LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings’ 2016-17 NHL campaign was a disappointment, really a major disappointment as the club missed the post season for the second time in the last three years.
In the first period of the first game of the season, Jonathan Quick went down with an 
injury and did not return until the season was already lost.
Peter Budaj was moved into the number one slot on the charts and played exceptionally well for the Kings.
His reward? As Quick returned to the lineup, Budaj was traded off to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Ben Bishop.
In the last few weeks, the Kings have made two player-moves that have consequence. Firstly, they traded away Bishop to the Dallas Stars who will certainly say goodbye to Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen.
The other move was resigning Tanner Pearson to a four-year deal; that move makes sense given the shift in coaching from Darryl Sutter’s lumbering size-focused forwards to a much-needed speedier roster up front to compete with the likes of the Edmonton Oilers next season.
Defense is not an issue for the Kings and should not be one going forward as long as their choices and style shift emphasize the D zone first.
This past season the Kings were ranked in the Top 10 for most statistical categories including penalty kill (fifth) at 84.6% and goals against (sixth) at 2.45 goals yielded per game.
Where the Kings failed, this past season, was on offense.
The Kings leaned on Jeff Carter to produce offense this season and he answered the call with 32 goals and 66 points on the season.
But no one else really answered the bell for LA. Pearson netted 24 goals and 44 points but after that the production was dismal.
Tyler Toffoli was sidelined for 19 games and his production suffered with 16 goals and Marian Gaborik missed 26 games and his contributions totaled just 21 points on 10 goals.
The Kings were hamstrung by injuries but they were also held back by a style of play that kept them bottled up in their own zone and were spun around by the likes Connor McDavid and other younger, faster, talented players in the Western Conference and Pacific Division.
The Kings placed Luc Robitaille as director of hockey operations in the off season and named a new general manager in Rob Blake. Hard to imagine these two will not change the style and keep the defense-oriented play at the fore.
But the offense needs the attention. The Kings were ranked 25th in the NHL in goals for with 2.43 goals per game and the power play was a mediocre 19.1% in the 15th spot in the league.
It will be hard for the Kings not emphasize defense with new head coach John Stevens but the offensive need will dominate the draft as the Kings pick 11th this season.
A number of skilled forwards are in the top 10 draft selections this season including Martin Necas from the Czech Republic, Casey Mittelstadt out of Green Bay in the USHL and Owen Tippet from Mississauga of the OHL.
All three stand six feet or so and are skilled with good hands but we see two of these three already picked in the PHN Mock Entry Draft.
The Another potential prospect is Cody Glass from the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League.
Glass stands 6’2” but is a bit undersized with only 179 pounds on his frame. Glass’ size will give him a place in the Kings’ lineup to compete against the rest of the Pacific Division and Western Conference.
The 2016-17 season for Glass has been a standout as he tripled his offensive output and climbed to the Winterhawks’ first line as center.
In 69 regular season games, Glass picked up 32 goals and 94 points, a long way from his 10-17-27 output in the previous season, his rookie year. In the playoffs this season, Glass iced for 11 games with four goals and nine points.
Glass’ head coach, Mike Johnson, has described him as a play maker and a centerman who can take control of a game. This season he was included in the team’s penalty kill unit with good results.
“I think I play a good, strong, two-way game, and I think I use my vision really well, finding my teammates, and a good pass-first kind of guy. So, I think if scouts see that, they’ll see that I’m a good playmaker. Coach Johnston really pushes us in the defensive zone, more defense first and then offense. So, that’s something I try to take pride in,” Glass has said of his game.
Glass gives the Kings size and scoring talent down low. His downside is a need for improved skating skills and a lack of bulk on his frame.
His commitment to the defensive scheme in Portland has been touted and that would certainly help him in Los Angeles.
Overall, Glass is seen by most scouts and services as a solid, talented second line center with good offensive production and solid two-way play.
With the 11th pick in the Mock 2017 NHL Entry Draft, the Los Angeles Kings select Cody Glass of the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League.
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