5 Reasons Why Los Angeles Kings Fans Should Be Worried in 2014-15

The Los Angeles Kings are the defending Stanley Cup champions. They've made three consecutive Western Conference Final trips and won their first championship in franchise history in 2011-12. 

This is a very talented, deep, well-coached and managed team. But that doesn't mean there aren't reasons for fans to worry. 

The Kings will begin their title defense on October 8, when they host the San Jose Sharks in what should be one of the most anticipated games of the season. The Sharks are one of many teams in the conference that has the ability to knock off the Kings come spring. After all, they nearly did in last season. 

These are the biggest reasons fans should be worried about the Kings as the 2014-15 NHL season gets underway. 

Tough Division

Nick Lust/Getty Images

It's difficult to argue that any team in the Pacific Division got significantly worse in the offseason. The only team that isn't expected to contend at all is the Calgary Flames. 

The three California teams remain the favorites, while the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers and Arizona Coyotes are all looking to work their way into the postseason.

The Anaheim Ducks and Sharks both finished ahead of the Kings last season, and there is no reason they can't again this year. 

The Ducks lost Saku Koivu and Teemu Selanne but added veterans Dany Heatley and Ryan Kesler. The Sharks lost Brad Stuart, Martin Havlat and Dan Boyle and added John Scott, Tye McGinn and Taylor Fedun. They also have Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl who are looking to play a much bigger role this season. 

The Kings may be favorites to win the Cup, but winning in the regular season has proved a more difficult task. 

Jonathan Quick's Health

Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images

Jonathan Quick has had one of the heaviest workloads among NHL goaltenders in recent years, with three deep playoff runs and an Olympic appearance with Team USA. 

However, he's also missed some time due to injuries, the latest being with his wrist. He is still recovering from surgery in June, but according to Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times, Quick is "working hard to get ready for the team’s final preseason games in October." 

If this does become an issue throughout the season, L.A. would have to turn to an unproved backup in Martin Jones. Jones has incredible stats with a 12-6 record, .934 save percentage, 1.81 goals-against average and four shutouts, but his NHL experience includes just 19 games. 

Kings fans shouldn't be nervous at this moment, but this is something to follow as the season progresses. 

Departures

Juan Ocampo/Getty Images

This shouldn't have a dramatic impact, but still the loss of three players with very different styles is concerning. Colin Fraser, Willie Mitchell and Linden Vey have moved on, and they haven't been replaced. 

Colin Fraser is a veteran player who offers grit and a great presence as a leader. He will now suit up for the St. Louis Blues. Linden Vey brings skill, speed and solid two-way abilities to the Vancouver Canucks. His departure will have more of an impact in the long term than short.

The key player is Willie Mitchell. Yes, he is aging and isn't the same player he was two or three years ago, and yes, the Kings' young defenders are proving themselves. However, L.A. is still losing a great shutdown defender who never gets thrown off his game and is willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win. 

Luckily he will suit up for the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference.  

Age and Fatigue

Bill Smith/Getty Images

The Kings aren't one of the oldest teams in the NHL; however, some of the players seem a lot older than they are. 

The most notable being Mike Richards, who at age 29 should be in the midst of his prime. Instead, he's struggled. Richards needs to be better in all three zones and have more of an impact offensively. It's obvious he can't continue to be a fourth-line center. 

Most of the Kings' roster has gone through three deep playoff runs; that's a lot of high-intensity hockey. In 2009-10 the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings appeared to simply run out of gas after back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances. 

Will fatigue be a factor for the Kings? They always seem to save their best for the playoffs, but making four straight trips to the conference final seems unlikely for any team. 

Defending the Cup

Noah Graham/Getty Images

Fans should be worried for the simple reason that this isn't the 1990s. The salary cap has brought parity, and gone are the days when the Detroit Red Wings, Colorado Avalanche and New Jersey Devils dominated the postseason. 

The last team to defend its title was the Red Wings, winning back-to-back in 1997 and 1998. The Chicago Blackhawks came as close as any team has in recent years but lost to the Kings in overtime of Game 7 of the Western Conference Final. 

The Blackhawks will be back, and they will be deeper at center with the addition of Brad Richards. The script could be flipped once again in 2014-15 with Chicago getting by the Kings.

Perhaps it's Anaheim's year, or maybe a team from the Eastern Conference will show up healthy and on a roll heading into the Final. 

Regardless, it should be another entertaining season.