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Articles by Joe Patarino
Top 6 Center Possibilities
With Anze Kopitar‘s retirement, among the biggest needs for the LA Kings this upcoming offseason is a top-six centerman. As we sit today, the only centers under contract in Los Angeles are Quinton Byfield, Samuel Helenius, and Alex Turcotte. While the hope is that Byfield takes the next step and becomes a true 1C, that is still a question mark. Undoubtedly, Ken Holland is going to have to find a center that is at least of Byfield’s caliber to share the top two spots down the middle.
'I don’t think I got anything wrong'
LA Kings General Manager Ken Holland met the media on Friday, and in terms of one-liners, he didn’t disappoint. While he played the hits, making references to how close the team was and how many points LA had in the 2024-25 season, Holland also brought some new material that was just as jaw-dropping. After the 105-point season, Holland was asked about the regression this season, finishing with just 90 points. “I don’t think I got anything wrong,” Holland said.
Ken Holland failed – now he has to fix it
“I don’t want to screw it up, because they had a good year, this is a good team, they had 105 points.” That was one of the lines from Ken Holland‘s introductory press conference as the LA Kings General Manager last May. Holland would go on to add, “This is a good hockey team….that was one of the teams that I thought they could go to the final four and beyond, and they didn’t……we want to win the Stanley Cup.” It was at that time that we realized Holland had no idea what he was looking at.
Game 3 Notes, Reactions and What Comes Next
The LA Kings managed to score two goals in Game 3, but it wasn’t enough as they fell 4-2 to the Colorado Avalanche, putting LA on the verge of elimination. Any sort of positive vibes from Game 1 or even after Game 2’s overtime loss are all but erased as the Kings now have the impossible task of beating the NHL’s best team four times in a row. Believe it or not, Colorado has lost four games in a row this season. A stretch in November saw them drop games to Utah, Carolina, Boston, and New Jersey.
Game 1 Notes, Reactions and What Comes Next
The LA Kings dropped Game 1 in Colorado 2-1, but vibes were higher than you might think after a playoff loss. It’s important to remember where the expectations are in this series. The Kings were heavy underdogs (+340 at DraftKings Sportsbook to win the series before Game 1), so even just showing that they can hang with Colorado is enough to allow some positive thoughts to creep into everyone’s mind.
Hockey Royalty predictions for Round 1
The good news for the LA Kings and their fans is they don’t have to deal with the Edmonton Oilers again in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The bad news is they get a date with the President’s Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche. In what will be captain Anze Kopitar‘s final playoff run, the Kings will look to win their first playoff series since they last won the Stanley Cup in 2014.
Observations from an undefeated Week 6
The LA Kings had quite an eventful week, sweeping their three games in Canada, then dealing with both some good and bad news. On Tuesday in Montreal, the Kings scored three second-period goals in less than five minutes to give themselves a 3-1 lead that they would not relinquish, beating the Canadiens, 5-1. The short trip to Ontario was fruitful as they dominated the Toronto Maple Leafs throughout the game, edging the hosts 4-3 on a Quinton Byfield overtime goal.
Observations from Week 5
The LA Kings split the last two games of their brief homestand before starting a six-game road trip with a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. In pretty much any three-game week, you’ll sign up for a pair of regulation wins, and that’s what LA managed to do this past week. The Kings shut out the Winnipeg Jets, 3-0, last Tuesday in a low-event affair. On Thursday, the Kings led 2-1, but four unanswered goals by the Florida Panthers handed LA its third loss in four games.
Observations from Week 4
Everyone’s been clamoring for more Brandt Clarke ice time. Well, last week, we got it. At 5-on-5, Clarke averaged 16 minutes per game at 5-on-5, which was just one second shy of Drew Doughty, who led all defensemen. Clarke’s 18:21 per game was also second among defensemen in all situations. So, how did Clarke perform with more minutes? Per Natural Stat Trick, he led all LA defensemen in CF% (66.7%), xGF% (65.0%), and was second in GF% (50%).
Observations from a ‘Boring’ Week 3
The LA Kings have picked up points in each of their four games this past week, in what were the first four games on a five-game road trip. Overtime wins in St. Louis and Dallas started the trip, and after letting a third-period lead slip away in Nashville – resulting in a shootout loss – the Kings picked up their first regulation win of the season on Sunday in Chicago. Let’s take a look back at the week that was. Well, that didn’t take long.
Observations from Week 2
The Kings went 31-6-4 on home ice last season while allowing under two goals per game. So far this season, they’re already 0-2-1 while allowing four goals per game. Will the goaltending get better? Probably. Will it get to the level it was last year? Most likely not. Will they win a game at home this season? Definitely. Will they approach 30 wins at Crypto.com Arena again? Definitely not.
Observations from Week 1
The 2025-26 season is underway and the LA Kings started their first week with a 1-2 record against some of the top teams in the Western Conference. After an opening night 4-1 home loss to the Colorado Avalanche, the Kings brought a much better effort the next night, winning a thriller in Vegas 6-5 in a shootout. Opening week ended with a 3-2 loss in Winnipeg on Saturday which featured a couple of defensive errors that allowed the Jets to tie the game and eventually score the winner.
If Vladislav Gavrikov hangs up, who could the LA Kings call?
Mid-May feels far too early to discuss potential acquisitions for the LA Kings, but alas, the offseason is well underway in LA. New General Manager Ken Holland is officially in, and before you know it, we’ll be approaching the NHL Draft and then Free Agency. Arguably, the biggest question mark for the Kings heading into the summer is the status of veteran defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov.
Hiller has 'mixed emotions' reflecting on season
Head coach Jim Hiller also met the media on Monday, in what was a busy day for the LA Kings. Hiller noted the “mixed emotions” that came with the end of a season that saw a strong regular season, but a disappointing end in the playoffs. “For the players who I believe gave so much this year, trusted one another, and competed hard for one another. That’s where my biggest feelings of disappointment are.” The days and weeks ahead will be interesting for Hiller.
'It just sucks losing'
Hours after the news that their general manager would not be returning, the LA Kings players took to the podium to answer questions about the 2024-25 season. Many of the players spoke about how strong the culture of the team was, and about adding the new players to the locker room. This was a close-knit team that genuinely felt this was the year they could get over the playoff hump. Not surprisingly, it was Mikey Anderson who summed up the playoff loss best.
Rob Blake out as LA offseason begins
Blake spent eight years as the Vice President and General Manager of the Kings, helping the team transition from rebuilding after the Stanley Cup years to a perennial playoff contender, reaching the postseason each of the past four years. Unfortunately for Blake and the Kings, the first round is as far as they would get.
LA Kings need to get ‘uncomfortable’ in Game 4
On May 22nd, 2024, LA Kings General Manager Rob Blake shed Jim Hiller‘s interim tag, confirming him as the Kings’ next head coach. This came on the heels of LA’s third straight defeat to the Edmonton Oilers in the playoffs. Here we are 11 months later, and the two teams are at it again, in the midst of what’s shaping up to be a lengthy first-round series.
Hockey Royalty Staff Predictions for LA Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Though the LA Kings and Edmonton Oilers each saw plenty of roster turnover from last season, it all ends up in the same spot: a first-round meeting between the two teams for the fourth straight season. The teams may have ended up in the same spot in terms of first-round opponents, but this year the series will start in a different place, sunny Los Angeles, California.
LA Kings Free Agent Option: David Perron
Depending on what happens with winger Viktor Arvidsson, the LA Kings may be in the market for his replacement come July. David Perron may be the type of player who could fit nicely into a middle-six role should Arvidsson test the market.
It's Time To Get With The Times
Another year, another first-round exit at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers for the LA Kings. Make that ten years now that it's been since LA has seen the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but don't worry, everything is going according to 'The Plan'.
LA Kings: It's Time To Get With The Times
Another year, another first-round exit at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers for the LA Kings. Make that ten years now that it’s been since LA has seen the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but don’t worry, everything is going according to ‘The Plan‘. It might be time for someone to tell whoever is making the decisions in this organization that it’s time to change the approach. We are in the year 2024. Not 1994. Not 2004. Not 2014. A quick aside.
LA Kings will hope to rush to victory in Game 3
By Joe Patarino, Hockey Royalty The LA Kings settled into their game much more in Game 2 than in the playoff opener against the Edmonton Oilers. In the second game, per Natural Stat Trick, the Kings held the edge in shot attempts (51.9% CF%) and were pretty even in xGF% (49.7%) while Edmonton had the edge in Scoring Chances (57.7%) and High Danger Chances (63.6%).
LA Kings: Has Jim Hiller fixed LA's structure? Original
If you subscribe to the adage that defense wins championships, then LA Kings interim head coach Jim Hiller is your guy. For anyone wondering if Hiller would bring a more offensive approach to the team when he took over, it’s been quite the opposite. Despite a 23-15-10 record, Todd McLellan‘s Kings won only five of the last 20 games in his tenure, leading to his firing. LA was always a good possession team under McLellan, but everything that could go wrong in those fateful 20 games seemingly did.
LA Kings: The curious case of Arthur Kaliyev Original
The 2023-24 season for LA Kings winger Arthur Kaliyev has been a trying one. After an encouraging 2022-23 season where he scored 13 goals and 28 points in 56 games, the 22-year-old winger has appeared in 47 games this season, tallying just six goals and eight assists. He has seemingly fallen out of favor under both head coaches this season, spending more time than ever in the press box. In the team’s last 15 games, Kaliyev has suited up for just seven of them.
Reign Recap: A look back at the Ontario Reign's 3-0 week
The Ontario Reign went 3-0 over the past week, extending their winning streak to eight-straight. At 9-0-1, they sit atop the AHL. By now, we’re all aware of the blazing hot start the Ontario Reign are on: 9-0-1 to begin the season. Here is a look back at the last week of action in which they had wins over the Henderson Silver Knights (5-2), Bakersfield Condors (6-3), and the Colorado Eagles (4-3). Top Performers Martin Frk Martin Frk was flat-out awesome in these three games.
Takeaways from the Ontario Reign's 6-3 win over Bakersfield
Matt Villalta holds down the fort as the Ontario Reign extends their winning streak to seven games with a win over Bakersfield. The performance may not have been dominant, but the Ontario Reign (8-0-1) was able to hold off a third-period comeback attempt to beat the Bakersfield Condors (4-4-1) 6-3 last night; finishing their road trip with a 4-0 record. Matt Villalta had to be good in this one for Ontario as the Reign were outshot 40-19.
Three key takeaways from LA Kings' 3-1 Frozen Fury win over Vegas
Another Frozen Fury is in the books as the LA Kings beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-1 from Salt Lake City, UT. It was a fast start for the LA Kings on Thursday night as Brendan Lemieux got them on the board inside the two-minute mark and they would control the play all night. Here are my three stars and three takeaways from the win: *Phillip Danault **Vladimir Tkachev ***Garret Sparks 1.
Previewing Samuel Fagemo's 2021-22 Season
Swedish winger Samuel Fagemo is building off his strong rookie campaign with the Ontario Reign as he pushes for a spot with the LA Kings. Fresh of a strong rookie season, winger Samuel Fagemo is putting together an impressive summer in an attempt to make the opening night roster for the LA Kings. With 10 goals and 18 points in 32 games for the Ontario Reign in 2020-21, Fagemo was a solid per-game goal scorer in the AHL as a 20-year-old (chart via QuantHockey).
LA Kings: The case for Blake Lizotte as the fourth-line center
The LA Kings have taken steps to address the top six. The fourth-line center position is also going be to be one worth watching. As we sit firmly in the dog-days of the NHL summer offseason, fans across the league are going through their favorite team’s recent transactions, trying to project the opening night starting lineup. Hey, I’m no different. I may be, however, a bit more crazy, seeing as I’m also doing this for the AHL’s Ontario Reign.
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