For the past few seasons, the Los Angeles Kings were the self-described cockroaches of the NHL, seemingly impossible to eliminate no matter how dire the circumstances. It was a remarkable trait in the NHL salary-cap era, and it made their demise all the more profound. Facing must-win games, the Kings lost 4-2 to the Edmonton Oilers on April 7 and were eliminated from contention for the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 3-1 loss to the Calgary Flames two days later. It was the first time a defending Cup champion failed to make the postseason since the Carolina Hurricanes in 2007. Injuries and off-ice issues on defense combined with overuse of goalie Jonathan Quick and defenseman Drew Doughty ultimately cost the Kings.
The Kings should be humbled and re-energized after they played 64 playoff games the previous three seasons. They added power forward Milan Lucic in the offseason, but they lost significant pieces from their two Cup-winning teams and their depth will be challenged. Right wing Justin Williams signed with the Washington Capitals, and center Jarret Stoll signed with the New York Rangers as free agents. The Kings terminated the hefty contract of center Mike Richards. Last season's uphill path started with the defensemen. Slava Voynov was suspended in October and Alec Martinez and Robyn Regehr missed significant time with injuries, as did midseason acquisition Andrej Sekera. That forced Doughty to lead the NHL in total ice time, and coach Darryl Sutter consistently said it was too much for the Norris Trophy finalist. Regehr retired and Sekera signed with Edmonton, which left Los Angeles with little depth after the core of Doughty, Martinez, Jake Muzzin and Matt Greene. Voynov's situation remained unresolved as of mid-August. The push for the playoffs ultimately forced Sutter to play Quick 72 games, tying his NHL career high; his total ice time was the second-most among goalies behind Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals.
Offensively, the Kings remain a top-heavy team, but the addition of Lucic, acquired from the Boston Bruins for goalie Martin Jones, defenseman prospect Colin Miller and the 13th pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, gives them two lines as good as any in the Western Conference. A crucial part will be getting young wings Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson to be more consistent, and to find an effective bottom six. Los Angeles is depending on Andy Andreoff and Nick Shore to center its third and fourth lines. The two have 52 games of NHL experience combined. The Kings' American Hockey League affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, won the Calder Cup and moved to Southern California, so there will be opportunity to give their prospects a closer look. They may have to make an NHL move to improve their depth, and Richards' contract coming off the books gives them more flexibility. Lombardi stressed the remaining core group is in its prime, and he expects them to be motivated. He could have been speaking specifically about center Anze Kopitar, who had a down season although he was a Selke Trophy finalist. Kopitar perhaps best represents the Kings in all facets the past three seasons, and a long offseason might be what he and Los Angeles needed.
GM Dean Lombardi: "This season we were all struggling to find that certain 'it' or whatever you want to call it all year. And when it was over, after Edmonton and Calgary, I think the reality is we got what we deserved, and we have nobody to feel sorry for … every time we thought we were going to get out of it because we knew how to win or we had been in big games before, well, that didn't happen. But now we can learn from this. Well, this time there's no excuse. It's a marvelous opportunity for our top players to take over that room, and they start by doing that, becoming the best they can be, and I think they will. There's no doubt in my mind what guys like Kopitar and Quick and Doughty stand for, and hopefully this is an awakening. It's no fun watching the playoffs. In the long run, we could benefit from this."
The Kings' first early postseason in six years understandably brought a lot of questions. After two Stanley Cup championships and three trips to the Western Conference Final in four seasons, cracks are visible in their mini-dynasty. The good news is the Kings are used to adjusting and dealing with adversity, having proven to be one the NHL's most resilient teams the past few seasons. And if they get back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they remain a dangerous and imposing team. The Kings did not fully address this position after they didn't re-sign Jarret Stoll and terminated the contract of Mike Richards, whose ineffectiveness facilitated his departure, although he had proven NHL experience. So what was once a strength is now a question. Nick Shore filled in for 34 games, and Andy Andreoff saw time there too, but they have played 52 games in the NHL combined. Some of their prospects will get a look, or the Kings could acquire a center.
Drew Doughty often says he would play the whole game if he could, and at times last season it seemed like he would, when he led the NHL in total ice time. His per-game average of nearly 29 minutes trailed only Ryan Suter of the Minnesota Wild. But the Kings need to monitor his mileage to keep him sharp late in the season, particularly with the loss of veteran defensemen Andrej Sekera and Robyn Regehr. Jamie McBain and Brayden McNabb fill out the defensive unit. Slava Voynov spent most of last season under suspension and his future is unclear.
The Kings have not put much stock into regular-season success, having finished better than third in the Pacific Division once in the past six seasons. They've vowed to make this a point of emphasis, but the West is even tougher because the Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks improved this offseason. In other words, the Kings' usual path of squeaking into the postseason and making a deep run closed last season, and it just gets harder from here.
The 2014-15 NHL season was one to forget for the Kings, who were shorthanded at the start, beset by injuries, and didn't have the depth or energy to stay afloat in the Western Conference. They were the first defending Stanley Cup champion to miss the playoffs since 2007. But the Kings remain one of the more feared teams in the West because of their mettle, style of play, and goalie Jonathan Quick. They have lost some of the pieces from their two championship teams, but remain a team no opponent wants to face in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Drew Doughty, 25, was saddled with huge responsibility and seized the opportunity to become a Norris Trophy finalist for the second time.
The past five Cup champions have been driven by elite No.1 defensemen who can control the game (Doughty, Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks and Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins), and with Doughty the Kings are set for years to come.
Forward Justin Williams, who signed with the Washington Capitals this summer as a free agent, wasn't happy with the early offseason but said his body thanked him. That's what 64 playoff games in three seasons will do. Los Angeles typically plays a hard-nosed style that is physically demanding, so a few months' extra rest should be beneficial. Mentally, the Kings should be humbled and learn to take the regular season more seriously.
Left Wing Milan Lucic seems like a great fit for the Kings, who could use a physical presence beside center Anze Kopitar and a scoring threat from that side. Lucic will provide some much-needed enthusiasm and a good storyline after a disappointing season; his affable personality will work well off the ice.
If Lucic can regain his scoring touch on an offensively average team, it might ease the scoring burdens of right wing Tyler Toffoli and left wing Tanner Pearson, who were prone to slumps last season.
Although the Kings lost Williams, Mike Richards and Jarrett Stoll, they have Doughty, Kopitar, Quick, Toffoli, Pearson, Jeff Carter and Dustin Brown, all 30 or younger. That's a group that includes a Norris Trophy finalist, a Selke Trophy finalist, and one of the best goalies in the world, a solid foundation most other teams can only dream of having.
The stability of the Kings roster over the past three seasons hasn't allowed for much promotion, but that is likely to change because their Calder Cup champion American Hockey League affiliate is moving to Ontario, Calif. The hour drive from Staples Center means the Kings can easily make a recall, either for an injury replacement or to give a prospect a quick look. The Kings lack defensemen and centers in their system, and did not have a first-round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.
Valentin Zykov, RW
How acquired: 2nd round (No. 37), 2013 NHL Draft
Last season: Gatineau, QJMHL: 26 GP, 15-13-28
Big things are expected of Zykov, 20, who will begin his pro career with the Ontario Reign, the new Southern California-based AHL affiliate. Zykov is a 6-foot, 209-pound power forward known for his strength, passing skills and work ethic. A hernia forced Zykov out of the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship for Russia, but he rebounded with a strong second half. This is a pivotal season for his development.
Projected NHL arrival: 2015-16
Nick Shore, C
How acquired: 3rd round (No. 82), 2011 NHL Draft
Last season: Kings, 34 GP, 1-6-7; Manchester, AHL: 38 GP, 20-22-42
Shore, 22, is slotted as a bottom-six center for the Kings, who recalled him in January to give him a look over Mike Richards. Shore (6-foot, 184) fits the Kings' mold of a two-way forward, and they would like to see him score more (his first NHL goal came when the puck hit his skate).
Projected NHL arrival: 2015-16
Derek Forbort, D
How acquired: 1st round (No. 15), 2010 NHL Draft
Last season: Manchester, AHL: 67 GP, 4-11-15
Forbort, 23, has been in the Kings' system for five years and is their most NHL-ready defenseman. He spent three seasons playing for the University of North Dakota before he played his first full season with Manchester last season.
Forbort (6-foot-4, 219) has the enticing size to be an effective puck-mover, and this will likely be the season he gets time in the NHL.
Projected NHL arrival: 2015-16
Adrian Kempe, LW
How acquired: 1st round (No. 29), 2014 NHL Draft
Last season: Modo, Swedish Hockey League, 50 GP: 5-12-17; Manchester, AHL: 3 GP, 0-0-0
Kempe, 18, started to test himself in North America with three regular-season and 17 playoff games for Manchester last season. He plays an all-around game and is known as a good skater. He probably needs to bulk up his 6-foot-2, 187-pound frame and will have the time to do so.
Projected NHL arrival: 2016-17
Jordan Weal, C
How acquired: 3rd round (No. 80), 2011 NHL Draft
Last season: Manchester, AHL: 73 GP: 20-49-69
Weal, 23, was recalled for the Kings' regular-season finale in April with forward Andy Andreoff questionable, but did not play. Weal figures to get a look soon despite question about his size (5-9, 173). He tied for the AHL lead in playoff scoring and could push Andreoff and Shore in training camp.
Projected NHL arrival: 2015-16
Predicted Lines
17 Lucic - 11 Kopitar - 12 Gaborik
70 Pearson - 77 Carter - 73 Toffoli
74 King - 37 Shore - 23 Brown
13 Clifford - 22 Lewis - 71 Nolan
6 Muzzin - 8 Doughty
# Ehrhoff - 27 Martinez
3 McNabb - 2 Greene
32 Quick - # Enroth
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