Los Angeles Kings: 2nd Half Wish List
By Matt Pelkey
#4. Weak Pacific Division
Although the Kings are having a good year, they sit at the top looking down thanks to a weak division.
This was identified in my “15 things the Los Angeles Kings should be thankful for” piece I did last week and it’s something the Kings should wish stays the same as the season progresses.
L.A. sits 1st in the Pacific, 10 points ahead of 2nd place San Jose, with 48 points. Their division is home to 2 of the league’s bottom 5 teams in the Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks. The Calgary Flames were in that position just a couple of weeks ago but seem to be getting things back on track thanks to an 7-3-0 record over their last 10 games.
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While every other division looks to be more competitive than the Pacific this season, the Kings aren’t complaining one bit. L.A. have become used to coasting through the regular season before qualifying for the playoffs with few points to spare and hey, it’s worked.
But last season this system finally caught up to them and they became the first team since the Carolina Hurricanes to win the Stanley Cup one year and fail to make the post-season the next. This season, and with the help of a weaker division, the Kings are looking to solidify a top seed going into the playoffs and hopefully early so they can rest some of their big guns down the stretch.
Next: #3. A Healthy New Year