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Los Angeles Kings: 3 key players for next season

By Jasmine Yen

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 17: Jake Muzzin #6, Drew Doughty #8 and Jeff Carter #77 of the Los Angeles Kings skate back to the bench after a Kings's timeout trailing 1-0 to the Vegas Golden Knights with less than a minute in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center on April 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The Golden Knights won 1-0 to sweep the series. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 17: Jake Muzzin #6, Drew Doughty #8 and Jeff Carter #77 of the Los Angeles Kings skate back to the bench after a Kings's timeout trailing 1-0 to the Vegas Golden Knights with less than a minute in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center on April 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The Golden Knights won 1-0 to sweep the series. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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After a swift end to their playoff appearance at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights, the Los Angeles Kings will be looking for a longer run.

After firing their head coach Darryl Sutter and their general manager Dean Lombardi, the Los Angeles Kings entered the 2017-2018 year with a fresh face. For years, they were notorious for their slow, defensive-minded play but under the new coach John Stevens, they have livened up a bit.

They have a rapidly aging core but they are complemented by a group of very talented youth that injected speed and energy into their lines. 21-year-old forward Adrian Kempe is a great example of the talent they have coming up in their system.

The offseason signing of Ilya Kovalchuk signals to the league that this team is trying to go for it. If they wish to win their third-ever Stanley Cup, they will need these three players to dominate.

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3. Adrian Kempe

Kempe is a player the Kings desperately need. He’s young, fast and adds depth to their center core. Last season, he played 81 games and had 37 points (16 goals and 21 assists).

Kempe played primarily on the third line and was given a lot of offensive zone starts, mainly because his defensive game needs a lot of work.

With the Kings getting older by the minute, they will need him to continue to develop his defensive game, as well as increase his point production.

2. Ilya Kovalchuk

After five seasons away from North American ice, it could be a rough transition for the veteran Russian. The Kings got him in the summer to add scoring on the wings and they are paying him big money to do so ($6.25 million per season to be exact). Such a high price for an uncertain commodity is a big gamble for the Kings and for their sake, it better work out.

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His numbers before he went to Russia are insane. He was more than a point-per-game player six times and scored 52 goals twice. From 2003 to 2013, he has averaged over 20 minutes a night and in his NHL career, he is an exact point-per-game player. (816 points in 816 NHL games)

In the KHL, his numbers are still really good. Back in 2016-17, he had 78 points in 60 games played, but the NHL is just another level. His ability to transition back while remaining a second-line winger will be crucial for the Kings’ success.

1. Drew Doughty

Arguably the best defenseman in the league, the Kings need Drew Doughty if they want a shot in the postseason. He finished third on their team in scoring with a career-high 60 points (10 goals, 50 assists) and averaged over 26 minutes a night.

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He is one of the only defensemen in the league who can drive the play and be such an offensive threat, as well as defensively responsible. He plays both on the power play, penalty kill and will be on the ice if the Kings want to close out a game or tie it in the dying seconds.

There’s a reason why he’s represented Canada so many times on international ice. His leadership and skill are second to none. He is the team’s heartbeat and he will need to continue his dominance if the Kings want a chance.

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