Looking to Get Crowned

LOS ANGELES KINGS

2012-13 record: 27-16-5 (59 points)
Lost to Chicago in Conference Finals
Captain: Dustin Brown

The Los Angeles Kings were hardly the team that won the Stanley Cup for much of last season, as they meandered to a fifth place finish in the Western Conference.  Once the playoffs began, however, they were their usual selves...for the first two series.  Unfortunately, they ran into a buzzsaw in Chicago and were ousted in five games in the Conference Finals.  Much of the same players from the last two seasons return, meaning that the Kings are once again near the top of the list of teams that could take home the Stanley Cup come June 2014.  For that to happen, the Kings will need to rediscover an offensive touch that disappeared in the playoffs, particularly on the road.  That means Anze Kopitar will once again need to be the team's leader on offense and someone other than Jeff Carter and Justin Williams will need to step up on offense.  Mike Richards will get his share of points feeding Carter, but Dustin Brown needs to shake off a disappointing playoff effort.  On the blue line, Slava Voynov is emerging as a top offensive defenseman, and as much as Drew Doughty needs to rediscover his offensive game, he is the team's best all-around defenseman, as he can play both ends of the ice.  The question here is whether Willie Mitchell can recover from an injury that wiped out his 2012-13 campaign, as his presence could offset the loss of Rob Scuderi to free agency.  Jonathan Quick wasn't at his best for much of the season, but he was himself as more was on the line late in the season, but he will have a new backup, as Jonathan Bernier was flipped for Ben Scrivens.

Prospects: Tyler Toffoli received an audition during the playoffs, and he will almost certainly be on the opening night roster.  He provides another offensive weapon, which is great news for either Kopitar or Richards.  Even Jarrett Stoll can be the beneficiary if Toffoli starts on the third line.  No else is ready to immediately contribute, but should injuries hit, the possibilities to make the jump are likely coming from Manchester of the AHL, as Tanner Pearson, Linden Vey, and Brandon Kozun are players they will consider.

Prediction: 1st in the Pacific Division

The Kings are still in the same division as their in-state rivals Anaheim and San Jose, but now, they also have Vancouver to contend with.  The good news is that while much of the Kings' roster remains the same, the other teams, especially San Jose and Vancouver, are facing a rapidly closing window to win it all.  A division title (they were eighth when they won it all in 2012 and were fifth last year) would be a great reward for the consistency the Kings have shown the last two years.