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Los Angeles Kings 2015-16 NHL Preview

By Josh Hill

Jun 13, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings players celebrate after defeating the New York Rangers in game five of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings players celebrate after defeating the New York Rangers in game five of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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67. <p class=. Pacific. Western Conference. Los Angeles Kings. 6. player

Team MVP

Jonathan Quick – G

The Kings are really only as good as Quick will let them be, and that’s something that could impact their chances at competing for another Stanley Cup this season. We saw last year what happens when Quick’s struggles are compounded by issues elsewhere on the roster and that resulted in an off-year for the Kings.

But if Quick can get back to being the golden child he was a few years ago, then the Kings might be in position to make another run at a Cup. They lost key players like Justin Williams, but the addition of Milan Lucic cannot be overstated as to how important that will be this season to the team bouncing back. We saw what Lucic could do with Tuukka Rask firing on all cylinders, which should have Kings fans stoked for a bounce back year by Quick.

Best Case Scenario

If Quick can get back to his usual top shelf self, and the addition of Lucic ends up working out then the Kings can very well win the Stanley Cup this season. I see them losing to the Wild in the Conference Finals, but Quick is the wild card here that the team could ride to the Cup Final again.

Darryl Sutter can’t be discounted as a top coach in the NHL either, and he’s looking to avenge last season’s dud of a year with a follow up that reminds us that he’s not to be trifled with and can coach up a team as good as any of the other top coaches in the NHL today.

Worst Case Scenario

Last year might not have been a one-off occurrence for the Kings. At the top of the West there are about four teams that are a lock for the postseason, but the drop off starts with the Kings. They’re the first team that can make the playoffs as much as they can implode and be on the outside looking in yet again.

Los Angeles needs a good year from Jonathan Quick and unless that happens, they could be looking at a low seed in the West or be on the outside looking in entirely all over again. That’s something that can’t happen and might signal change in L.A. if failure to make the playoffs happens again.

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