As things pick up prior to the draft later this week, the NHL released all 30 teams' schedules over the past two days.
The Kings schedule was released at around 10AM PST, and as you would expect there are some nice home stands, at least one lengthy road trip, and minor things to point out here and there.
For a direct link to the schedule, follow this link from the Kings PR twitter account
The Los Angeles Kings and the #NHL today announced the club’s entire 82-game 2016-17 regular season schedule. https://t.co/DXoKSkkYwF
— LAKingsPR (@LAKingsPR) June 21, 2016
Let's go through it:
- Kings open up the season on the road to San Jose where they will have to endure a banner ceremony meet up with the team that knocked them out of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
- They will then return home the following game to face the Philadelphia Flyers to start things off at Staples.
- On November 5th the Kings embark on a five game road trip through Canada and the North. The trip will be tied for the 2nd longest on the season.
- They will also play a nasty stretch of seven games in 10 days while on that road trip.
The months of December/January/February are not looking particularly kind to the Kings in terms of travel.
- The Kings take their longest road trip of the year starting on December 13th. It will be nine games in in 16 days, with a five day break coming for Christmas. They cap it all off with a home and home against San Jose, making it 10 out of 11 games on the road from December 13th on to the New Year.
- They will get a lengthy seven game home stand after their December travels, only to go back out on the road, back to the East coast, for nine of their next ten. This trip is particularly brutal considering it runs the Kings out east for the New York swing, then back home for a Arizona away/Colorado home set, and then BACK to the east for an Metropolitan swing. This comes right before the "bye week" for the Kings. (February 10th-15th).
Another fun little road trip before the Kings bye week from February 10th-15th. There and Back Again: A Kings Tale pic.twitter.com/KecSkqjsTZ
— Jason Lewis (@SirJDL) June 21, 2016
As if the Kings needed any scheduling help to struggle in the doldrums of midseason.
The silver lining is that in March and April, the Kings play a massive 13 of their final 19 on home ice, including a seven game home stand to start March.
Some quick overall notes:
- LA will play 14 back to backs, including the last two games of the year on a home and road split against Chicago and Anaheim.
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- The Kings longest road trip is nine games, with two homestands popping up at seven games.
- They will play 23 of their final 32 games against Western Conference opponents, and nine of their last 12 against divisional opponents.
- and this:
Due to scheduling imbalance, LA plays VAN four times. Five games vs other divisional opponents. Previous four-game opponents: ARI, EDM, CGY.
— Jon Rosen (@lakingsinsider) June 21, 2016
- The Kings also play the Oilers five times, but three of those times will be in the last 11 games of the year.
- While the "Bye week" is nice, the condensed schedule makes for a high volume of games leading up. The Kings have to play six games in ten days prior to the bye week, and then eight games in 12 days after. If you are doing the math, that is 14 games in 24 nights not counting the days off in February.
- LA and San Jose do not play again for the entire regular season after January 18th.
- After November 5th, the Kings do not see the Calgary Flames again until February 28th. They will play them four of the five times from then on.
In other news
Vincent Lecavalier has officially retired after going on waivers.
Vincent Lecavalier, a 17-year veteran of the #NHL and a Stanley Cup Champion, officially announced his retirement from the game today.
— LAKingsPR (@LAKingsPR) June 21, 2016
Cue controversy.
In his statement announcing his retirement, Vinny Lecavalier thanked the Lightning and the Kings. No mention of the Flyers.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) June 21, 2016
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