The Los Angeles Kings have not won a playoff series since winning the Stanley Cup in 2014. And as thrilling as Alec Martinez’s OT game-winner was for Kings fans, it took place almost 11 years ago.
In many NHL markets, a decade without a playoff series win would set off alarm bells and maybe cost people a few jobs. LA’s ownership group, however, has shown a ton of patience with the front office, and in turn, management has passed on this patience to its veteran core.
Franchise legends like Dustin Brown, Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar, and Jonathan Quick were afforded multiple shots at winning a third Stanley Cup but could never reconjure the magic of 2012 and 2014.
During last summer’s exit interview press conference, club president Luc Robitaille likened the organization to a “big family.” This is, of course, a notion that everyone can understand. We may have disagreements in our family, but we remain loyal. In many respects, loyalty is a true virtue. It can be highly commendable to display loyalty, but is it conducive to winning in the NHL? Unfortunately, loyalty can create blind spots that hinder one’s ability to see things as they are.
For those who care to look at things head-on, the state of the LA Kings is far from rosy. Although general manager Rob Blake and Robitaille talked about adding to the team to get them to the next level, the Kings are regressing. As of this writing, the Kings have scored just 165 goals. Only Calgary, San Jose, and Anaheim have scored fewer goals. At the end of last season, LA ranked 16th in scoring at 3.10 GF/G. Contrast that with their current position this season: 22nd in the league at 2.81 GF/G.
Last year’s team finished 11th in the NHL on the power play at 22.6%. So far this season, they sit 30th overall, at 15.2%. How about their road record? Last year: 22-15-4. This year so far: 12-17-5. Even with the rosiest of rose-colored glasses, this is not trending like a team that can finally vanquish their one-sided nemesis, the Edmonton Oilers.
While it’s true that LA still plays a very stingy brand of defense, allowing only 159 goals so far this year, good for second only to Dallas (155) in the Western Conference, they still can’t score. Is there any reason to believe this team can win 2-1 16 times in April, May, and June? The bottom line is that the Kings don’t have the firepower to win a series against the likes of Vegas, Edmonton, or Winnipeg. Adrian Kempe, LA’s leading scorer, is 54th in the league in scoring. Captain Anze Kopitar, 59th. No disrespect to them, but how does that match up with McDavid, Draisaitl, and Eichel come playoff time?
To be blunt, it doesn’t. The LA Kings must let go of the past and evolve to today’s game. Scoring goals is the only real currency in this league, and the current configuration of this proud franchise simply cannot compete with the true heavyweights in the Western Conference.
Hopefully, this family will have a tough talk and do what is necessary to change this team’s trajectory.
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