Los Angeles Kings 2025-26 report card: Grading Taylor Ward's season

Los Angeles Kings forward Taylor Ward spent the first half of this past season playing for the affiliate Ontario Reign in the AHL.

Ward was called up from the Reign in the second half of this past regular season, getting an opportunity to prove what he can do in live-game action for the Kings. And he never looked back after getting recalled from the Reign down the stretch this past season.

He mostly played on the fourth line for the Kings in the three dozen games he played in 2025-26.

Taylor Ward's performance for the Los Angeles Kings in the 2025-26 season

In the 2025-26 season, Ward scored three goals, four assists, and seven total points in 36 games played. He also suited up for one postseason game for the Kings in the first round vs. the Colorado Avalanche.

Ward has literally been able to make an immediate impact with the Kings offensively in each of the last two regular seasons. He scored his first career goal in the NHL in the 2024-25 season in the one and only game he played for the Kings in that campaign.

And in the season's first month he played for the Kings this past regular season after he was recalled from the Reign, Ward registered multiple goals and four total points. Both of the goals he scored in the first month he played for the Kings resulted in consecutive wins for Los Angeles on the road.

Ward was a very effective two-way winger for the Kings who brought speed and energy on both sides of the ice. He ranked among the Kings' top five forwards in this past regular season in blocked shots and hits per 60 minutes.

He was also a confident player in all three zones for the Kings. Ward played with a physical edge and wasn't afraid to get involved in those tough puck battles on the boards.

In the offensive zone, Ward wasn't afraid to pull the trigger with the puck on his stick. Despite averaging under 10 minutes in average ice time per game, Ward still registered 38 shots on goal and 99 total shot attempts.

He registered a dozen goals, nine assists, and 21 total points in 32 games played with the Reign in the AHL this past season. While that scoring pace didn't fully translate to Los Angeles, Ward's production with the Reign suggests that there could still be more offensive upside as he gets more run at the NHL level.

Ward's offensive production wasn't enough to establish him beyond a bottom-six role with the Kings this past regular season. But his ability to contribute seven points and multiple goals in limited minutes while providing speed, physicality, and energy in all three zones made his first extended NHL opportunity a successful one.

Considering he began this past season in Ontario and finished it up as a legitimate NHL roster option, Ward made meaningful strides in his development.

2025-26 Season Grade: B

What to expect from Taylor Ward moving forward with the Los Angeles Kings in the 2026-27 season?

For his efforts this past season with the Kings' fourth line, Ward received a two-year contract extension with the team that lasts through the end of the 2027-28 season. That will put Ward in a position to compete for a roster spot on opening night this fall in training camp and the preseason.

Some of the departures in the middle and bottom-six forward lines this offseason for the Kings could theoretically open up opportunities for Ward to earn more playing time this upcoming season in training camp and the preseason. Ward specifically will battle for the role vacated in the bottom-six by the departure of now-former Kings' winger Jeff Malott.

He'll have a similar opportunity to win more minutes with the fourth-line forward group as forwards Jared Wright and Andre Lee, among others.

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This article was originally published on rinkroyalty.com as Los Angeles Kings 2025-26 Report Card: Grading Taylor Ward's season.