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The numbers don't show it, but Alexander Frolov is coming off his best year as a Los Angeles King. After being plagued with a groin injury for the first three months of the season, a new and much improved Frolov showed up for the second half...

Alexander Frolov Must Step Up for Los Angeles Kings to Contend

by David London (Contributor)

8

750 reads

Opinion

August 04, 2008


The numbers don't show it, but Alexander Frolov is coming off his best year as a Los Angeles King.
After being plagued with a groin injury for the first three months of the season, a new and much improved Frolov showed up for the second half. Gone were the days of 10 goals in five games, followed up by a disappearing act for two weeks.
After January 1, Alexander put up 19 goals and 25 assists in 42 games. The search for a second-line center was ended when Jarret Stoll was brought in. There is no reason to believe that a healthy Frolov could eclipse 40 goals and 100 points.

I expect new head coach Terry Murray to tinker around a bit, but when the regular season starts you should expect to see Stoll, Frolov, and either Kyle Calder or Ted Purcell playing left wing on the second unit.

Frolov is at his best in the corners and on the half wall. His size and strength allow him to get position on any size defender or forward. His head is always up, and if he isn't making the pass to the slot, he is out-muscling defenders to the far post for a wrap-around

Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown are really coming into their own, and Patrick O'Sullivan was a great addition to the top line last year. If you add a 40/100 campaign in for Frolov, the Kings will have two legitimate scoring lines with a bunch of youngsters chomping at the bit to make an impact.

The Kings are going to have their fair share of 7-5 wins this year, but if they want to compete past December they are going to have to learn to win the 2-1 games. The top two lines will be up to this task, but the question marks lie elsewhere. The back line has added some much needed grit and physicality, but the impact defensemen are still pretty young and will be prone to errors.

Jason LaBarbera is more than capable of carrying a 60-game load. If he doesn't, there are three young netminders who are prepared to show that they are.

One thing I am sure of—if Frolov is pushing for a 50-goal season come March, you just might see the Kings in the thick of things.

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8 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Joe MacDonald 11 months ago

    I actually agree with you David. I think the Kings have a lot of young, talented players and if they develop a little sooner than expected, the Kings won't be nearly as bad as everyone expects them to be in 2008-09. Good first article.

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  2. Kevin Ramos 11 months ago

    Wow you're dreaming, I'm a kings a fan but this team could quite honestly be the worst team the kings have ever assembled. they'll be great offensively but defensively they'll get blown away. I'm pretty sure based on their current roster doughty will make this team along with Hickey which will result in tons of rookie mistakes and long season for the team.

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  3. Kevin Ramos 11 months ago

    One more thing we'll be in the lottery next year which will mean we can either draft Tavares or that big sweedish defenseman, lombardi is assembling a plethora of young superstars, but we're still a while away from being competitive.

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  4. Dutch Crieger 11 months ago

    I agree With you "There is no reason to believe that a healthy Frolov could eclipse 40 goals and 100 points." He won't. What is hte point in assembling a good young group if you kick them loose as soon as their contract is up (Lubo, Cammi, O'Sullivan???)

    Thsi team will finish dead last in the league period.

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    • Preacher Roe 10 months ago

      Lubo's contract wasn't up and neither was Cammi's. Lubo wasn't young either and Cammi disappointed badly. If you watched the Kings at all, you could see that after he came back from his injury, he had lost it. He just didn't have his touch. O'Sullivan is a restricted free agent, he can't play for anybody else, so he'll be back eventually. Frolov could easily score 40 goals if he plays like he did last year. Don't make fun of somebody else's grammar mistake when you're obviously pretty dumb yourself.

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    • Preacher Roe 10 months ago

      "What it hte point in assemblin a good young group if you kick them loose as soon as their contract is up?"
      I'd tell you if I knew what hte means...and I don't think "thsi" team will finish dead last, they'll sneak into the playoffs.

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  5. David London 10 months ago

    I was against unloading core players. If Stoll signs for more than a year then the Kings win the Visnovsky deal. With the Cammalleri deal, nobody will ever know until Colton Teubert is in the league 2 years from now.

    You can't judge the deals right away. Everyone screamed when Demitra was dealt for O'Sullivan and the pick that turned out to be Trevor Lewis. Lewis has an NHL future in front of him and Sully is proving to be a wonderful addition. As long as the re-building of the franchise makes a turn for the better I will continue to trust in the GM.

    Lombardi is on a short leash, but as soon as he finds his goaltender (which I think he has), the Kings will be better off for it. My in depth netminder article will be out tomorrow, I hope everyone continues to read....Thank you.

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  6. J.C. Ayvazi 10 months ago

    Sadly, I do not think the days of ten goals in five days followed up by two weeks hiding in the San Andres Fault are over for Mr. Frolov. He has always been wildly inconsistent and I see no reason that will change. It is not like there is a couple of superstar lines that will draw the other teams best defenders away and allow Frolov to prey on weaker players.

    I would have preferred if Frolov was dealt instead of Cammy, but his outlandish contract demands coupled with weak pay made him more of a target to the front office. Viz was just damn disappointing. His drop off last year was surprising. Maybe a change of scenery is what he needs. Knowing the Kings luck in dealing top drawer defencemen, it will be.

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