10 Offseason Questions Still Facing the Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings have gone from a poorly-managed, disappointing team to a bona fide contender.

Their young core of Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Drew Doughty, and Jack Johnson are a great foundation to build upon.

Kopitar had 34 goals and 81 points last year and looks like he could be a consistent 30-goal player if he stays healthy during his time in LA.

The youngest captain in Kings history, Brown is a chippy American player who has a great locker room presence. He has had 24 goals in the last two seasons and will look to replicate the 33-goal season he had in 2007.

Both Doughty and Johnson were Olympians and are comparable to what Nashville has in Shea Weber and Ryan Suter—a young, outstanding defensive pair.

Can the Team Build Off of Last Year's Momentum?

For the first time since the NHL Lockout, the Los Angeles Kings have made the playoffs. After an 101-point season—the franchise's first 100-point season since 1990—the Kings have generated interest in LA and finally begun rewarding their loyal fanbase (90 percent attendance every season since the lockout) for filling the Staples Center on game night.

The Kings must come roaring out of the gates in order to fill the Staples Center and make their games a hot ticket in LA. With competing interests in the city, (Dodgers, Lakers, weather, nightlife, etc.) the Kings cannot afford to slip up early.

Will Doughty Continue to Improve?

Drew Doughty is entering his third year in the league after a 16-goal, 59-point sophomore season. Remember, he's a defenseman.

With his unbelievable spin move and high hockey IQ, Doughty has become a legitimate threat from the back end and should be in the conversation as one of the best defensemen in the league.

Now that a solid core has been build in LA, coach Terry Murray is more willing to open up gameplay and let his scoring players freewheel in the offensive zone in order to find the back of the net. This should allow Doughty more room to work and let it rip from the blueline.

Is Anze Kopitar the Real Deal?

Since entering the league four years ago, Kopitar, who was passed over by ten teams before he was selected 11th overall in 2005, has had two 30-goal seasons.

Kopitar started off last season well, but slowed down in the second half. As the Kings' go-to guy on offense—now that Kovalchuk has re-signed with New Jersey—Kopitar must be a dominant force in the NHL in order for his team to advance deep into the playoffs.

Is Jonathan Quick a Franchise Goaltender?

The 2005 Draft also produced Jonathan Quick, a goaltender from Connecticut who was selected in the third round.

It was only three years ago that Quick was the netminder of the Reading Royals of the ECHL after spending two years at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

He rapidly moved up the ranks, however, and two years ago, after spending 14 games in the AHL, the Kings made him their starting goaltender. Last year he started 72 games and was a part of the US hockey team at the Vancouver Olympics.

Only time will tell, but the Kings may have found their goaltender of the future.

How Much Does Ryan Smyth Have Left in the Tank?

Received in a trade with Colorado before the 2009 season, the longtime Edmonton Oiler joined the Kings to provide guidance to a young team.

Smyth's veteran presence had a profound effect on the team and his 22 goals provided needed offense to take pressure off of Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar. In five of the last six seasons he has had at least 20 goals.

However, Smyth is 34-years-old and in the latter half of his career. He should have at least two more good years, but he's been injured and the Kings must hope he can keep his production up for the team to take the next step.

How Will LA Perform Against the Western Conference?

The time to take the Pacific is now. The only major threat to the Kings are their Northern California rivals in San Jose. Dallas and Anaheim are going through a youth movement, and Phoenix lacks direction.

Getting home ice in the playoffs should help the Kings as the Staples Center is a loud arena and the Kings should get a better matchup as a top seed.

Outside of the division, the Blackhawks may have lost talent in the off season due to cap issues, but their defensive system still will be troubling for the Kings.

The Red Wings always pose a threat, but the Kings are young and quick and may be too much for Detroit to handle.

Vancouver matched up well with LA last year. The Kings are going to have to send a message in the regular season that they are ready to send the 'Nucks back home if the two teams meet in the playoffs.

Colorado, Nashville, and St. Louis are all young, up-and-coming teams that should not be overlooked. Colorado made waves with their impressive season last year, but Nashville and St. Louis still ride under the radar.

Both teams could pull an upset if they take the ice against the Kings in the playoffs.

How Will the Kings Fare Against the Defending Division Champions?

The Sharks have won the Pacific Division three years in a row and have been perennial playoff contenders since the lockout, but have been unable to win it all since the franchise's inception in 1991.

LA could be a major threat to their Californian brethren this year. The Sharks have lost Rob Blake and were unable to sign Niklas Hjalmarsson, leaving a hole in their defense.

Marc-Eduard Vlasic has stepped his game up the last few seasons and Dan Boyle and Douglas Murray remain on the team, but the Kings should play aggressively against the Sharks in order to put pressure on their young defensemen.

Creating a bona fide rivalry with the Sharks would be beneficial for both franchises. Both teams will be great for years to come and would guarantee that six games a year there will be a packed house and excitement in the NHL community about the future of hockey in California.

Last year the Kings split the season series with the Sharks. Their first game against the Sharks is November 15th in San Jose.

Are the Coyotes a Real Threat?

The Coyotes came out of nowhere last year. Following an offseason filled with rumors of departure, bankruptcy hearings, and a divorce with hockey great Wayne Gretzky, the 'Yotes appeared destined for failure.

Phoenix emerged from this mess as one of the best teams in the league. The finished second in the Pacific with 107 points and were the fourth seed in the playoffs.

However, the team may have taken a step backwards in the offseason. Ray Whitney came over from Carolina and Derek Morris re-signed, but the team lost budding star Zbynek Michalek and speedster Matthew Lombardi.

The 'Yotes should not be a major threat to the Kings this season. They certainly should not take them by surprise.

Last year the teams split the season series. The Kings play the Coyotes in Phoenix on October 21st in their first division matchup of the season.

Will Dallas Return to Form in 2010?

Dallas looks like they are a few years away from entering playoff contention, but when the Stars' young phenoms adjust to the NHL game the team will be difficult to play against.

The Stars have not been to the playoffs since the 2007 season and their fans expect the team to be competitive every year.

This team should not be counted out. They could be very good in the near future.

The team did not add any impact players in the offseason. All signs point to rebuilding, as the team is probably saving money to reward their young players when their payday comes around.

The Kings matched up well against the Stars last year. They came one game from sweeping the Stars, only to have Dallas take the last game in the Staples Center.

This year should not be much different, as LA is the more experienced and better team. Their first game is October 28th in Texas.

Who is the Best Team in Southern California?

The Ducks, who entered the league in 1993—26 years after the Kings—are California's only Stanley Cup Champions. They missed the playoffs for the first time since the lockout last year and will be looking to get back into the mix this year.

Anaheim may be a few years away from another playoff birth. Chris Pronger and Jean-Sebastien Giguere are no longer on the team and Teemu Selanne is aging.

However, the team does have a solid core of Jonas Hiller, Corey Perry, and Ryan Getzlaf and up-and-coming players in Bobby Ryan, Dan Sexton, and Ryan Carter.

The Kings took four games from their So Cal rivals last year. This year they could probably win five or six. The teams take the ice in Anaheim on November 29th this season.