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Wednesday, November 8, 2000
Can Kings get to top?
By George Johnson
Special to ESPN.com
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In Tinseltown, nothing is really as it seems.
There are many hockey analysts who wonder if the L.A. Kings' rise up the Western Conference standings wasn't a Dreamworks-style illusion; kind of like the false fronts movie studios use as stand-ins for streets and crowd scenes and backgrounds.
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Wed., Sept. 27
The Kings need health and a high level of play from their two goalies, Jamie Storr and Stephane Fiset. They both missed a lot of time a year ago and were inconsistent. In order to go to the next level, the goaltenders must stay healthy and step up their games.
Also, Jozef Stumpel has yet to sign, choosing instead to sign with a Slovakian team for the short term. He is definitely the Kings' No. 1 center. If they don't sign Stumpel, they will be hurting at center, where they have no depth and little scoring punch. |
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Well, the Kings are out to prove that last year's 39-win, 94-point season wasn't a fluke.
They'll be hard-pressed to prove it.
Already there's trouble afoot with Rob Blake, far from satisfied with the organization's six-year, $30 million contract offer, relinquishing the captaincy of the club. Blake, of course, is only the linchpin holding everything of the on-ice product together, so depending on the degree of his dissatisfaction with the situation, an insidious rot could set in to the entire dressing room.
Not exactly an idyllic opening to a season.
Nor is the taste that was left in everyone's mouths with the quick playoff dispatch at the hands of the Red Wings last season. When the intensity level was cranked up a few notches by a very good club, L.A. was simply unable to respond.
The Kings might not have that super-duper, Gretzky-esque star needed to start filling the Staples Center and stealing a bit of the thunder from their co-tenants, the Lakers, but they possess quality on their first two lines – Luc Robitaille, Zigmund Palffy, Glen Murray, Jozef Stumpel and Bryan Smolinski. The Kings can score – 245 last season, finishing fifth in the league and first in the division.
The one problem there is that Stumpel is a holdout. In addition, there's really no go-to goalie, with the two incumbents splitting duties last season. One of either Jamie Storr or Stephane Fiset – who's out for a bit with a knee injury – or the offseason acquisition Steve Passmore must emerge as the undisputed No. 1.
In coach Andy Murray, the Kings have a solid NHL coach. He's a no-nonsense guy, unwilling to allow players to cut corners or compromise. In his first season, Murray quickly put his stamp on the club and won the respect of his players.
Now, the Kings must win the respect of the league, prove they're far from one-year wonders.
At the starting gun goes, that's no lock. Of course, a mega-deal for the disgruntled Alexei Yashin or gambling on the concussion-prone Eric Lindros could change the dynamics of the team considerably.
One way, or the other.
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Bottom Line on the Kings
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Strengths
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Weaknesses
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Depth up front
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No. 1 goalie
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Rob Blake
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Blake's contract impasse
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Coaching
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SEASON OUTLOOK: The Kings are looking to gain a better foothold in the conference but are faced with three superior teams – Dallas, Phoenix and San Jose – within the division. The Kings really did little to upgrade during the summer, so they might not match the success of '99-00. |
George Johnson covers the NHL for the Calgary Herald. His NHL National column appears every week during the season on ESPN.com.
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ALSO SEE
San Jose Sharks preview
Phoenix Coyotes preview
Dallas Stars preview
Anaheim Mighty Ducks preview
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