The 2022-23 NHL season starts Oct. 7. With training camps opening soon, NHL.com is taking a look at the three keys, the inside scoop on roster questions, and the projected lineup for each of the 32 teams. Today, the Los Angeles Kings.
Coach: Todd McLellan (fourth season)
Last season: 44-27-11, third in Pacific Division; lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference First Round
3 KEYS
1. What’s next?
The Kings are energized after pushing the Edmonton Oilers to Game 7 of the Western Conference First Round last season and have the ideal mix of youth and experience to evolve this season. Acquiring forward Kevin Fiala in a trade with the Minnesota Wild on June 29 and signing him to a seven-year contract gives Los Angeles a potential difference-maker; the 26-year-old had an NHL career-high 85 points (33 goals, 52 assists) with Minnesota last season. There’s also hope homegrown prospect Adrian Kempe can continue to break through after the 26-year-old forward scored an NHL career-high 35 goals last season.
2. Who’s next?
Kempe, Arthur Kaliyev21, Rasmus Kupari22, and Quinton Byfield, 20, are part of a forward core that will determine long-term success. Byfield, the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, enters his first full NHL season healthy and with the highest ceiling. He used the offseason to work on face-offs, met with his skating coach 2-3 times a week and had video calls with player development coach Jarret Stoll to discuss defensive positioning.
3. The old guard
How much longer can captain Anze Kopitar35, defenseman Drew Doughty32, and goalie Jonathan Quick, 36, stave off Father Time? Kopitar’s 67 points (19 goals, 48 assists) were his most since an NHL career-high 92 (35 goals, 57 assists) in 2017-18. Quick enters the final season of a 10-year contract after holding off Cal Petersen with his best totals (23 wins, 2.59 goals-against average, .910 save percentage) since that same season. Doughty led Kings defensemen with 31 points (seven goals, 24 assists) and an average ice time of 25:44 despite being limited to 39 games. He had a knee contusion, was in NHL COVID-19 protocol and did not play after March 7 because of a wrist injury that required surgery on April 11.
Video: NHL Tonight talks Adrian Kempe’s contract extension
ROSTER RUNDOWN
Making the cut
There will be competition on the left side of the defense Brandt Clarke, Sean Walker, Tobias Bjornfot and Jordan Spence. Walker is a wild card after having surgery for a torn ACL and MCL six games into last season. Any extra time he needs may create an opening for Clarke, a 19-year-old chosen with the No. 8 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, or Spence, a 21-year-old who averaged 19:45 of ice time in 24 regular-season games and 18:01 in three Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Most intriguing addition
Fiala projects at first-line right wing with Kopitar and Kempe; He finished last season with 51 points (20 goals, 31 assists) in his final 41 games. For the season, Fiala had 17 power-play points (five goals, 12 assists) and should lift a power play that was 27th in the NHL (16.1 percent).
Biggest potential surprise
It’s been easy outside the organization to forget about Alex Turcotte, a 21-year-old center whose career has been interrupted by two concussions that kept him out of on-ice activities at development camp. The no. 5 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft is on the roster for the Rookie Faceoff prospect tournament that began Friday. Turcotte is projected to play most of this season for Ontario in the American Hockey League. If he’s healthy and has game, he’ll have the look of a player who can spark the Kings down the stretch. He had 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 27 AHL games last season.
Ready to break through
Although Kaliyev had a promising rookie season on paper (27 points; 14 goals, 13 assists in 80 games), the numbers camouflage three goals in his last 26 regular-season games and no points with a minus-3 rating in seven playoff games. He’ll reunite with center Blake Lizotte and play with left wing Alex Iafallo on the third line. His ceiling is in the top six.
Fantasy sleeper
Trevor MooreLW/RW (undrafted on average in fantasy) — He had NHL career highs in points (48), goals (17), assists (31), plus/minus (plus-20) and shots on goal (202) last season. Moore ranked third on the Kings in 5-on-5 points per 60 minutes (1.97) and is a fantasy deep sleeper playing in their top-six forward group, which should get a boost from the acquisition of Fiala. — Anna Dua
PROJECTED LINEUP
Adrian Kempe — Anze Kopitar — Kevin Fiala
Trevor Moore — Phillip Danault — Viktor Arvidsson
Alex Iafallo — Blake Lizotte — Arthur Kaliyev
Gabriel Vilardi — Quinton Byfield — Rasmus Kupari
Mikey Anderson –Drew Doughty
Tobias Bjornfot — Matt Roy
Alexander Edler — Sean Durzi
Jonathan Quick
Cal Petersen
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