This Offseason Will Speak Volumes About Where the LA Kings Stand
This offseason is a massive one for the Los Angeles Kings. Plenty of movement is expected, including trades, free-agent signings, a new head coach, and possibly a new GM or president.
In fact, this is what they need: a total rebranding of the Kings’ hockey.
The past few seasons have not been pleasant to watch, as most Kings fans can agree.
Now that Anze Kopitar is retired, Los Angeles is trying to revamp its roster into a playoff contender again. What other things do the Kings need to do this offseason?
Replacing Kopitar will not be easy, nor will it be as simple as naming some players captain. This also means replacing the top-tier two-way game, the leadership, and the confidence in his teammates. Someone on this Kings’ roster will be named the new captain and hold the biggest responsibility of their career. Who will it be? Adrian Kempe? Drew Doughty? Whoever it is has to have the voice to get this team back on track and lead by example. Replacing Kopitar in the center position will be hard enough. Replacing him as captain is nearly impossible.
The expectation is that head coach D.J.Smith will not be back. There has been no formal announcement about his future, but we can further explain that available coaches put his job in severe danger. The Kings need a new voice who will take control of this team and force them to play Kings hockey. Jim Hiller and Smith could not get this team to play on the same page most nights, and that will be a requirement. Someone who has won a Stanley Cup before. Someone who is not afraid to shake things up and someone who does not tolerate lazy hockey.
There are several candidates out there who will automatically change the face of this organization. Now, GM Ken Holland has to bring him in to start changing the way this team functions.
Evaluating critical gaps across the active roster will be crucial for Los Angeles this offseason. Kempe is the only true goal scorer. Doughty and Mikey Anderson are the only legit defensive pairing. The top six need a shakeup, and the bottom six need a total redo. The bottom two defensive pairings need a change aside from Brandt Clarke. The goaltending duo from last season both need to move on. Holland has to be busy this offseason and make better decisions on who he brings in, or this could be a repeat of last season.
The roster desperately needs to change from top to bottom. This is not a cup-contending team.
This is a middle-of-the-pack team in the Pacific Division that could lose out on the playoffs next season.
Change is necessary and needed.
Teams are easily leaping over them, and this team needs a new direction fast.
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Categorized:Kings