It’s preview time.
Despite two Cups in three seasons, it’s still difficult for long-time Kings fans to think of our team as not only the best in the NHL, but with a fair share of luck, a possible dynasty in the making.
After all, up until the 2009-10 season, Los Angeles had posted nearly twice as many losing seasons as winning ones and had missed the playoffs six straight years. The Kings had won just one division title in their history, and had advanced past the first round of the playoffs just once since losing in the Finals in 1993. In a word: as a franchise, they blew. Ok, that’s five.
But times have changed, and as such, so have the franchise’s fortunes. After years of shrewd draft picks, trades and chemistry-building maneuvers, Dean Lombardi has ascended to the pantheon of NHL General Managers. Can the franchise continue to hold things together for the long haul? The Magic Eight Ball says, “Signs point to yes.”
So, on to the matter at hand: the Kings 2014-15 season preview.
Admittedly, it’s relatively easy to preview — at least on paper — a team with as few changes as the Kings experienced this offseason. Their biggest loss was defensive stalwart Willie Mitchell, who signed a two-year deal at $4.25 million per season with the Florida Panthers. Offensively, they reunited the entire band, inking winger Marian Gaborik to a cap-friendly ($4.875 million cap hit) seven-year contract while adding sandpaper fourth-liner Adam Cracknell. So how do things look?
Previewing the forwards
The Kings’ scoring challenges reversed themselves during the postseason, however, as they went from being an offensive lightweight (2.42) to the top-scoring club in the postseason (3.38). The addition of the electric (if oft-injured) Marian Gaborik (5-11-16 in 19 games for Los Angeles) shifted the offense into high gear during the playoffs. Once there, it was no looking back all the way to the Cup.
Offensive line previews and stats predictions:
Marian Gaborik (28-32-60) – Anze Kopitar (22-50-72) – Dustin Brown (23-30-53)
Tanner Pearson (15-25-40) – Jeff Carter (34-23-57) – Tyler Toffoli (21-25-46)
Dwight King (14-18-32) – Mike Richards (15-34-49) – Justin Williams (17-21-38)
Kyle Clifford (8-8-16) – Jarret Stoll (8-15-23) – Trevor Lewis (5-8-13)
Top line: The Kopitar/Gaborik pairing is a match made in heaven. Kopitar will post his usual numbers, and assuming Gaborik plays 75+ games, he should approach 30 goals and 60 points. Dustin Brown may in fact be wearing down, but at just 29 years old, the smart money is on a bounce-back season.
Second line: The second line was fantastic during the postseason, and if it stays together, should see breakthrough campaigns from both Pearson and Toffoli.
Third line: Richards and Stoll will probably trade stints on the third and fourth lines, but after not being bought out and rededicating himself to being better conditioned coming into the season, Richards is likely to see his production increase. Justin Williams will always be clutch, but he’ll be 33 at the start of the season and between a crowded forward group and Father Time, his high-production days are probably in the rear view mirror. That doesn’t mean he won’t contend for most valuable Kings player come playoff time.
Fourth line: A solid mix of grinders and two-way players. Stoll’s faceoff skills will earn him time up and down the lines as the situation warrants.
Previewing the defense
Muzzin (8-22-30) – Doughty (12-30-42)
Regehr (2-10-12) – Voynov (9-25-34)
Martinez (7-11-18) – Greene (3-9-12)
Top pair: It’s going to wreak havoc on shins and other shot-blocking body parts all season long.
Second pair: A solid blend of speed and sandpaper.
Third pair: Ditto. Matt Greene is a warrior and re-signed with the Kings for four years at a $2.5 million cap hit.
Previewing the goaltending
Between Jonathan Quick and Martin Jones, the Kings may have one of the best goaltending tandems in the NHL. Granted, Jonathan Quick doesn’t generally post Vezina-type regular season numbers, but his 2013-14 2.07/.915 (with six shutouts) stat line is nothing to sneeze at. More importantly, he’s a big-game goalie and there are few better when the chips are on the line. Martin Jones may be young, but between his 3 1/2 seasons in Manchester and his fantastic numbers in L.A. (1.81, .934), he has more than acquitted himself as Quick’s backup.
Quick (35-21-4, .918)
Jones (13-7-2), .916)
Previewing the coaching staff
Previewing the Kings’ chances in 2014-15
Even with the Stanley Cup hangover looming in the headlights, look for the Kings to have a strong regular season. Although a division title seems unlikely, expect L.A. to finish second in the Pacific with something like a 48-28-6 record (102 points), capturing either the fourth or fifth seed along the way.
After that, the fun really begins. Whether they can shake the fifteen season drought between repeat champions (the longest in league history) has obviously yet to be seen. However, you can bet that once they get to the dance, they’ll step it up, big time. That’s just how this team rolls.
Do you agree or disagree with anything in this preview article? I’ve left out the spare forwards and defenseman, and of course injuries will always play a major factor in how things turn out. How would you preview this upcoming season? Feel free to leave your comments, or shoot me a line on Twitter @McLaughlinWalt.
This Kings team has really changed all the preconceptions about the regular season and its import–in fact, they have blown it up and rewritten the rules. In the past teams always worked very hard–perhaps too hard–for the slight advantage that home court in the playoffs supposedly brings. Of course that premise has been preached by coaches…undoubtedly to keep their players focused and motivated for the long 80+ game season, in order to get into the post-season in the first place. But the Kings came along three years ago and said, Okay, we’re into the post-season (by the skin of our teeth)…now we can relax and REALLY start to play. President’s Trophy? Who gives a shit! This is about the playoffs. So now when it comes to the Kings–and let’s face it, there will be ups and downs during the grind that is the regular season–it’s about only two things: getting in at the end, and staying reasonably healthy during the process. Achieve those two ends, and…the Kings will stand a pretty good chance of hoisting the cup yet again.
I guess this is an LA queens support page…All they do is talk about the queens of hockey…
I can agree with the two of you, true Kings Fans, Walt, fall short, PLEASE. Teams like the Kings don’t come along to often and all the credit should go to DL, did he get manager of the year yet ? I, like Erik, have 40 yrs. in. I first learned the game, when I took a job at the Inglewood Forum, just after leaving the Army in 74. I remember getting 6 free tickets for almost every game. “Cubs on Skates” Walt, we referred to the Kings as the Ice Follies Boys.
The Kings of today have a swagger and that, in it self, is one thing they’ve never had and being a Kings Fan I’m enjoying every step…… GKG :)
Most teams are built for 82 games………See the Ducks as the #1 example. They want to do as well as they can in the Reg Season so they can get a nice playoff seed – then fall short in the post-season. This is because in the Reg Season rest/fatigue are a big factor and coaching really isn’t.
Come the post-season when rest is equal for both teams and coaching makes a massive difference the teams that go “balls out” for 82 games not struggle. The Kings are not built for 82 games in October thru Early April…..they are built for up to 28 games from Mid-April thru Mid-June.
The Kings have everything needed to succeed in the Post-Season: Solid Goaltending and Defense, Line Depth and a Great coach. The Kings style of play is one actually best suited for road games where playing sexy isn’t as important as bottling things up and winning 2-1.
The Kings usually take a 10-15 game “nap” during the season which is why they never win the Division and get a low playoff seed with HIA almost never happening. They would rather be well rested come Playoff time and grind teams down – and they do.
Kings will probably finish 2nd in the Pacific behind the Inferior SoCal team and then come post-season once again expose their Inferior SoCal rivals for having shaky goaltending, line depth and a Blob behind the bench in Bruce “BOOBreau”.
Hawks are hurt by the massive extensions given Toews and Kane. Kings are fine this coming season and will be OK in 2015-16. It is 2016-17 when things could start to go downhill when Kopitar needs a new deal and will get about $8-$10M as well as new and higher paying deals for guys like Muzzin, Toffoli, Pearson and Alec Martinez. At some point in time the kings playing 64 Playoff games the last 3 years will also catch up to them. Kings would have been in big trouble had “we” not won G5 of the Cup because Doughty was GASSED and it was very easy and obvious to see and he was not alone.
As a long time fan who, with the exception of 1992-93, saw almost 40 years of “Cubs on Skates” the last 3 years have been truly enjoyable to watch and unexpected. If the Kings never win another Cup again they have already given all of their lonnnnnnnng time fans more memories the last 3 years than we could have ever dreamed of.
GO KINGS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I might be, but given the Kings’ less-than-dominant regular seasons (even in their two Cup years), it’s probably a better bet they fall just short. I agree, though, their depth is fantastic.
I think your selling your Kings a little short Walter. That depth is amazing. Sharks are great when they are three deep at center (which they stupidly always get away from) but the Kings are FOUR deep, that plus dominant top pair defenders and a big game goalie, plus Gaborik back, I think they will win the division. Sharks and Ducks are good but a step behind.
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