by Dan Adkisson
The Los Angeles Kings had a strong season last year, making the playoffs and taking the Edmonton Oilers six games in a competitive series. The odds were against the Kings for much of the year, as they did not enter the season as one of the top favourites on gambling sites. After a fascinating offseason, this year could be different.
Expectations will be higher for the Kings, and they’ll need to substantially jump in performance to justify that. Players like Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar will certainly be a part of this leap, but let’s look at some additional players who will have to make a big impact to get the Kings to the next level.
Quinton Byfield
Byfield was one of the favourites for the Calder Trophy on most betting sites when he started his career, but the 2020 second-overall pick hasn’t lived up to those expectations just yet. He has 33 points in 99 career games. But this could be the year the 21-year-old starts to live up to his pedigree. After a strong showing against the Oilers, the 6’5 forward could move to the wing and play on one of the team’s top two lines. Byfield still has the size and skill that made him a top pick, and he has plenty of potential. His breaking out would push this team over the edge.
Pierre-Luc Dubois
Dubois seemed destined for the Montreal Canadiens (according to the internet) before the Kings swooped in, acquired him, and signed him to a long-term extension. The Kings are getting a talented, big center with multiple 60+ point seasons in the league. It feels like there’s another level for him to tap into, and he is in the early phase of his prime at 25. Dubois will most likely play on the second line, and while the Kings gave up some quality depth to get him, he was the best player in that trade. He’ll be a big piece for the team this year.
Pheonix Copley
The Kings are in a somewhat awkward position because they have the talent up front and on the backend to compete for a Cup, but goalie remains a question. Copley will likely get his fair share of opportunity in the crease this year. The 31-year-old goaltender has spent most of his career in the minors but got an unexpected amount of time in the crease last season for the Kings. While he didn’t look exceptional, he proved to be more than serviceable and could still surprise some people in year two. If not, the team will be scrambling to find additional help for newly acquired Cam Talbot on the fly.
Kevin Fiala
Last offseason’s big addition did not disappoint the Kings when he arrived in L.A. Fiala is a highly skilled winger who has been playing above a point-per-game level for the last two seasons. It feels like he is just entering his prime, and at 27, he has many strong years left. The question is, how good can he be? Fiala seems like someone who is poised for a superstar leap, and if he climbs to new offensive heights this season, the Kings will be all the more dangerous for it. A 90-point season is a distinct possibility.
Vladislav Gavrikov
The Kings made a splash move at the deadline to acquire Gavrikov. This improved their odds of contending, and Gavrikov remains with the team after signing an extension. He’s now being paid like a top-pairing defenseman, and he’ll need to show that the offensive sparks he had in 20 regular season games with the team can be maintained. Gavrikov’s physicality and steady play make him an important contributor. If he can continue that while setting a career-high in points, he’ll be worth every penny the Kings are paying.