After winning two of the previous three Stanley Cups, and despite finishing with league-best possession stats, the Kings still missed the postseason and it’s been a rather tumultuous summer.

Centres Jarret Stoll and Mike Richards were let go after legal problems and Slava Voynov is on his way back to Russia with his family, so the Kings are looking for a fresh start in 2015-2016.

On the ice, they should still be contenders. They added left winger Milan Lucic, whose physical style ought to fit well with the Kings’ grinding game. Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter, Marian Gaborik and Tyler Toffoli are a talented enough core that the Kings should be able to score.

With Voynov’s status uncertain, the Kings did find a free agent bargain in veteran Christian Ehrhoff and he gives the Kings a sound group on the blueline. Drew Doughty could be a Norris Trophy candidate, and there has been steady development in recent seasons from Jake Muzzin, Alec Martinez and Brayden McNabb.

Goaltender Jonathan Quick’s reputation, built on the back of two Cup wins, is greater than his regular-season results, but he’s a quality starter.

All told, the Kings have enough talent on the roster to not only return to the playoffs, but be a Cup contender once again but, after last season, that can’t simply be assumed.

 

OFF-SEASON HEADLINES

June 26: Kings acquire power forward Milan Lucic from Bruins

June 29: Kings opt to terminate Mike Richards’ contract

August 23: Kings sign defenceman Christian Ehrhoff to one-year, $1.5 million deal

September 2: Slava Voynov taken into custody by U.S. Immigration

 

2015-16 LOS ANGELES KINGS

*Off-season Addition

 

Projected Lines

LW C RW
Milan Lucic* Anze Kopitar Marian Gaborik
Tanner Pearson Jeff Carter Tyler Toffoli
Dwight King Nick Shore Dustin Brown
Kyle Clifford Trevor Lewis Jordan Nolan
Andy Andreoff Jordan Weal  

Fighting For Jobs: C Nic Dowd, LW Adrian Kempe, RW Brian O'Neill

 

 

LD RD
Jake Muzzin Drew Doughty
Alec Martinez Christian Ehrhoff*
Brayden McNabb Matt Greene
  Jamie McBain

Fighting For Jobs: LD Derek Forbort, LD Jeff Schultz

 

Projected Goalies

No. 1 No. 2 No. 3
Jonathan Quick Jhonas Enroth Peter Budaj (PTO)

Off-season Departures: C Mike Richards, C Jarret Stoll, RW Justin Williams, D Andrej Sekera, G Martin Jones, D Robyn Regehr

Projected Lineup: Jon Rosen/LAKingsInsider.com

 

SERAVALLI'S THREE QUESTIONS

1. Who will step up on the blue line to replace the minutes left by the departing Slava Voynov?

2. Will Milan Lucic be rejuvenated in Los Angeles?

3. Can AHL MVPs Jordan Weal and Brian O’Neill crack the roster?

 

 

BUTTON'S TOP PROSPECTS

Top 2015-16 Prospect

C Jordan Weal (Manchester, AHL): There is room in LA and while not the biggest of players, he's skilled and competitive.

Long-Term Prospect

LW Adrian Kempe (MODO, SweHL): Excellent skater with speed, quickness and agility. Attacks offensively and plays in hard areas.

* Listed with 2014-15 teams

 

 

BY THE NUMBERS

 

Three-Year Breakdown (League Rank)

  2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Points 101 (7th)* 100 (10th) 95 (18th)
Goals For 2.7 (10th) 2.4 (26th) 2.7 (18th)
Goals Against 2.4 (T-7th) 2.1 (1st) 2.4 (4th)
Power Play 20% (T-10th) 15.1% (27th) 19% (11th)
Penalty Killing 83% (10th) 83% (11th) 81% (T-16th)
SAT% Possession 56.3% (1st) 56.8% (1st) 55.4% (1st)

* 2012-13 points: Pro-rated lockout-shortened total

 

ESTIMATED PAYROLL vs. CAP - $67.2M/$71.4M

The Kings somehow escaped their tight salary cap situation when they terminated centre Mike Richards’ contract. Between Richards’ contract going off the books and the potential of Slava Voynov’s legal difficulties affecting his eligibility, the Kings might end up with some cap flexibility, but this situation seems to be fluid until those two situations are ultimately resolved. This cap estimate doesn’t include Voynov’s contract ($4.167M), so the financial situation could get really tight if the Russian blueliner is allowed to play.

 

PARTING SHOT