Coming into the season, expectations for the Los Angeles Kings weren’t wildly excessive.
The group was coming off three straight playoff eliminations by the hands of the Edmonton Oilers, and the Kings did not accomplish a ton within the offseason. The subtractions outweighed the additions, and it was powerful to view the group as a contender.
However by 25 video games, Los Angeles holds a 14-8-3 report. They sit sixth within the Western Convention in factors share, which is arguably higher than anticipated.
Under, we check out the surprises and disappointments of the Kings’ season early on.
Shock: Brandt Clarke already seems to be like a star
From the time Brandt Clarke was chosen eighth general in 2021, there have been excessive hopes for the defender. He returned to the Barrie Colts to dominate the OHL, earlier than posting almost point-per-game numbers with the AHL’s Ontario Reign final season. However as a 21-year-old defenseman with solely 25 profession NHL video games underneath his belt coming into the season, it was slightly powerful to inform simply how rapidly he’d regulate to a full-time NHL position.
After shedding Matt Roy, the Kings had been anticipated to ice two pretty younger defensemen in Clarke and Jordan Spence on the suitable facet, behind Drew Doughty. Nevertheless, this was solely additional sophisticated by Doughty’s long-term damage. Consequently, Clarke took a pretty big position early on however has exceeded the already excessive expectations.
The defenseman has registered 16 factors, to guide all Kings defensemen. He additionally ranks second on the Kings in assists, trailing solely Anze Kopitar. He is spent plenty of his time with Joel Edmundson and has taken a key position within the energy play in Doughty’s absence.
Rising pains had been anticipated, however Clarke already seems to be like he is poised for stardom.
Disappointment: Jordan Spence hasn’t taken benefit of alternative
Whereas Clarke has stepped as much as the problem in Doughty’s absence, Jordan Spence hasn’t actually taken the step we thought he would.
Spence has additionally been compelled into an even bigger position however has had some powerful stretches early within the 12 months. All indicators pointed to him turning into a key contributor from the blue line, however he is managed simply 5 factors. Spence even discovered himself as a wholesome scratch early within the 12 months and has been susceptible to errors at instances. The group has opted to make use of a pairing of two left-handed defensemen in Mikey Anderson and Vladislav Gavrikov to tackle the hardest matchups, which may at the least partially be attributed to Spence not being dependable in a bigger position.
There are nonetheless plenty of seasons left for Spence to hit his stride. However seeing him battle, there’s some motive for concern about Spence rising right into a long-term, top-four position.
Shock: Alex Laferriere and Alex Turcotte have every taken a giant step
Maybe the largest shock for the Kings has been Alex Laferriere’s wonderful begin to the season. Realistically, it marks the second 12 months in a row by which the ahead is a nice shock for the group.
Final 12 months, Laferriere made the group out of coaching camp unexpectedly. Enjoying all 82 video games with the Kings in 2023-24, Laferriere demonstrated a constant work ethic to be an efficient forechecker and posted 23 factors. This season, nevertheless, Laferriere is within the midst of what looks like a breakout 12 months.
The winger obtained off to an impressive begin to the 12 months, scoring 9 targets and 15 factors in his first 16 video games. He cooled off a bit from there, however with 5 factors over his final three video games, Laferriere sits third on the group in factors. At simply 23 years previous, Laferriere is positioning himself to play a bigger position going ahead than initially anticipated.
Alex Turcotte has additionally been a pleasant shock. Since being chosen fifth general in 2019, Turcotte hasn’t essentially lived as much as expectations. He struggled to realize a full-time spot within the NHL, previous to this 12 months.
Nevertheless, Turcotte has become supplementary piece. He is posted eight factors throughout 20 video games, however has additionally rounded out his recreation slightly bit, to supply an impression even with out possession. This was doubtless a make-or-break 12 months for Turcotte, so it has been nice to see him carve out a job for himself.
Disappointment: Kevin Fiala, Quinton Byfield and Tanner Jeannot are beginning sluggish
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Whereas a few of the younger expertise has made an impression up entrance, different core items have struggled.
Kevin Fiala, who’s possibly the group’s most dynamic ahead, has proven little consistency. Fiala’s recreation is not wildly well-rounded, which means his capability to supply is extraordinarily essential to his worth. So when he is solely sitting at 16 factors throughout 24 video games, it is powerful to justify that he is been impactful sufficient. He was scratched earlier on for lacking a group assembly and later went for a stretch of six video games and not using a level.
Quinton Byfield has additionally been underwhelming, after signing a sizeable five-year contract this summer season. Transitioning to minimize the center this season, Byfield has registered simply three targets and 11 factors throughout 25 video games.
After all, Byfield remains to be simply 22 years previous. His recreation is powerful away from the puck already, so he could make an impression even when he is not producing. But it surely’s nonetheless been a very underwhelming begin to the 12 months, after posting 55 factors final season.
Tanner Jeannot, who was one of many larger offseason additions, has additionally failed to essentially accomplish a lot. The commerce to accumulate Jeannot was a little bit of a head-scratcher from the beginning, with the Kings giving up some first rate draft picks.
Jeannot was introduced in to assist make the Kings more durable to play in opposition to, moderately than simply so as to add offense. On the similar time, he is registered simply three factors throughout 24 video games and has taken extra of a depth position. Jeannot’s three-game suspension was arguably probably the most notable a part of his tenure with Los Angeles so far.
Clearly, it is early, and all of Fiala, Byfield and Jeannot can flip issues round. However they mark three forwards who’ve all fallen in need of expectations so far.