Club: Los Angeles Kings
Fantasy Impact Rating: Lukewarm
Superstars: N/A
Big Producers Anze Kopitar, Alexander Frolov, Dustin Brown
Mid-Level Flyers Ryan Smyth, Jarret Stoll
Rookies/Prospects: Jonathan Bernier, Brayden Schenn, Thomas Hickey, Jeff Zatkoff, Martin Jones
Sleepers: Justin Williams, Drew Doughty, Teddy Purcell, Oscar Moller
Avoid The Hype: Michal Handzus, Jack Johnson
While the Los Angeles Kings have their notables up front, it’s the youngsters and the players coming down the pipeline that have fantasy managers, especially those in keeper leagues, excited for the next couple of seasons. Keep your long term plans in mind as we take a look at the 2009-2010 Los Angeles Kings
Starting at the very top, with Dean Lombardi publicly stating that the team has no interest in acquiring Dany Heatley, it appears that the Kings’ top line from last year will remain intact to start the 2009-2010 NHL season. While the top line doesn’t possess a standout superstar, it does possess the ability to offer fantasy managers 3 rock solid options for production this year. If it’s a goal scorer you’re in the market for with a power play upside, look no further than Alexander Frolov. Frolo had a bit of an off season in 2008-2009 compared to his two previous seasons, but he returns to the ice as LA’s top option at left wing. He has a knack for finding the back of the net, so savvy managers can play it cool to Frolo, insert him into their lineup as a 2nd option at left wing, and expect 30+ goals from him again this season. To Frolov’s right is 4th year center Anze Kopitar. Kopitar has been extremely impressive and somewhat consistent in his short NHL career, and shows no signs of slowing down. He too will be a staple on the Kings’ power play this season and should be good for 70-75 points. Consider Kopitar a solid 2nd option at center in just about any format. Finally, anchoring the right hand side on the top line this season will be Dustin Brown. Brown could potentially be a 30 and 30 player this season, but what separates him from his line mates is his physical play. He is one of the top body checkers in the National Hockey League and isn’t afraid to stick his nose where it doesn’t belong. Not a top option at right wing, but following suit with his line mates, consider him a solid 2nd option at an ultra thin right wing position.
Just for good measure, it should be noted that despite being decent sources for points, Frolov, Kopitar and Brown can also put a pretty good sized dent in a +/- rating. So, if you’re going to run with 1 or more of these players this season, make sure you understand the consequences of doing so, or at least try to compensate for it with other +/- friendly players.
There will be a new face in Los Angeles this fall and he’ll be anchoring the 2nd line left wing position along side Jarret Stoll and Justin Williams. Ryan Smyth is one of the hardest working players in the league, but his aggressive play will make him a bit of a liability for the Kings, as well as fantasy managers. On top of being somewhat injury prone, his value takes a bit of a hit coming to Los Angeles simply for the fact that Alexander Frolov will be the top line left winger this season. Don’t expect Frolo to move off that line unless he goes extremely cold or gets injured. As a 2nd liner, it wouldn’t be out of character to expect 45-50 points from Smyth this season with a shot on the 2nd power play unit. Consider him a 3rd option at left wing in slightly deeper fantasy leagues. Again, watch the +/-. If you’re a manager that prefers to address winger, defense and goaltending needs before considering a center, Jarret Stoll could be of some service to you in the middle to late rounds. Stoll made a name for himself in the post-lockout years for Edmonton and will be centering the 2nd line in his sophomore campaign with the Kings. He had a solid season in 2008-2009 with 41 points and 68 penalty minutes, and could be a decent 3rd/4th option for managers waiting on centers this season.
One thing to keep in mind if you’re considering Stoll or Smyth is that the two of them were quite successful together in their years with the Oilers, so it’ll be interesting to see if there is still some chemistry between the two them. They both had a helluva run in 2005-2006, so keep an eye on their production early on this season.
If it’s sleepers that you’re looking for this season, you may want to consider one of these Kings as they may help fantasy managers who are looking for a little depth at the right wing position. Hopefully others in your league will overlook the fact that Justin Williams is still a Los Angeles King. It’s very easy to overlook Williams in fantasy leagues simply for the fact that his numbers won’t reflect his true talent. He’s what we like to call in the fantasy world “extremely injury prone” and his 2 dynamite seasons with Carolina have been overshadowed by his inability to play an entire season. He’s a high risk, high reward player who could pay extreme dividends for those managers savvy enough to snag him in the middle rounds. Don’t rely on him as a number 1, or even a number 2 right wing option this year. Williams could serve as a 3rd, potentially 4th option this season. An injury to Justin Williams would certainly open the door for youngster Teddy Purcell to strut his stuff on the 2nd line. Purcell has been extremely successful at just about every level underneath the NHL, and whether he gets a shot this season with the Kings will be determined in the next month or so. However, if you see him in the lineup this season, flag him and be ready to pounce in case Williams goes down. Another name to keep an eye on this season is Oscar Moller. Depending on how the Kings use him, he could be a 4th liner to start the season, but flag him anyway and monitor his progress like with Purcell. If he works his way up the depth chart, he could prove to be a worthwhile waiver pickup. Lastly, try to overlook the disappointing season that Drew Doughty had in 2008-2009 and throw him on your middle to late round radar in deeper fantasy drafts. He has a solid offensive upside and should have a chance at quarterbacking the power play this season as the Kings lack a true number one offensive threat from the blue line. Doughty could be a 3rd/th option on defense that has the potential to produce like a 1st/2dn option, so take note.
If it’s prospects that you’re looking for from the Kings, Brayden Schenn and Thomas Hickey may be a nice addition to any keeper/dynasty team. Hickey may be the first of these two to impact the Kings as he’ll be battling for a spot on the roster this fall. He has an impressive offensive upside, and with the lack of scoring coming from the back end, he has a real shot to make an immediate impact with the club. Consider him an extreme late round pick this season and consider it an added bonus if he makes the club. If not, at least you’ll have him stashed until next season. Schenn will return to Brandon in 2009-2010 but is certainly worth a look in keeper/dynasty leagues. Schenn has been extremely successful in the WHL and the Kings are hoping that his offensive prowess carries over to the NHL level. It may be a couple years before we see Brayden, but he isn’t a bad stash in deeper dynasty and keeper leagues.
Lastly, there are two player worth passing over in your draft this year. Michal Handzus had a fairly impressive season in 2008-2009, but being a 3rd, or potentially a 4th line center this year may not bode well for his numbers. He’s more effective as a penalty killer for the Kings, which puts a nice sized dent in his fantasy value. Jack Johnson has not been impressive for the Kings offensively over the past 2 seasons, so it may be time to look elsewhere for deep defensive help, especially if Hickey makes the roster.
Grade: B
Starter: Jonathan Quick
Backup: Erik Ersberg
It certainly was a battle between the pipes last season between Jonathan Quick, Erik Ersberg and Jason LaBarbera. In the end, Quick won out and had a respectable season posting a 21-18-2 record with a .914 save percentage and a 2.48 goals against average. He will enter this season as the starter once again, but if he begins to struggle, we may see Ersberg split some time with Quick until the situation is rectified. Still, if you’re looking for a 2nd, maybe 3rd option between the pipes, Quick may be a nice option. The Kings are getting better, but with such a young team, expect them to struggle at times. If he can maintain the starting job this season, 30 wins are certainly within reach. He’s in a contract year, so expect him to be on his best behavior.
Now, we told you that the Kings were full of prospects and potential; come to find out, most of them are between the pipes. Three names that managers may want to become familiar with are Jonathan Bernier, Jeff Zatkoff and Martin Jones. Bernier could be the starter for the Kings in the next couple years as he is a highly touted goaltender with a bright future. Managers in keeper leagues would be wise to jump on Bernier in their drafts this season as Quick will be due for a contract at the end of this season. If the Kings pass on Quick, it’ll be the Jon Bernier show next season. Zatkoff and Jones are a step behind Bernier, but still should be of consideration. Zatkoff was extremely impressive with Miami of Ohio, but whether his ability to be successful at the collegiate level carries over to the NHL still remains to be seen. The same goes for Jones. He has put up some absolutely disgusting numbers in the WHL, but he’ll have some healthy competition on his road to the NHL. Pull the trigger on Bernier in keeper leagues and flag Zatkoff and Jones to see where they stand at the end of this season.
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