2009/2010 season preview: Los Angeles Kings

Can Smyth push the Kings into the playoffs? (Getty Images)

Heading out west for today's season preview which covers the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings have been building themselves a pretty solid team with room to grow the past few years. Will they finally reap the benefits of their efforts? Let's see what the Los Angeles Kings Examiner thinks.

1. How do I feel about the Kings offseason?  I would tend to agree with many of my hockey writing and broadcasting colleagues that the Kings made great strides this off-season, without necessarily having the kind of off-season some expected.  I think the addition of free agent defenseman Rob Scuderi from the champion Penguins, combined with the acquisition of veteran Ryan Smyth from Colorado for Kyle Quincey, are positive steps in the right direction.  The youngest team in hockey just added another veteran defensive presence in Scuderi, to go with youngsters Jack Johnson, Drew Doughty, and Matt Greene.  Smyth is a gritty and gutty forward who should help solidify the forward quintent of Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar, Justin Williams, Jarret Stoll, and Alexander Frolov.  Could they have done more?  Sure, I think they still needed to add a sniper, someone that other teams absoloutely fear offensively.  Still, it's a solid young club that will get even better this season as much because of who they did add as who they didn't add.
2. What is the Kings biggest strength?  Depth.  When you look at this club, there are going to be some interesting battles for the 6-7-8 defense and 3rd/4th forward line combinations.  And there is some solid potential in the pipeline in guys like Bernier, Tuebert, Hickey, and the first round pick Schenn, all of whom won't be here this season but are big part of the future plans.
3. What is the Kings biggest weakness?  Lack of that sniper who just scares the S%$! out of teams.  Also, although he was invited to the Team USA camp last week and had a great year last season, Jonathan Quick has got to prove that he wasn't a flash in the pan between the pipes.  His continued development is critical to their success this season.
4. Who is the most important player for the Kings this season?  Without question, it's Anze Kopitar.  Kopitar has been very good, very solid.  But his talent level is such that, if he and Justin Williams do in 80 games this season what they did the final five games last year, it could be scary just how good Kopitar (only 21 entering his 4th season) can be.
5. Which Kings player will surprise most this season?  Quick.  I think if he plays with that continually developing confidence he showed throughout the second half last season, and he gets some scoring help from his mates this year, he could just show the whole league that he is a goaltender on-the-rise.  My other pick would be forward Wayne Simmonds, entering his second season, who will be a huge asset to the team on the 3rd line with his forechecking and defensive abilities. 
6. What is my prediction for the Kings in 2009-2010?  The West is so wide open, its ridiculous.  That said, I think the top teams have come back to the pack, and if they are healthy the Kings can finally break the playoff drought which stretches back to 2002.  

My take: The Kings are, for the lack of a better word, enigmatic. I don't know exactly what they will do this season. They have a lot of talent, and most of their best players aren't even in their prime yet. Will they be able to make strides this season? If so, will said strides be enough to push the team into the playoffs? Also, Rob Scuderi turned a nice playoff run into a big pay day, but how will he play now? Plus, what will Ryan Smyth bring to the table?

I think all in all the Kings have some good forwards and some good defensemen. Playoff quality players, to be exact. So really, I think it all comes down to goaltending. Quick showed a lot last season, but how well will he play this season? If the offense and defense play as good as I think they can, and if Quick can at least be a league average goaltender, perhaps slightly above that, then the Kings could definitely make the playoffs. This is a team worth getting to know. What better way to do that than to read the Kings Examiner? Go to the games? In this economy? Hogwash!