Blue Line Station
Fansided

New York Rangers looking to take the crown from the Kings

By Andrew Steele-Davis

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 10: New York Rangers Left Wing Artemi Panarin (10) score the Rangers' only goal late in the third period against Los Angeles Kings Goalie Jonathan Quick (32) on December 10, 2019, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Rob Curtis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 10: New York Rangers Left Wing Artemi Panarin (10) score the Rangers' only goal late in the third period against Los Angeles Kings Goalie Jonathan Quick (32) on December 10, 2019, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Rob Curtis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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NEWARK, NJ – FEBRUARY 08: Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) skates during the second period of the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the Los Angeles Kings on February 8, 2020 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ – FEBRUARY 08: Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) skates during the second period of the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the Los Angeles Kings on February 8, 2020 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

About the Kings

The New York Rangers know what the LA Kings are going through right now.

This year can be seen as the first official year of what could be a long rebuild for the Kings, who are trying to catch up with the modern-day NHL.

After all, they have been stuck in the past somewhat, sticking to the core principals that saw them beat the Rangers to win the Stanley Cup in 2014.

Ask anyone and they will tell you that LA was probably one of the slowest-ever teams to have won the Stanley Cup, with brute force and size their hallmark.

However, while you still need some jam in your lineup, today’s National Hockey League is built around speed, skill and young talent.

The Kings are finally catching up to that concept and, as a result, they are rebuilding from the ground floor up.

They are slowly shedding some of the cornerstone pieces from that championship success in 2014, although Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar and Jonathan Quick remain key pieces.

But gritty forward Kyle Clifford and goalie Jack Campbell were dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs this week in exchange for Trevor Moore, who will bring a bucketload of speed to the table for LA.

The Kings also have some intriguing and high-end prospects in the pipeline, and they are laying the groundwork for what this franchise hopes will lead to future and consistent success.

However, for now, the LA Kings will have to live with being one of the main bottom-feeders in the NHL.

They sit eighth in the Pacific Division and 30th overall in the NHL, while they rank low in a number of categories.

For starters, they rank 30th in Goals For Per Game (2.43) and they also allow an average of 3.16 Goals Against Per Game.

They aren’t much better on special teams, either, ranking 23rd on the power play (17.0) and 27th on the penalty kill (74.7).

However, it is still the old guard producing the goods for the Kings with Anze Kopitar leading the team in points with 47 (17 goals, 30 assists).

But, with the Kings expected to be major sellers at the Trade Deadline, expect things to get worse before they get better for this franchise.

Calvin Petersen got the start in LA’s 3-0 shutout loss to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, so expect Jonathan Quick to start tonight for the Kings who have dropped nine of their last 10.

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