Predicting the Best Player at Each Position for the Los Angeles Kings in 5 Years

The Los Angeles Kings are built for success now. As they attempt to create a dynasty, many of the key pieces will remain intact, and the core group of four or five players will likely be together five or more years down the road. 

Predicting who the leaders will be for the next five, even 10 years, is easy. Players like Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty and Jonathan Quick are the standouts. 

But, will they still be the best players at their positions? Find out as we predict the Kings' top player at each position in five years.

Center: Anze Kopitar

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Anze Kopitar, at 27, is just entering the prime of his career. In five years, he may be at the beginning of a slow decline, but he should still be the best L.A. center and maybe one of the best centers in the league.

Like Alex Ovechkin, Kopitar is a dominant force every year. With Ovechkin, it's goals—30 or more every season. With Kopitar, it's his two-way abilities. Not easily measured statistically, the Slovenian forward is one of the best in the world in all three zones. 

Five years from now, he should still be producing 60-plus points, but more importantly, he will still rank among the likes of Jonathan Toews in terms of the league's best two-way forwards. 

Left Wing: Tanner Pearson

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No guarantees here.

While many of the other top player predictions appear obvious, the left wing spot is more up in the air. The Kings have struggled to find players to thrive on the left wing in recent years, but when you've won two Stanley Cups, it's obviously not a huge issue. 

For now, Tanner Pearson is the favorite. The 6'1", 200-pound winger has shown a lot of potential during his short time in L.A., especially when playing on That '70s Line. 

In 25 playoff games, he's racked up 12 points, proving he can perform in pressure-filled situations. At age 22, there is plenty of time to improve, and he likely will.

Right Wing: Tyler Toffoli

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Tyler Toffoli was given an incredible and unique opportunity in his first year in the NHL. After playing just 10 regular-season games in 2012-13, he jumped into the lineup in the playoffs, playing 12 games and registering six points. 

He's been an offensive threat for L.A. ever since. Toffoli is just 22 years old now, meaning he will be entering his prime in five years. With players like Marian Gaborik, Dustin Brown and Justin Williams getting into their mid-30s, the door is open for Toffoli to be the team's best winger. 

Toffoli is a well-rounded player now. He's fully committed to playing defense and sacrificing his body and personal stats for the good of the team. Imagine what he can do with a little more ice time and a few years of experience. 

Defenseman: Drew Doughty

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Drew Doughty is 25 and somehow hasn't won a Norris Trophy. In fact, he hasn't been nominated since his second season in the league five years ago. 

That looks like it could change this season, and by the time 2020 rolls around, expectations are Doughty will have won at least one Norris and earned plenty of nominations. 

On a team that is filled with solid defensive players, Doughty is asked to do it all every night. He's among the NHL's leaders in ice time this season and is producing on offense at a rate that could see him hit the 50-point mark. 

The Kings could trade for just about any player in the league, and Doughty would likely still be the team's top blueliner in five years.

Goaltender: Jonathan Quick

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Jonathan Quick hasn't always been as consistent as Kopitar and Doughty, so he may not be as much of a lock as they are. However, barring a major personal downturn in performance or a drastic decline in the team's play, Quick will likely be the team's starter in five years.

They have invested in the American netminder long-term, and every time a crucial game is played, Quick comes up big. This is a goaltender who played and won three consecutive Game 7s before hoisting the Stanley Cup last year with a Game 5 win over the Rangers. 

Quick is 29 now, and 34 isn't too old for a goaltender, although considering his heavy workload in recent years, the number of games he starts in the early 2020s should be down considerably.