GDHQNHL15_4pg-L.A. Kings 1

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LOS ANGELES WESTERN CONFERENCE KINGS PACIFIC DIVISION Jonathan Quick, Jake Muzzin, Marc Staal Offense One of the most perplexing things about the Kings in recent years has been their lack of success scoring despite the talent they have on their roster. Last season, the Kings finished 26th in goals scored per game with 2.4, only for their offense to explode with 3.4 goals per game in the playoffs. The Kings would certainly rather figure out how to score in the playoffs than in the regular season, but it’s still something the team should place a focus on in the upcoming season. The Kings are full of forwards who are strong on both ends of the ice. Leading the way is top-line center Anze Kopitar, a smart player who doubles as perhaps the Kings’ best defender. Kopitar is rarely out of position and almost never gets beat in his own zone, but sometimes goes through stretches of quiet play without much scoring. The same could be said of almost every forward on the Kings’ roster. Jeff Carter returns as the best pure goal scorer on the team. Carter scored 27 goals last season, and chipped in with 23 assists as well as he showcased improved passing skills. Most of the other forwards on the team simply didn’t produce up to expectations. Captain Dustin Brown scored just 27 points, Justin Williams scored 43, and Mike Richards scored 41 and was demoted all the way to the fourth line. The team got a huge boost from a midseason trade that brought Marian Gaborik onto the team. Gaborik was excellent on Los Angeles, scoring 16 points in 19 regular season games before adding 14 goals in the playoffs. This team has too much talent to end up among the Key Additions: Adam Cracknell, David Van Der Gulik Key Subtractions: Willie Mitchell Strengths: Defense, goaltending, puck possession Weaknesses: Scoring, power play PHOTO/NHL/Getty Images


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