The holidays are a good time to gauge where the team is at. With more than 30 games already played, the Los Angeles Kings can't complain about where they are. A 19-10-5 record placed them in third place in the Pacific Division just one point behind the Edmonton Oilers, who will play after the holiday break.
The Kings have a lot going for them this season and when you consider that they were without star defenseman Drew Doughty, had a two-game, seven-game road trip, and a rookie and the lack of experience they have throughout their lineup, it was surprising. Look at the Kings who have been so successful so far.
The Kings have done a good job so far this season but that doesn't mean they have played well. It's Christmas time and whether something needs to change or needs to stay the same, what better opportunity for the Kings to ask Santa what he wants for the new year?
Since it's Christmas Day, here's what the Kings should be asking Santa for.
Wish One: Success on the Power Play
Even though the Kings played well, their intensity game was the complete opposite. If there was one area of their game that you could point to as dragging them down, it would be this.
The Kings power play is seventh in the league at 15.9%. They have had 88 chances and converted only 14. The team just finished a seven-game road trip in which they had 11 power plays. Of these 11, they scored once. It's really surprising how difficult it is for the Kings to score against a man. They have scored 74 goals at 5-on-5 which is the fifth most of any team in the league.
It is clear that it is not difficult for the Kings to put the puck in the net, so why is it a challenge when they have more athletes on the ice, more space in the offensive zone, and their five best players together? It doesn't make sense.
It's not like the Kings saw terrible success on the power play and didn't try anything to fix it. We've seen head coach Jim Hiller throw in a few different units from time to time to see if a spark can emerge. The biggest difference has been riding on a front five starting unit with Kempe quarterbacking it on the point. That didn't work out too well and it was only a matter of time before defender Brandt Clarke returned to the first team.
Recently, this first team included Clarke, Kempe, Anze Kopitar, Quinton Byfield, and Kevin Fiala who not only led the team in scoring last season but also led the team this season with five.
If there is one positive to take from the disappointing power play it would be the fact that as of late they are creating more chances, having better puck movement, and spending more in the offensive zone. There was a point where finding space and setting up was the biggest challenge on the power play, now it's getting the goal.
Wish Two: Byfield Production Rises
After breaking out last season and scoring 50 points, all signs pointed to another season of improvement for Byfield. We've already talked about how, in terms of scoring, this season has been very poor for the 22-year-old player and demonstrated why patience is needed in this situation.
Byfield has gone through quite a few changes this season and to be honest it should come as no surprise that he has taken time to adjust and relax. He is playing center consistently for the first time in his NHL career and is no longer playing with Kopitar and Kempe, two players who can elevate the game of any player.
Related Link: Chiefs Shouldn't Worry Too Much About Byfield's Lack Of Production
There was nothing to complain about when watching Byfield without his presence on the score sheet. He does a lot of little things away from the puck and always has a positive impact on the ice.
He found a home now centered on the line with Warren Foegele and Tanner Jeannot. In the last few games it has been one of the best lines for the Kings and these three are almost inseparable. Now that Byfield has found consistency and is able to develop some chemistry with his teammates, that production has started to increase.
Through the first 29 games of the season, Byfield had scored just three goals and collected eight assists. In the last five games, he has scored three goals and four points. He played 20-plus minutes in back-to-back games for the first time this season as well.
Along with everything Byfield is doing on the ice, the production is also starting to come. That patience will begin to bear fruit as he gains stability and confidence.
Third Wish: Alex Squared Moves to Excel
Two of the biggest surprises for Amakhosi this season are the performances of Alex Laferriere and Alex Turcotte.
Laferriere has become one of the biggest and most consistent point producers for the Kings this season, and he's not only scoring goals left, right and center. With several players struggling to produce at the level we're used to, Laferriere has been a pleasant surprise in who has stepped up to the plate and provided that much-needed offensive production. In 34 games played, he has 13 goals and 25 points. His 13 goals tied Fiala for second on the team and his 25 points made him third on the team only behind Kopitar and Kempe.
Let's take a look at how much Laferriere has elevated his game. This third-round pick entered the NHL right away last season. In just his second season in the NHL, he is already producing like this. It took him 77 games last season to score 12 goals. His 13 goals in 34 games this season is already a record. The amount of improvement we've seen from Laferriere this season is amazing whether it's his confidence with the puck, his improved shot, or his work ethic. It doesn't seem to matter where he plays in the lineup, he always finds a way to get things going.
Another player who didn't have a problem getting into many places on the list was another Alex in Makhosi, Alex Turcotte. In his first full season in the NHL, no one has been more impressive than him. Unlike Laferriere, it wasn't his point production that made him stand out. In 29 games, he has four goals and 13 points. It's everything else. Whether he's driving his own line in the middle or playing on the wing alongside Kopitar and Kempe, he spends most of his time making a positive impact in the attacking zone. He plays a 200-foot game and his support on the defensive side of things, speed throughout the neutral zone, and ability to connect on ridiculous passes, make him extremely dangerous.
For a young player like Turcotte with only 32 games of NHL experience before this season to come in so quickly and not only fit in seamlessly but actually be a playmaker is amazing, and you can bet he'll be a very important part of the Kings going forward.
Wish Four: Pacific Division to Slow Down
Recently considered the worst division in the NHL, the top end of the Pacific Division has been bloody this season. Despite the good record of the Kings, and that period where they have collected points in 10 of the last 12 games (eight of them won), they have managed to stay afloat in the Pacific. It's crazy that the Kings' 43 points are third in their division.
The Vegas Golden Knights are in first place with 49 points, the Oilers are in second place with 44, the Vancouver Canucks are in fourth place with 41, and the Calgary Flames are in fifth place with 39. All five of these teams have played the same games again, it's just that strong. Another thing we should mention to show how good the Pacific Division has been is that it is the only division of the NHL at the moment where the top four teams have 41 points or more.
It's a total warzone right now and every loss going forward is going to hurt a lot more. Fortunately, the Kings, after the holiday break, will have a five-game homestand. They won the Crypto.com Arena this season with only two losses. They are 10-2-1 at home. They are hoping for some separation in the strong Pacific Division and what better way to try to achieve something than to play five straight games in a place where they have found so much success.
Related: Doughty's injury opens up opportunities for more Kings defensemen
This is a Christmas wish list so why not ask for the best? If there was one thing the Kings would take another thing from this roster it would be Doughty's return ASAP. They played very well defensively without him but oh could this team reach another level on both sides of the puck with Doughty back on the blue line.
Even if Santa chooses to give the Kings what they need this Christmas, they are in good shape and the playoffs look inevitable as long as they continue to be consistent.
Source link
