Team Preview: Los Angeles Kings

2010-2011: 98 points, 7th in Western Conference
Key additions: C Mike Richards, LW Simon Gagne
Key departures: W Alexei Ponikarovsky, W Wayne Simmonds, C Brayden Schenn, LW Ryan Smyth, C Michal Handzus

Anze Kopitar will need a big season in LA in 2012.

Why they'll contend: The Kings are loaded top-to-bottom and figure to compete for the top spot in the Western Conference. GM Dean Lombardi got aggressive in the off-season, trading away budding young talent in Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn to bolster his team up the middle, adding Mike Richards in the deal for the aforementioned prospects and adding Simon Gagne through free agency. The Kings figure to score more than the 2.55 goals per game they scored in 2010-2011 (ranked 25th in the league) and their defense looks to be just as reliable. Jonathan Quick will have to take another step forward as he enters his fourth NHL season in the crease. The Kings have patiently stuck to the blueprints of their rebuild plan and it is finally set to pay dividends after a first round exit in 2011. The Kings haven't won a playoff series since 2001 when they beat Detroit in the first round in stunning fashion; since then the Kings have been meddling in mediocrity. But with Richards and Gagne bolstering the offense, Anze Kopitar returning from injury, Dustin Brown leading the way as captain, and when the contract talks settle down Drew Doughty will be back to anchor the blue line in Los Angeles. From the outset the Kings look poised to make a deep run come the spring of 2012.

Why they'll falter: Losing Ryan Smyth could be costly, especially being the great leader he is. Couple that with the fact that Mike Richards hasn't always been the greatest one and it could be a hindrance to the Kings, especially with the L.A. nightlife. But the reality is that Richards and company should be fine as the Kings gear up. The bigger questions lie on the ice: will Jonathan Quick be able to carry the load for the Kings, and will they be able to score? The Kings defense was stifling last season, ranked 7th in the NHL in goals allowed. But offensively the Kings will need to score more, especially with the added firepower, if the want to compete in a run-and-gun Western Conference. If Richards and Gagne can make the contributions they were brought in for, the Kings should have a deadly squad come October.

2012 prediction: 2nd in Western Conference
Leading scorer: Anze Kopitar, 33 goals & 80 points
Bold prediction: Jack Johnson will bring his +/- from -21 to +10, up +31.

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