Goaltending questions remain as Jim Hiller begins first full season as Los Angeles Kings coach
Los Angeles Kings head coach Jim Hiller, front right, talks to players on the bench during the second period of a preseason NHL hockey game against the Utah Hockey Club, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Salt Lake City. Credit: AP/Spenser Heaps
Los Angeles Kings
Last season: 44-27-11, lost in first round of playoffs.
COACH: Jim Hiller (21-12-1 in one season).
SEASON OPENER: Oct. 10 at Buffalo.
DEPARTURES: LW Pierre-Luc Dubois, RW Carl Grundstrom, LW Viktor Arvidsson, C Blake Lizotte, D Matt Roy, G Cam Talbot.
ADDITIONS: G Darcy Kuemper, D Kyle Burroughs, D Joel Edmundson, LW Warren Foegele, LW Tanner Jeannot.
GOALIES: Darcy Kuemper (13-14-3, 36-17-4-6, 3.31 goals-against average, 0.890 save percentage with Washington), David Rittich (13-6-3, 2.15, 0.920).
BetMGM STANLEY CUP ODDS: 25-1.
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (8) skates with the puck during the first period an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, March 16, 2024. Credit: AP/LM Otero
What to expect
The Kings have reached the playoffs three straight seasons and five times since winning their second Stanley Cup in 2014, but have not advanced beyond the first round. Hiller will be in his first full season behind the bench and has abandoned the 1-3-1 neutral trap style under Todd McLellan in favor of a 1-2-2, which should allow forwards to be more aggressive pushing the puck up the ice. Anze Kopitar and Trevor Lewis remain from 2012 and ‘14 Cup winning teams, but Drew Doughty is expected to miss most of the regular season after suffering a broken ankle in a preseason game. With Vancouver and Edmonton at the top of the Pacific Division, along with Seattle, Vegas and Anaheim making offseason improvements, Los Angeles didn’t do much retooling and could struggle to make the playoffs. General manager Rob Blake is in the final year of his contract, and is known more for mismanaging contracts (an extension to goalie Cal Petersen and trading for Pierre-Luc Dubois) than making improvements.
Strengths and weaknesses
The good: Kopitar and Adrian Kempe make for a formidable duo on the top line. Kempe led the team in scoring with 75 points (28 goals, 47 assists) and Kopitar had 70 points, including 26 goals. Doughty's injury is significant, but Jordan Spence and Brandt Clarke could move up on the depth chart. Clarke, the eighth overall pick in the 2021 draft, can also help on offense with two goals and six points in 16 games last season.
The not-so-good: The Kings don't have a long-term answer at goaltender. Kuemper had a career-low save percentage last season and was the Capitals' No. 2. Rittich was solid during the regular season, including a career-high three shutouts, but struggled in the playoffs after replacing Cam Talbot, who ended up signing with Detroit during the offseason.
Players to watch
Quinton Byfield, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 draft, had a breakout season with 20 goals and 55 points before signing a five-year, $31.25 million extension in the offseason. Byfield will move from left wing to center on a line that includes Kevin Fiala. Forwards Alex Turcotte, the fifth overall pick in the 2019 draft, and Akil Thomas should compete for playing time on the bottom two lines after making impacts late last season.
