Kings on rise, but still not close to NHL royalty
Young stars beginning to blossom in Los Angeles
 Jacob de Golish / Getty Images Defenseman Rob Scuderi, left, and center Anze Kopitar give the Kings reason to think a playoff berth is possible. Scuderi won a Stanley Cup with the Penguins last season, while Kopitar led Los Angeles in scoring. |
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Stanley Cups: 0
2008-'09 record: 34-37-11, 79 points (5th in Pacific, 14th in West)
2008-'09 playoffs: Did not qualify
General manager: Dean Lombardi (332-360-128, 11th NHL year, 2nd team)
Coach: Terry Murray (404-325-100, 12th NHL year, 4th team)
Captain: Dustin Brown
Top returning scorer: C Anze Kopitar (27 goals, 39 assists, 66 points)
Top returning goalie: Jonathan Quick (21-18-2, 2.48, .914)
Key additions: D Rob Scuderi; LW Ryan Smyth; D Brandon Segal.
Key subtractions: C Derek Armstrong, LW Kyle Calder; D Denis Gauthier; C Brian Boyle; D Kyle Quincey; D Tom Preissing; C Derek Armstrong.
Top line: LW Ryan Smyth, C Anze Kopitar, RW Justin Williams
Top defensive pairing: Rob Scuderi, Drew Doughty
Goaltending: Quick stepped into the breech when Erik Ersberg, who’d already usurped former No. 1 Jason LaBarbera, went down with groin and knee injuries in December. Started 41 of the Kings' last 52 games and finished third among rookie goalies in wins. Sees puck well and will battle for position to make saves. Wide stance covers plenty of net.
Player to watch: D Thomas Hickey. Nearly earned a spot with the Kings at 19, but returned to Seattle (WHL) and posted career-high 16-35-51 totals. Captained Canada to gold medal at world juniors. Doesn’t do anything spectacular, but is calm with the puck, possesses solid skills, skates well and is a determined competitor.
Icing: The Kings made pair of big moves with the addition of Scuderi from the champion Penguins and Smyth from the Avalanche. Scuderi was first on the Penguins with a plus-23 and 164 blocked shots. Smyth scored 40 goals in two seasons with the Avalanche, including 26 last season.
Outlook: Even with all the Kings young stars beginning to blossom, they still don’t have enough horses to corral a playoff spot.
Prediction: 91 points (4th in Pacific, 10th seed in West)
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