LOS ANGELES, Ca – For the Los Angeles Kings and their fans, 2008-09 will be another year of growing pains. Depending how the fans want to view the outlook for this season, it will either be a glass half-full or half-empty scenario. Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi has decided that it is time to start over from scratch and build from within their minor league system with most of the players from the teams past three drafts to make up the core of this seasons lineup. Los Angeles allowed fan favorites Rob Blake to leave via free agency to San Jose and traded away goal-scoring forward Mike Cammalleri on draft day, in which the Kings were able to select defenseman Colton Teubert from Regina (WHL). Lombardi then sent Defenseman Lubimor Visnovsky to the Edmonton Oilers for Center Jarett Stoll and Defenseman Matt Greene. Lombardi was not very active in free agency this season, even though they had quite a bit of room under the salary cap to sign a big name free agent. Instead of going wild on getting a high priced free agent, Lombardi re-signed Stoll, Greene, goalie Erik Ersberg and right winger Brad Richardson, who the Kings received for a 2008 draft pick. What the Kings do have is an established coach who does very well with up and coming stars and rookies. New Head Coach Terry Murray has established himself as someone who can get the most out of his players. During the 1989-90 season, Murray took over the Washington Capitals and helped the team at the time advance further than it ever had in franchise history . In 1996-97, he took the Flyers to the Stanley Cup finals. Murray then led the Florida Panthers to a 98 point season in 1999-00. Heading into saturday’s season opening game against San Jose, the Kings will have their goaltending stabilized for the first time in recent memory. Goalie Jason LaBarbera (17-23-2 with a 3.00 GAA) will start in nets to begin the season. His back up will be Erik Ersberg (6-5-3 with a 2.48 GAA) in limited playing time. LaBarbera has shed 10 pounds and 7% body fat while recovering from sports hernia surgery. Ersberg looked solid last year and beat out Jonathan Bernier and Jonathan Quick for the teams backup position. Defensively Los Angeles will have veterans Matt Greene, Tom Preissing (8 goals 16 assists) and the recently acquired Sean O’Donnell to help mold 2nd-year defenseman Jack Johnson (3 goals 8 assists) and rookie Drew Doughty (Guelph-OHL). The Kings are hoping that both Johnson and Doughty come into their own, by the middle of the season, to help lead the team. Johnson looked as though he was starting to understand the game more as the season went on last year. Los Angeles offense looks as though it can go either way. Lombardi is hoping that it goes with the expectations of years past, that saw the maturation of center Anze Kopitar, left winger Dustin Brown, center Patrick O’Sullivan, and Left Winger Alexander Frolov. The Kings will have to hope that veterans Michal Handzhus, Kyle Calder and Stoll can help continue the maturation process of the Los Angeles’s future stars. KEYS TO SUCCESS: The maturation of Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Alexander Frolov. If they get off to a good start and put the puck in the back of the net. The Kings often struggled finding the net last season. The blue line will need to step up as well. Jack Johnson begins his second full campaign and highly touted first round draft pick Drew Doughty will need to play steady, smart hockey, and mature quickly for this season to be a success. Goalie Jason LaBarbera will have to have a career year for the team to be successful. Re-signing Patrick O’Sullivan gives the Kings a 4th threat on offense. REASONS THEY CAN FAIL: Where do you start. Kopitar, Brown and Frolov get off to cold starts and can’t get on track early. A slow start to the season in which they play eight of their first nine games against Western Conference teams. Of the eight games played, six are against playoff teams. The blue line gives up too many second chance opportunities in front of LaBarbera and Ersberg. ROOKIE WATCH: The highly anticipated debut of Drew Doughty. Doughty had a phenomenal season for the Guelph Storm (OHL) last season with 13 goals and 37 assists for 50 points. He was the Kings first round pick this season and second pick overall. His nine power play goals in Guelph last season was third on the team. It also might give Los Angeles a legit point man on the power-play. HOW WILL THEY DO: The Kings need to think defense. With a vastly slim goaltender in LaBarbera and a corps of young stars, Los Angeles will hope they just stay competitive early in the season. With the Kings playing in the same division as Dallas, Anaheim, and San Jose, there isnt’ picnic on the part of the Kings to make the playoffs, but it doesn’t bold well either for Los Angeles. With that said, an improvement in points overall and a lower goals against would be a blessing for a team that is about a year or two away from competing at the top echelon of the division. The Kings could finish fourth in this division depending how a improved Phoenix team is. Contact the author at Andy.Villanueva@prohockeynews.com
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