Complete Guide to the 2015 Offseason for the Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are only the sixth team in NHL history to miss the playoffs the season after winning a Stanley Cup. The two-time champions in the past three seasons just couldnāt get it done, and for the first time in five years they will be going home in April.
Missing the playoffs is definitely a new situation, and it will force general manager Dean Lombardi to dissect his roster.Ā The Kings as currently constructed could get a quality Beverly Hills face-lift, and hereās a complete guide for the 2015 offseason.
Season Recap
1 of 8
Top Performers
Although the season was a disappointment, there is reason for fans to be hopeful for the future.
Once again Anze Kopitar led the team in scoring, and he finished with 64 points in 78 games. It was a bit of a down year for him offensively, but he further solidified himself as a quality two-way player.
Jeff Carter had another strong season, and he surpassed his point total from last season by tallying 62 points in 82 games. He just missed the 30-goal plateau, but it should be noted that heās become a bit of a playmaker.
Jake Muzzin was one of the Kingsā best defenders this year, and he doesnāt get enough credit for his all-around play. His 41 points in 76 games are outstanding, but his advanced stats numbers truly illustrate how valuable he was to the Kings.
Biggest Disappointments
This season a number of players failed to meet expectations or just simply underwhelmed based on their reputation.
Mike Richards was an absolute bust with 16 points in 53 games and was demoted to the AHL for a few weeks. He has really tailed off since coming to Los Angeles, and he could be a player who simply canāt hack it in the Western Conference.
Tanner Pearson scored just 12 goals, and it was disappointing to see him limited to only 42 games because of an injury. He has some solid potential, and he could be a serious 25-goal scorer next season.
Dustin Brown had another terrible season, and he has entered a rapid decline. If you take a look to his year-to-year points-per-game totals on Hockey-Reference, you will see that he is trending down in a big way.
He has a $5.75 million cap hit, and he is no longer an offensive threat. This is the fourth season in a row in which his overall production has dropped, and a rebound is unlikely to happen anytime soon.
Final Analysis
The Kings missed the playoffs because they didnāt win on the road or after regulation. Los AngelesĀ posted a record of 15-18-8 away from the Staples Center in 2014-15. Even worse than that, the Kings couldnāt win in games that went longer than 60 minutes, as they went 1-7 in regular overtime and 2-8 in the skills competition.Ā The loss of these points adds up and explains why they didnāt make the playoffs.
Biggest Storylines to Follow
2 of 8
- Will 2015-16 be Darryl Sutterās last season behind the bench?
- Will Los Angeles find a taker for Mike Richards?
- Can L.A. find a defender to help take pressure off Drew Doughty?
The Kings promoted John Stevens to associate head coach at the end of the 2013-14 season. The move was made to keep him under contract and to prevent him from leaving to join another franchise.
The timing was odd, especially when the team allowed him to pursue other offers before the start of the season. With this in mind, could the Kings be grooming him to take over for Darryl Sutter soon?
That seems to be the plan, and it could take effect even earlier than planned. Larry Brooks of the New York Post broke a story after the Kings' season was officially over, which included two sources who confirmed that the Kings kept Sutter out of the dressing room following a road loss toward the end of the season: "Slap Shots has been told by two sources that the Kings locked the door to their locker room following a defeat on the road within the last two weeks so that Sutter could not get in and deliver what the players apparently expected to be another in a series of lectures/tirades.'
This story adds some intrigue to the coaching situation and one that will likely be brought up during breakup day.
The second thing to look out for is whether or not general manager Dean Lombardi will be able to create some cap space. Mike Richardsā deal is a burden on a payroll that needs some wiggle room for key players who are up for new contracts.
There is a limited window to free Richardsā deal between the end of the season and free agency, but will Lombardi find a taker before or at the NHL draft? Richards no longer is a key fit for the team, as his roster spot has been taken by some of the Kingsā young and cheaper players like Tyler Toffoli, Tanner Pearson and Dwight King.
The most important objective for the Kings this offseason should be finding another workhorse defender who can eat major minutes.
The Kings rode Drew Doughty like a government mule this season, and fatigue was evident late in the year. Getting someone to ease his burden is key, because it would only enhance the Kingsā overall defensive depth. Maybe re-signing Andrej Sekera is a start, but there is still uncertainty with Slava Voynov's NHL future hanging in the balance.
Notable Players Hitting Free Agency
3 of 8
The Kings have a number of players who are slated to hit unrestricted free agency, and here are the most notable ones to enter the market.
Jarret Stoll: The Kingsā veteran bottom-six center is set to become a free agent and could look for a contract that increases from his current rate of $3.25 million. It may end up being too rich for the Kingsā blood.
Justin Williams: Mr. Game 7 has been a key contributor for the Kings over the past few seasons and is going to need a new deal. He has certainly earned a raise from his current rate of $3.05 million and could be targeted by a team in need of veteran scoring.
Andrej Sekera: The Kings traded their 2016 first-round pick and a prospect to acquire him, and he may be worth re-signing. He can play a minutes-eating role and may come at a reasonable rate.
Top Free-Agent Targets
4 of 8
The Kings are not in a situation to sign any meaningful players in free agency because of their tight cap situation. If they were to target someone, it would likely be Cody Franson, because he is a big physical defender who can chip in at a decent clip offensively.
He made $3.3 million with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nashville Predators, but that number could almost double this offseason based on the scarcity of upper-echelon defenders.Ā
Best Options in the NHL Draft
5 of 8
The Kings are going to draft 13th overall unless they win the lottery based on their place in the standings. If available, they should consider right winger Timo Meier or defender Oliver Kylington.
Meier is an explosive winger who has ideal size at 6ā1ā and 208 pounds, and his ability to shoot, pass and skate with the puck makes him a triple threat. Heās been one of the Halifax Mooseheadsā best players and could see a bigger role with the team next season.
He could make an impact in a similar way Tyler Toffoli has, and he could ultimately be a nice complement on his opposite wing.Ā
Kylington could end up being a huge steal, and the fact that he was loaned from his pro team may turn some teams away from him. There seems to be a stigma attached to players who are demoted, but it was a case of Kylington being a young player on a really good team.
He was one of the top-ranked European players this season, and heās a speedy skater who plays a solid two-way game. He did well playing in Sweden and has the skill to be a quality NHL defender.
Players Who Could Be on the Trade Block
6 of 8
Given the makeup of the current roster, only a few players could be on the block.Ā Mike Richards no longer fits the team, and it makes sense to try to move him. In addition to Richards, the team should deal Justin Williams at the draft, especially if the Kings feel that he is unlikely to re-sign with the team.
The Kings wouldnāt do it because of what he means to the team, but dealing Dustin Brown wouldnāt be a bad idea, because he is entering a rapid decline that could hamper the teamās success.
His offensive production has been in decline for a number of years, and in a cap world you can't pay almost $6 million for a fourth-line winger who puts up less than 30 points.
Prospects Most Likely to Debut in 2015-16
7 of 8
Derek Forbort was drafted in the 2010 draft, and he may be on the Kings roster full-time in 2015-16. The 6'4", 218-pounder is a defensive defender, and he could be a decent bottom-six defender.
He has spent the majority of his career with the Manchester Monarchs and is still considered a prospect because he has not made his NHL debut. He isn't the only defender from the 2010 draft who is trying to make a name for himself, as Dylan McIlrath of the New York Rangers hasn't made the jump yet either.
Projected Depth Chart
8 of 8
The Kings have a number of decisions to make this summer, and they will look to create some cap space. Right now they are up against the cap, so here is a projected depth chart based on players currently under contract in addition to those who could be re-signed this summer.
Marian Gaborik | Anze Kopitar | Dustin Brown
Tanner Pearson| | Jeff Carter | Tyler Toffoli
Dwight King | Nick Shore| Kyle Clifford
Jordan Nolan | Trevor Lewis |Ā Andy Andreoff
Jake Muzzin | Drew Doughty
Andrej Sekera | Alec Martinez
Brayden McNabb | Matt Greene
Jonathan Quick
Martin Jones
.jpg?w=600 "Report: Lawrence Wants Out of NY")
.png?w=600 "Trae Responds to NYC Mayor š¤«")
.jpg?w=600 "Browns GM Speaks on Trade Buzz")