tonight.
Kings fail to move up in standings with loss to Canucks
With the playoffs clinched, the last two games for the Los Angeles Kings are about positioning in the postseason. Tonight’s game may prove to be a missed opportunity. Although the Kings got the majority of chances in the contest, they snapped a five-game winning streak with a 4-3 overtime loss to the last-place Vancouver Canucks. It is their NHL-leading 20th overtime loss of the season. The loss is made more painful by other results around the league tonight.
UCLA players embracing competitive spring practices
When UCLA running back Jaivian Thomas crossed the goal line during a live period at Saturday’s full-pad practice, the whole offensive unit celebrated as if they’d scored a touchdown in an actual game. In a later live period, they protested a questionable call from a practice referee with nearly the same level of vigor. After the defense recovered a fumble in the same sequence, they got their own opportunity to bring some energy.
Kempe's two-goal night puts Kings back in playoff position
Alex Hutton Going up against the NHL's last-place team, the Los Angeles Kings needed to win, not only to move into playoff position but to prove they could take care of business. They checked both boxes. Led by two goals from Adrian Kempe, the Kings defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-1, a win which, combined with other results around the league tonight, put Los Angeles back in the Western Conference's second wild-card spot. “I have a lot of respect for Vancouver,” Kempe said.
Juho Piiparinen — 2026 NHL Draft Prospect Profile
2025-26 Team: Tappara (Liiga) Date of Birth: Aug.
Kempe's two-goal night puts Kings back in playoff position
Going up against the NHL’s last-place team, the Los Angeles Kings needed to win, not only to move into playoff position but to prove they could take care of business. They checked both boxes. Led by two goals from Adrian Kempe, the Kings defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-1, a win which, combined with other results around the league tonight, put Los Angeles back in the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot. “I have a lot of respect for Vancouver,” Kempe said.
Kings' Anze Kopitar nominated for Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
Alex Hutton Los Angeles Kings center and captain Anze Kopitar will be the team's nominee for the 2026 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, the Los Angeles chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA) announced this morning. Kopitar is in his 20th and final season in the NHL, all with the Kings, making him the only player to play that many seasons in Los Angeles.
Kings' Anze Kopitar nominated for Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
Los Angeles Kings center and captain Anze Kopitar will be the team’s nominee for the 2026 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, the Los Angeles chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA) announced this morning. Kopitar is in his 20th and final season in the NHL, all with the Kings, making him the only player to play that many seasons in Los Angeles.
UCLA practice takeaways: Chesney's involvement, women's basketball inspiration, Iamaleava's influence
The UCLA football team held its third spring practice of the 2026 season today. Here are three major takeaways from the day's events. Bob Chesney in on Drills Football head coaches rarely get as involved in individual drills as Bob Chesney does. Throughout UCLA’s first few spring practices, Chesney has constantly placed himself in the middle of the action, yelling and getting in faces with as much intensity as the players themselves.
Where the Sharks Stand in the Western Conference Wild Card Spot Battle Original
For the first time since 2019, the San Jose Sharks are in contention for a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs late in the season. While the possibility of such a young upstart team making the postseason is exciting, they still have a lot of work to do to get in. The race for the final Western Conference wild card spot is incredibly tight, and as many as six teams could have a reasonable shot at claiming it.
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