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Kings Look to Prove Their Worth

Oct 29

Posted by EB in News | No Comments

Jonathan Quick, net-minder for the Los Angeles Kings has topped the charts for fantasy goalies. Going 6-0-1 in his first 7 starts, his play could be an early indicator of the Kings success this year.

Tonight, the Kings will face the Phoenix Coyotes in a division showdown. The Coyotes are off to a rough start, 4-3-2 in 9 games so far, look to build upon their recent win over the New Jersey Devils. With Ray Whitney, Keith Yandle and Captain Shane Doan leading the team, it is only a matter of time before the Coyotes fight for first place within the division. Factor in a new netminder Mike Smith, after Ilya Bryzgalov went to the Philadelphia flyers (3-4-1 and a 3.44 goals against average this season), and the team is definitely hungry.

The Kings come into this season with a lot to prove after an early exit last year in the playoffs. This was largely in part to the injury to Captain Anze Kopitar. This season, Kopitar looks to have recovered from his broken ankle, as he is tearing it up with 4 goals, 8 assists and a plus 5 overall rating. Furthermore, new addition Mike Richards has 1 goal and 8 helpers so far. Richards had 23 goals last season and 31 the season before that, fans are just waiting for the dam to break.

You cannot speak about the Kings without mentioning defensman Drew Doughty. Doughty had a rough start to the season, holding out for more money then now having an upper-body injury. Tonight he is expected to suit back up against the Coyotes, and hopefully tries to prove he is indeed worth his contract.

The season is young, still too early to see who really has what it takes this year to go all the way. Still, the Kings are looking really good early on. Once all the puzzle pieces start coming together, it will be interesting to see if any team in the Pacific division stands a chance.

 

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2011-12 NHL Season Preview: Los Angeles Kings

Sep 17

Posted by Matt in Season Previews | No Comments

Los Angeles Kings Goalie Jonathan Quick

Can Jonathan Quick lead the L.A. Kings back to the playoffs in 2011-12?

Key Offseason Additions: Mike Richards, Simon Gagne, Ethan Moreau

Key Offseason Losses: Alexei Ponikarovsky, Michal Handzus, Ryan Smyth, Wayne Simmons, Brayden Schenn

Last Season Ranking: 7th in the West

Offense: The Los Angeles Kings are lead by Anze Kopitar, who saw a slight drop in production last season after picking up a career high 81 points in 2009-10. He finished last season on the IR after breaking his ankle during the end of March, and consequently missed the Kings playoff series again San Jose. Kopitar is an immensely talented player and I’ve said before that he could break the 100 point mark. While I could continue to say “this is the year,” it seems more likely that Kopitar will top off in the 80-90 point range this season to lead the team once again.

The biggest change in L.A. this year is the addition of Mike Richards, who was once an 80 point player himself. While he has struggled the past two seasons to hit that level again, playing alongside a few new faces should help the cause. Alongside Richards, the Kings also picked up Simon Gagne and Ethan Moreau via free agency, and added Dustin Penner via trade late last season. Gagne and Penner will be counted on to be big scoring threats on the top two lines, each having produced a career-high 79 and 63 points, respectively. Moreau, on the other hand, will be a solid depth player contributing about 20 points if he remains healthy.

The newly acquired talent will hopefully not get overshadowed by the loss of depth over the summer. Alexei Ponikarovsky, Michal Handzus, and Ryan Smyth all went to play elsewhere, while Wayne Simmonds and highy regarded prospect, Brayden Schenn, were sent to Philadelphia in the Richards trade. Kings captain, Dustin Brown, will have to show his leadership qualities in rallying the squad together, and pick up a few extra points, to help make up for any losses.

Of the offensive players not mentioned above, expect Justin Williams to increase his output next season. If he remains healthy, a season total above the 60 point mark will not be a stretch. Beyond that, the Kings will roll along with a solid threat of depth players such as Jarret Stoll, Brad Richardson, Kyle Clifford, and Trevor Lewis.

Defense: The Kings solid defense continues to be held up by Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson. Doughty, at the time of writing, is still a restricted free agent, and awaits a long term deal from Kings management. The deal will come, and Doughty will be back on the ice proving his worth every shift. His production dipped a bit last season, but without contract negotiations to worry about, hockey can be the number one focus. Skating on the blue line with Doughty will be Jack Johnson. While Johnson managed to record a career-high 42 points last season, he also finished with a career-low plus/minus at -21. The number one focus for Johnson this season will be turning that number around and getting into the positives.

Also included on the defensive depth chart are Willie Mitchell, Rob Scuderi, Matt Greene and Alec Martinez. Mitchell and Scuderi, the veterans of the group, will be counted on to help continue development of the Kings younger defenseman.

Goaltending: Back in net this season for the Kings is Jonathan Quick, who continued his strong play last season. A third round draft pick by the Kings in 2005, Quick posted career-bests in shutouts, save percentage, and goals against average last season. Look for the young netminder to to hover around those numbers again this season, while starting around 60 games. Serving in the back-up role will be Jonathan Bernier. He’ll serve as a solid number two and give Quick some rest on occasion, keeping him fresh for the final stretch of the season.

HWB Playoff Prediction: Playoff Bound. The Kings lost a few pieces to their puzzle, but picked up some healthy scorers as well. The additions will be enough to overcome what they lost, and the Kings make a return to the playoffs. The strong play of Kopitar, Quick, and the free agent signings, however, will be imperative to their success.

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Shea Weber arbitration could have league-wide ramifications

Aug 2

Posted by Chris in News, Soap Box | 7 Comments

Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber could be the first restricted free agent this offseason to go all the way to arbitration after months of negotiations between Weber and the Predators have yielded no results in terms of a contract extension for next season – and after.

Weber, whose arbitration hearing was scheduled for this morning, was rumored to be seeking roughly $8 million a season. However, Nashville reportedly wants to lock up Weber long-term for $4.5 million a season – a ludicrously low salary if indeed that rumor has any factual merit. However, Nashville certainly could be looking to retain Weber with a long-term front-loaded contract that could keep his cap hit relatively low, but for a team with one of the lowest payrolls in the NHL, it appears as if the Predators would like to retain their top talent for as low as possible – something highly unlikely if negotiations proceed to arbitration.

Dion Phaneuf of the Toronto Maple Leafs will make $6.5 million this season. Both Phaneuf and Weber share similarities in their size and punishing style of play, but Weber, who is a year younger, is a better defenseman and was even nominated for the Norris Trophy last season as the league’s best defenseman. Phaneuf was nominated for the Norris in 2007-08. Weber’s camp will likely cite some of these similarities during the arbitration hearing to convince the arbitrator that Weber deserves at least $6.5 million a season, and likely more.

The problem is that there aren’t many contracts for solid, young defenders to compare to. In fact, Weber’s arbitration award could set the curve for other young restricted free agent defenders such as Zach Bogosian of the Winnipeg Jets and Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings. In fact, there has been speculation that negotiations between Doughty and the Kings have been so slow because both sides are waiting to see what kind of deal Weber gets and use that deal as a starting point for negotiations.

Going to arbitration could have ill effects on the relationship between Weber and the Predators as well. If rumors are true that Nashville was trying to secure Weber for $4.5 million a season, Weber could see that as a sign that the team isn’t willing to spend to retain their top talent and build a winner, giving Weber incentive to leave when his arbitration awarded deal ends and he can become an unrestricted free agent. With Weber’s size and shot, surely any team would be happy to give Weber what he deserves in a heartbeat.

Since Nashville opted to initiate the arbitration, they are required to submit to the arbitrator’s award no matter what the outcome, as opposed to player-requested arbitrations where a team can choose to walk away from the award if they don’t agree with the amount and allow the player to become a free agent. This makes it hard to believe that Nashville would low-ball Weber with $4.5 million a season knowing he will likely recieve $6 million per season or more through arbitration, lending credence to rumors that perhaps Weber was looking for a higher salary, shorter term deal that would allow him to test the market as an unrestrtced free agent in a couple of years.

Regardless the outcome, Weber’s arbitration hearing today could have drastic ramifications both for Nashville and Weber, but also throughout the league as other teams will look to use his salary award as precedent for signing their players. And take note – Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne and defenseman Ryan Suter will also be watching this scenario unfold very closely as both are set to become unrestricted free agents next season. If Nashville isn’t willing to spend the money on Weber, a proverbial tent-pole of the team, then why would they be willing to spend on Suter and Rinne? Both could opt for greener pastures when their time comes.

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Mike Modano Retire?

Jul 16

Posted by EB in News, Rumors | 2 Comments

If Modano retires, life won't be so bad spending time with wife Willa Ford.

With the free agency pool depleted of all the big names, with the exceptions of both Steven Stamkos and Drew Doughty, it is easy to miss the remaining crop of players. Once such player is that of veteran Mike Modano, who, will be faced with a decision to retire or not.

Modano, who is currently 41 years of age, broke into the NHL in the ’80-’90 season with the Minnesota North Stars. His impact on the team was immediately felt.  Playing 80 games, Modano posted 29 goals and 46 assists for an impressive 75 point season. Today, the veteran has accumulated 561 goals and 813 assists in 1,499 games played. His production holds the record for most goals (561) and most points (1,374) by an American-born player in NHL history. In the ’98 – ’99 season, Modano lead the Dallas Stars to their first ever Stanley Cup Championship, the only to his name currently.

Last season Modano played for the Detroit Red Wings, his first non Minnesota North Stars/ Dallas Stars team. In 40 games played, he totaled an unimpressive 15 points. Fans would credit the low production to a string of bad luck. Modano suffered a cut tendon in his wrist from the skate of Columbus Blue Jacket’s R.J. Umberger. Ultimately needing surgey, Modano’s injury sidelined him for 41 games.

The bad luck seemed to continue after returning to the ice as Red Wing’s Head Coach Mike Babcock scratched Modano on multiple occasions to rotate younger, grittier players into the lineup. Ultimately, Modano was such a last resort that at one point in the playoffs, Babcock opted go with a injured Johan Franzen who could barely skate, instead of a healthy Modano. For many, the writing was on the wall for the veteran player.

The critics would say the fairytale ending with the Dallas Stars is over, his legacy slightly damaged this past season. Perhaps it is time to hang up the skates, acknowledge his best years are behind him, and begin a respectable after career-career in the front office of the Dallas Stars organization.

The fans would point out he will not be the workhorse of yesteryear, but put him on the third line and give him some powerplay time, Modano will surely produce 30 points in an injury free season.

Modano is expected to make a decision within the next few weeks if he plans to come back for another season as a player. It seems unlikely that the Detroit Red Wings will sign him, but other teams would most likely express interest in the still, very talented player.

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Kings stay competitive despite Kopitar loss

Apr 19

Posted by Chris in Soap Box | No Comments

Drew DoughtyWhen it was announced that Anze Kopitar would miss the rest of the regular season and the playoffs after sustaining a broken ankle with only a handful of games left in the regular season, a collective sigh went out through the Los Angeles Kings’ organization.

The Kings are a team that has fought diligently to build a winner. They lost out on Dany Heatley two years ago. They lost the Ilya Kovalchuck sweepstakes last summer. Still, the Kings persevere and grow stronger each passing year with the core group of talent that they have. And then Kopitar, the team’s leading scorer, goes down on a seemingly harmless play. But the Kings aren’t lamenting the loss. In fact, they are calling on unlikely heroes to step up and take Kopitar’s place and show why the team, as a whole, belongs in the postseason.

Defense has been key in this series so far for the Kings. The team’s defense has thus far managed to stymie San Jose’s top scorers while providing offense of their own. Drew Doughty has been stellar on the blue line for the Kings. In only his third full NHL season, the 21-year-old defenseman has gobbled up ice time by averaging over 27 minutes a night in two postseason games. He also leads the team in points with two goals and two assists against the Sharks. Fellow defenseman Jack Johnson is also helping to carry the load with a goal and an assist in the first two games of the opening round while averaging around 22 minutes of ice time each night.

Justin Williams has been a pleasant surprise for the Kings this year. After several injury-plagued seasons, Williams managed to stay relatively healthy this year playing in 73 games. More importantly, Williams showed his offensive upside by chipping in 57 points during the regular season. In the playoffs, Williams already has a goal and an assist, but he has also fired off a team-leading seven shots on goal while averaging just less than 20 minutes of ice time a night. Williams is a key asset to the offense and his play will help determine the course of this series.

Perhaps the most vital component for the Kings this offseason, however, is goaltender Jonathan Quick. In two playoff games, Quick has one shutout and leads all postseason goaltenders with a .962 save percentage. A goalie has the ability to make or break a series in some cases and Quick will need to deliver a great performance every night if Los Angeles intends to upset the Sharks.

Kopitar’s injury was a brutal blow to the Kings, but they have managed to stay incredibly competitive without their leading scorer. The Kings took a close overtime loss to the Sharks in Game 1 of the series and responded with a 4-0 shutout in Game 2. With Game 3 on the docket tonight, a victory at home could swing a huge amount of momentum toward the Kings and potentially move them from postseason pushover to Western Conference underdog.

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Hockey World Blog Season Previews 2010: Los Angeles Kings

Sep 16

Posted by Matt in Season Previews | No Comments

Key Offseason Losses: Alexander Frolov, Randy Jones, Raitis Ivanans

Key Offseason Additions: Alexei Ponikarovsky, Willie Mitchell

Last Season Ranking: 6th in West

Offense:

Leading the way for the Los Angeles Kings will be their young and talented center, Anze Kopitar. Halfway through November, last season, Kopitar was leading the league in points after picking up 30 in his first 19 games. While he cooled down at times, his season was exceptional as he finished with a career best in goals (34), assists (47), points (81) and plus/minus (+6). In addition to Kopitar, the Kings feature Ryan Smyth and Dustin Brown. Smyth is pretty consistent scoring 20-30 goals each season, but has missed time the past few seasons due to injury. If he stays healthy, his production could certainly increase. Brown, the Kings captain, produces much like Smyth does. However, Brown is due for a real break out season, and this could be it. He will start coming in to his prime over the next few seasons.

Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles KingsNewcomer Alexei Ponikarovsky should fit in well in LA. He will see good ice time, and play alongside several stars who could really help improve his game. Wayne Simmonds should also see an expanded role on the squad after posting 16 goals and 40 points last season. He’s a great two way player who’s young, full of energy, loves to hit and isn’t afraid to drop the gloves either. Beyond that, players like Justin Williams, Michal Handzus, Brad Richardson and Scott Parse will provide the depth up front. Williams is a skilled veteran who saw time with Smyth and Kopitar when he was healthy, unfortunately, he missed 33 games due to injury last year. He hasn’t played a full season since 2006-07, which was only one of two seasons he’s played a full 82 games in his nine year career.

Defense:

The Kings feature two of the top young defenseman in the league on their unit, Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson. Both players are in their early twenties, and already see significant ice time playing against the oppositions top line. They’re already quite experienced for how young they are, seeing time in the playoffs last season, and both winning medals in the 2010 Olympics as well (Doughty won gold with Team Canada, Johnson silver with USA). You can bet both of these guys are hungry for another season, and ready to make another run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Kings will also be deploying Rob Scuderi back on the blue line this season. He plays more of a stay at home game and won’t see much power play time, but will instead kill penalties. In addition, they’ve brought in Willie Mitchell through free agency. He played 48 games with the Canucks last season, but missed the second half of the season with a concussion. The concussion, the 3rd of his career, scared off a lot of interested teams, but Mitchell insists that he is healthy and fully recovered. The Kings would love to get a full season out of him, as a veteran in the league, he could really help stabilize the Kings defensive corps.

Goaltending:

Jonathan Quick will be back between the pipes for the Kings this season, which should come as no surprise. He posted good numbers last year with 39 wins, a .907 save percentage and a 2.54 goals against average. If he can improve on those numbers a bit, as expected, the Kings will be in even better shape this season. Backing up Quick will be Erik Ersberg.

Season Outlook:

The Kings went from 2nd to last in the West two years ago, with only 79 points, to a 6th seeded playoff team with 101 points last season. While they won’t make a 20+ point jump in the standings as they did from 2008-09 to 2009-10, the Kings should be able to compete with last seasons numbers. The addition of Alexei Ponikarovsky and a healthy Willie Mitchell will help this team repeat last years performance. With the hunger and determination of this young squad, they should be able to make a deeper run into the playoffs. The Kings could even surprise some people and be a sleeper team in the West come next spring.

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Fantasy Hockey Draft Preparation 2010 – Defenseman

Aug 29

Posted by Chris in Fantasy | No Comments

With NHL training camps set to begin about four weeks from now, it’s time for fantasy hockey managers to start reengaging their brains and begin planning for their upcoming Fantasy Hockey Draft. Most drafts will take place in the latter-half of September, but it’s never too early to start looking for that gem of a late-round pick, the underrated talent who is set for a breakout season or the veteran presence who is due for a rebound year.

Today’s Position: Defenseman

Picking good defenseman during your fantasy hockey draft is slightly more difficult because so much more strategy can come into play. Forwards, for the most part, are there to help you get points in the offensive categories and to help you gaiNqTtfnn ground in as many of those categories as possible. Defenseman, on the other hand, can be better suited to help you in a single stat category like penalty minutes, power play points or plus/minus. With that being said, here are a few players that could help your game.

If You Want Offense – Take Mike Green and take him in the first round. Seventy-six points last season, plus-37 and 10 power play goals certainly help make him as good an asset on your fantasy team as most forwards.

If You Want Defense – Take Niklas Lidstrom. His plus-22 last season was a “down” season. Plus he’ll give you a boost in offensive categories as well.

If You Want Penalty Minutes – Then take Shane O’Brien. This guy is good for 150 or more penalty minutes a season.

For a Good All-Around Defenseman – Consider Duncan Keith (pictured). This is a player that seems to get better every year. Nab him quickly if you need help in the assists category or plus/minus.

The Secret is Out On – Drew Doughty. After winning a gold medal with Team Canada at the Olympics, Doughty has emerged as a premier young defenseman in the NHL and is expected to do great things with his career. Last year, in his sophomore season, Doughty potted 16 goals and added 43 assists. Expect things to keep getting better as Doughty continues to come into his own.

Still Under the Radar Is – Tobias Enstrom. But don’t plan on him being under the radar for long. With 50 points last season on the blue line for the Thrashers, Enstrom could be a pivotal part of Atlanta’s power play this season.

Keep An Eye On – Tyler Myers. Myers, the Calder Trophy winner last season, had 11 goals, 37 assists and was a plus-13 for the Sabres. If he can avoid the dreaded sophomore slump, Myers might be a great addition to your roster.

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NHL Award Finalists and Picks Part 3

May 11

Posted by Eddie in News | No Comments

Part one can be found here, while part two can be found here.

Vezina Trophy: Best Goaltender

Finalists:

  • Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils
  • Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres
  • Ilya Bryzgalov, Phoenix Coyotes

Interesting how the three finalists for the most outstanding goaltender went one-and-done in the playoffs. All three goalies are outstanding in their own way. All three competed for their native countries in the Olympics, despite Brodeur getting benched after the first matchup against Miller and the United States. Brodeur was the workhorse of NHL goalies as he led all goaltenders in games played (77) , wins (45) , and shoutouts (9). Miller kept his hot streak going after the United States Olympic run as he posted a 9-2-1 record after the Vancouver games. He also posted a .929 save percentage while winning 41 games. Bryzgalov was the one of the trio who had more of a breakout season. He posted career-high’s in games played (69), wins (42), and shutouts (eight). His season also led to the Coyotes posting franchise best marks in wins and points in a season.

My Pick: Bryzgalov

GM of the Year

Finalists:

  • George McPhee, Washington Capitals
  • Don Maloney, Phoenix Coyotes
  • David Poile, Nashville Predators

The work of a general manager is like walking a fine line. If the team has a successful season, the GM is given credit for assembling a fantastic roster. If they start to lose games, the finger is pointed at them. The three finalists this season has either seen the fruits of their labor some to fruition or has kept their team competitive in the salary cap era of the NHL. McPhee and Poile didn’t have to tinker with their teams as much as Maloney had to, but they did enough to have their team keep improving over the course of the season. McPhee signed Mike Knuble to help Alex Ovechkin and Niklas Backstrom form one of the most powerful lines in the NHL. Poile was patient in Nashville, as the team was struggling early in the season. Instead of blowing it up right there, he let coach Barry Trotz work it out before making moves at the deadline to push Nashville into the seventh seed in the playoffs. Maloney had a tough situation last off season as he couldn’t make any moves due to the team being in bankruptcy court and not knowing his operating budget. He did what he could, and fielded a young, competitive team to  make the playoffs and bring fans back to the arena.

My Pick: Maloney

Washington defenseman Mike Green is a finalist for the Norris Trophy. Last season he finished second behind Boston's Zdeno Chara.

Washington defenseman Mike Green is a finalist for the Norris Trophy. Last season he finished second behind Boston's Zdeno Chara.

Norris Trophy: Most Outstanding Defenseman

Finalists:

  • Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
  • Mike Green, Washington Capitals
  • Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks

It’s weird to see a Norris Trophy finalist list without seeing Nicklas Lidstrom. Could it be the end of an era of one of the best defensemen in league history? The three finalists up for the award this season is part of the youth movement the league is going for. Mike Green has both the offensive and defensive capabilities that’s needed for a top notch blueliner. Green finished runner-up to Zdeno Chara last season, and lead all defensemen this season in goals, assists, points, and power play goals. Doughty would be the second-youngest winner, behind Bobby Orr. Keith posted career high’s in goals, assists and points while finishing second behind Green in assists and points.

My Pick: Green

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Most Valuable Players Thus Far

Jan 26

Posted by Matt in News | 2 Comments

With every team having played at least 50 games, I think we’re approaching a good time to start talking about the league’s most valuable players this season. I’ve separated my choices into three different categories to make things easier, the Most Valuable Goalie, the Most Valuable Defenseman, and the Most Valuable Player. Let’s jump right in and take a look.

Most Valuable Goaltender: Ryan Miller – Buffalo Sabres

Ryan Miller was the clear cut choice for me. Several other goalies could make a case, but Miller has been absolutely clutch this season and the Buffalo Sabres would not be where they are today (1st in the Northeast Division, 3rd in the Eastern Conference) without his stellar play.

While he hasn’t won a game in his past three starts, Miller has still put together some great numbers. His 2.09 goals against average is 2nd in the NHL, sitting only behind Chicago backup Antti Niemi. Miller is also currently posting a .933 save percentage, the highest in the league. Along with those impressive stats, Miller is tied for 4th in wins with 27 and tied for 3rd in shutouts with 5.

Honorable Mention: Martin Brodeur, Craig Anderson, Ilya Bryzgalov

Most Valuable Defenseman: Duncan Keith – Chicago Blackhawks

Duncan Keith has really turned into a solid and reliable defenseman for the Blackhawks. His offensive skills, as well as his ability to shut down the oppositions best players, has turned him into an irreplaceable piece of the team. On most nights, you can find Keith playing 25 minutes or more.

Keith is putting together a career year offensively, and you can expect him to get better as he enters his prime. So far this season, he has posted 11 goals and 35 assists for 46 points in only 52 games. His point total is 2nd to only Patrick Kane, and he also ranks 2nd on the team in +/- with a +18. Only 11 of his points thus far have come on the power-play, so Keith is not only a threat there, but especially even strength. Duncan Keith definitely has a bright future with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Honorable Mention: Mike Green, Drew Doughty, Tyler Myers

Henrik Sedin is currently the Most Valuable Player in the NHL

Henrik Sedin is currently the Most Valuable Player in the NHL

Most Valuable Player: Henrik Sedin – Vancouver Canucks

Where would the Canucks be this season without the outstanding play of Henrik Sedin? In case you haven’t been paying attention this season, he is playing out of his mind. Since the start of December, he has only failed to score a point in two games. This has resulted in point streaks of 9 games, 10 games, and his current 5 game point streak. His point total over that that is 48, through 10 goals and 38 assists.

The Sedin line is probably the hottest line in the NHL. Other lines may come close, but you can’t touch the production he has had this season. As we stand today, 52 games in for the Canucks, Henrik has already set a career high in goals with 24. He’s currently 19 assists shy of his career high of 71, which he will break in approximately 10 games at his current pace. Alongside those numbers, his 76 points are only 6 shy of tying a career high. Did I mention the Canucks have only played 52 games? At his current pace, Henrik Sedin will have no problem breaking the 100 point barrier and leading the Canucks to the playoffs. His strong play will be most crucial if the Canucks plan on making a run at the Stanley Cup this spring.

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Los Angeles Kings

Sep 16

Posted by Matt in Season Previews | No Comments

Anze Kopitar should rebound to lead the Kings with a career year in 2009-10

Anze Kopitar should rebound to lead the Kings with a career year in 2009-10

Let’s face it, the Los Angeles kings have been one of the NHL’s worst teams in the post lockout era. They’ve struggled a lot, posting only one winning season since that time. It’s easy to say that the Kings are in the midst of a rebuilding effort, but when will fans in LA see some results?

Slowly, but surely, the pieces to the puzzle are being put in place. Last season, rookie Drew Doughty was a stud defensively, playing roughly 20 minutes per game and posting 6 goals and 21 assists. Great numbers for a rookie D-man in LA and his minus 17 rating will surely improve as he gets more experience under his belt. Jack Johnson, another young defenseman, is hoping to put together a healthy season after missing 41 games last year due to injury.  Both young men are big bodies who can hit well and block shots. Doughty measures in at 6-1 and 219lbs while Johnson, who signed a new two year contract over the summer, is steady at 6-1 and 225lbs.

Alongside the young guns, the Kings signed Rob Scuderi to a four year deal to add some depth to the defense. Scuderi, who had spent his entire career with the Penguins, and won a Stanley Cup last season, will certainly provide some veteran leadership on the blue line and in the locker room as well. His “been there before” attitude will be the perfect addition to a growing squad.

Offensively, the Kings feature a gifted top line of Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar and Alexander Frolov. While all three are tremendous athletes, they collectively slumped in 2008-09, each posting a dip in points from the previous year. Kopitar looks to have the most potential of the group, providing 32 goals and 45 assists in 07-08. Opposing defenses better watch out for him this year, as he really has something to prove. A 100 point campaign is certainly not out of the question for a guy like Anze.

Newcomers Ryan Smyth and Justin Williams will provide some great scoring depth for the Kings. Williams is also looking for his first healthy season in a while. His last full season was 2006-07 with the Hurricanes where he contributed 33 goals and 34 assists. Smyth, acquired via trade, will provide a big body in front of the net and should be able to chip in around 30 goals and 30 assists throughout the season.

The biggest question mark on the Kings roster is in the goaltender position. Will Jon Quick hold on to his starting spot, or will Erik Ersberg take over? Quick posted a winning record last season while recording a .914 save percentage and 2.48 goals against average. He added four shutouts to his resume as well.

The Los Angeles Kings are set to make big strides this season. Whether they can play up to their potential is yet to be seen. Expect an improvement over last seasons record, however, with a winning season in LA.

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