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Why the Kings are a Sleeper Pick to Win the Pacific Division in 2019

July 27, 2018, 1:43 PM ET [45 Comments]
Bobby Kittleberger
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I’ve been asserting that the LA Kings are becoming a much more offensive team, and have done so without detracting from a defense that only allowed a league-low 203 goals against last season. It’s my position that people are sleeping on the Kings and that they’re a dark horse to win the Pacific division in 2019.

Here are a few reasons why I, an acknowledged non-Kings fan, am convinced of their impending success in the coming season, at least in the context of the Pacific division.

Reason #1: I don’t buy into the Arizona Coyotes or Calgary Flames being better

During the past few seasons, I've noticed that it has become really trendy and slick to say that the Coyotes are going to be a factor and even compete for the title in the Pacific division. I hear that kind of talk about them all the time and, to be perfectly honest, I think it’s total nonsense.

The Galchenyuk trade was a good move for them (and for Galchenyuk) and I like their future in net, but that’s not nearly enough to say they’re going to be a division-bending factor.

They might win 30 games. We’ll say 32.

Calgary is in a similar situation. Did they get marginally better during the offseason? Maybe, if you think a nearly equal talent-for-talent swap makes a difference. But let’s fight the urge to throw out hot-takes for two of the Pacific division’s worst teams.

Reason #2: Ilya Kovalchuk is a really well-placed signing

A lot of high-profile free agent signings are what I would consider poorly placed. It always seems like there are a handful of teams (seems to always include the Maple Leafs, Rangers, and Lightning) that are going after the big name UFAs, regardless of their contextual impact on the team.

The Ilya Kovalchuk signing is not like that. It’s a great fit for the Kings.

I’ve made the case before that Kovalchuk, though expensive, fills a very precise and identifiable need in the Kings’ lineup. He slots in like a puzzle piece on the left side, both on the top offensive line and the power play.

That’s money well-spent that will make the team noticeably better on offense and didn’t require them taking a loss anywhere else on the roster.

Reason #3: The top-tier Pacific division teams are losing steam

The Kings’ primary division competitors will likely be Vegas, San Jose, and Anaheim, in that order. Of the three, Vegas is tough to predict because of their small sample size. Considering what they did last year, along with what looks like an extremely weak blue line, it seems they could do anything between repeat the 2018 run or miss the playoffs.

My guess is that they’re going to take a pretty significant step back.

However, San Jose and Anaheim have much bigger sample sizes from which to pull. These are two teams that are both aging quickly and trending down, particularly Anaheim who, prior to last season, had won the Pacific division every year dating back to the 2012-2013 lockout-shortened season.

Their team structure and veteran leadership (the Getzlaf, Perry and Kesler era) isn’t well-suited to compete in a much faster NHL and particularly the Western conference. My bet is that LA will see more push from the Sharks than the Ducks this year, but these teams have had success for a long time and you can see them starting to regress back to the mean.

Currently, the Kings’ roster is more effectively constructed than both.

Reason #4: An offensive boost to a defensive team

I’ve already mentioned Kovalchuk’s impact on the Kings’ offense, but there are other positive signs to consider here as well. Jeff Carter should be all-in after an injury-shortened 2018 campaign, while Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Drew Doughty are all coming off career-high offensive numbers.

Add another year of experience for Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli, plus the potential integration of Gabe Vilardi, and you have the top defensive team in the league suddenly looking extremely dangerous in the offensive zone as well.



Concluding


LA has the offensive firepower, a proven William M. Jennings defense, and the goaltending to compete. But great teams also employ thoughtful roster construction and an injection of youthful talent on cheap contracts that dovetail with a proven veteran presence.

The Kings will have all that working for them this season. That makes them more than a dark horse Pacific contender. Don't sleep on 'em.
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