What The LA Kings Opening Night Roster Could Look Like

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LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 07: Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings shoots the puck during the second period of a game against the Dallas Stars at Staples Center on April 7, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

LA Kings 1st Line:

17-18	Iafallo	Kopitar	Brown
18-19	Kovalchuk	Kopitar	Brown

Upgraded.

With no disrespect directed towards Alex Iafallo, this is a clear upgrade over the LA Kings first line last season. Ilya Kovalchuk is a purebred goal scorer who has, for the next 3 seasons, found a spot on an offensively struggling LA Kings team!

Kovalchuk is the type of player who commands a top 6 spot and can be volatile on the Power Play. The only questioning lingering over him is can he still produce at the NHL level? He’s 35 and has never been an extremely quick skater.

However, what makes up for his skating is the respect defensemen have to give Kovalchuk’s shot. Kovalchuk can fire the puck from anywhere in the offensive zone and it’s a threat. This means the players defending him have to give him space if they hope to block his shots.

Iafallo will get a crack at top six again in his career when he is a bit more matured and we have a distinct idea of what kind of player he is.

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