Alot of people thought that the Los Angeles Kings would need at least another season before they could effectively challenge the top teams in the Western Conference. A stellar young golatender and some of the best young skaters in the league changed all that, as the Kings roared out of the gates to one of the hottest starts in the West. They’ve cooled a bit, but for the first time since the lockout, the Kings will be in the postseason.
Offense: A-
The offense begins with Anze Kopitar who has emerged as one of this league’s top scoring forwards. His talent is unquestioned, but it wasn’t until this season that he was given the proper linemates to make him even more effective. The addition of veteran winger Ryan Smyth to the top line paid off huge dividends, Kopitar and winger Justin Williams enjoyed very productive seasons. Five other Kings’ forwards broke the 40 point plateau, including promising young winger Wayne Simmonds, and the Kings also get plenty of production from their two young star defensemen, Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson.
Defense: A- The Kings have a great mix of speed, physicality, youth and veteran experience on their blueline. The big names are obviously Johnson and Doughty, both of whom represented their countries at the Olympics in Vancouver. Doughty is an impressive +19, while ranking second on the team with 58 points. Rob Scuderi was one of the key elements of the Pens’ playoff success last season, and he will likely be called upon to help lead this team as they attempt to make what could be a serious run at the Cup this year.
Goaltending: A- One of the biggest reasons for the Kings’ success this year has been their remarkable improvement in goaltending. Jonathan Quick has emerged as one of the top young goalies in the league, with 39 wins and a very solid 2.53 GAA. Jonathan Bernier is the top goalie in the AHL, so the Kings are more than set in net going forward.
Special Teams: B The Kings have one of the most dangerous powerplays in the league, with 63 powerplay goals. LA’s 21.1% conversion rate is 3rd best in the Western Conference, and they’ll need to keep that number high if they wish to succeed in the playoffs. An area they could use improvement in is the penalty kill. The Kings have the 3rd lowest penalty kill success rate of any playoff team, ranking above only Nashville and Washington.