The State of the Kings (25 games in)

The Kings have shown us many bright spots this season. No one can argue that fact. 25 games in, they sit 4th in a tough as nails Western Conference. I believe that this team can compete This Year. I am certainly not ready to bet that this team will reach the Stanley Cup Finals. However; I am very encouraged with what we have seen this year and can definitely fathom hockey being played in LA next June. So what makes this team better than last year's?

1. Jonathan Quick has officially broken out. This guy gives the Kings a dependable rock every night between the pipes, a crucial fundamental of any championship hockey team.

His numbers are elite. They speak for themselves.

13-5-0 .928 1.92

Terry Murray must be careful not to overwork Quick, although he will have no control over Quick's playing in the 2011 All Star Game, which leads me to point number two...

2. Jonathan Bernier has arrived. The backup goaltender's AHL resume is thick (Last season's Goalie of the Year at that level) and he has proven his skills at the professional level before, while at the tender age of 23. His numbers are lacking this season thus far, no doubt about it. But his past history shows he is a skilled goaltender and a consummate pro, he should be able to turn it around and save Quick's legs for the long run. He absolutely must if this team is going to end up where we want it to.

3. D. Defensively, the Kings are as good as any team in the league. Adding Willie Mitchell was in my opinion was, leaguewide, one of the most underrated offseason moves. Pairing Mitchell with Drew Doughty gives the Kings a formidable shutdown pairing that's second only to Keith-Seabrook in Chicago, but that also packs greater offensive flair. Jack Johnson built on his Olympic effort and late season dominance early this year but experienced minor growing pains in the Kings' last ten games. He was written up in S.I. and the world is beginning to notice, he is a beast. Rob Scuderi and Matt Greene are each first class stay home defenders in the NHL and can shut down top guns coast to coast. Round that out with the stellar play of recently recalled Alec Martinez, and average but solid Davis Drewiske and you have a defensive corps that is established and loaded, but also improving. A scary, deadly combination that bodes very well for LA.

4. 14, 11, ? The Kings have benefited by the establishment of two rising stars in Justin Williams (10+15=25) and Anze Kopitar (10+14=24). After those two guys a slight drop off in scoring occurs. This could be potentially destructive to the Kings' Cup bid. Ryan Smyth, Dustin Brown, Wayne Simmonds and Jarret Stoll are very steady and reliable players. Even with that top 6 the Kings can certainly contend. This unit of forwards can and will at times, catch fire. But lulls in scoring lead to a recent (1-6-0) stretch and could threaten the Kings in the long run. Helene Elliott of the Times wrote of this lack of scoring and it very well could be a serious problem.

Kyle Clifford and Trevor Lewis are rising stars but have not quite arrived. It is undeniable that the Kings must make a move or two in an effort to produce more productive scoring if they want to win big. However; the Kings addition of Alexei Ponikarovsky and the loss of enigmatic Alexander Frolov (addition by subtraction), give the Kings playoff team strength up front.

Those are four reasons that the Kings are better than last year and ABSOLUTELY can compete THIS YEAR.

The one thing holding this team back from being a top 5 contender is the lack of a more imposing scoring punch. If Dean Lombardi is willing to be aggressive and can land a top scorer to play the left side with the solidified top line of Kopitar and Brown, the Kings are downright ferocious. If not, they are very good, not great.

Food for thought: I see no problem in unloading the vast organizational defensive assets the Kings have stockpiled over recent years. Thomas Hickey and Colton Teubert are top prospects currently playing for the Manchester Monarchs. They will be good players but it is unlikely that either will ever become a Hall of Fame type impact player (Drew Doughty for instance). Why not deal one or both of those guys if that opportunity presents itself? GM Dean Lombardi would be extremely wise in considering that type of move. He will be quick to say it must be the "right" guy in the "right" fit. Correct. But if that guy becomes available to the Kings, snatch him with a package of emerging defensemen. This team is already blessed with tremendous talent and depth at the NHL level on defense (see reason 3). Make a game changing move, make this team a contender DL.

Three guys that have expiring contracts that would fit that billing for the Kings...

DAL - Brad Richards
COL - Milan Hejduk
WSH - Alexander Semin (his team is a legit cup contender and it is hard to foresee the Caps considering unloading his talents before a cup run)

Thanks for reading and Go Kings,
SVIK