LA Kings: Three undervalued players entering 2021 season
With the 2021 NHL season exactly one week away, these three LA Kings are undervalued players and could have a big say in the standings.
There is plenty of excitement for the LA Kings entering the 2020-21 season, and justifiably so.
Through shrewd drafting and development over the last few years, the LA Kings’ future is as bright as it was, dare I say it, a decade ago when the organization built towards their soon-to-be Stanley Cup success.
Additionally, with an abbreviated schedule and a division realignment, some would suggest that the Kings have a better shot of making the playoffs. With a good balance of veterans and youth, the LA Kings have some of everything, and that includes three players who aren’t quite as valued as they should be.
Here is a list of the three undervalued LA Kings entering the 2020-21 campaign.
Blake Lizotte surprised and broke camp last year with the LA Kings squad.
Entering training camp in 2019, few, if any, expected Blake Lizotte to crack the LA Kings roster. But he did.
Even better, Lizotte had a solid rookie season by leading all LA Kings rookies with 23 points. Those numbers may not exactly leap off the page, but the 2019-20 campaign nonetheless saw Lizotte establish himself as one of the hardest workers on a rebuilding LA Kings squad.
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This paired with his playmaking abilities — 10 of his 17 assists last season were primary — the native of Lindstrom, MN, more than made up for his diminutive 5-foot-7, 172-pound frame. Plus, he’s only making $925,000 this coming season, so the LA Kings do have Lizotte at a discount.
For now, at least.
LA Kings defenseman Matt Roy had an outstanding rookie campaign.
The 2020-21 campaign will mark Matt Roy‘s third with the LA Kings. Still, the defenseman doesn’t quite get the attention that he deserves.
While fans shouldn’t expect too much from Roy offensively, he did score four goals and 14 assists in 70 games last season. There is, however, a lot more to the 25-year-old’s game.
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A strong, defensive-minded blueliner, Roy is a workhorse, having averaged 18:07 of ice time last season. More than that, the Detroit native is a strong penalty-killer, totaling 98:52 of TOI while shorthanded. Conversely, on the offensive side of things, Roy tallied a plus-16 rating last season, helping the Kings garner a few goals, even if the blueliner doesn’t find his name on the scoresheet.
Scheduled to be an RFA at season’s end, Roy may be looking for a raise from his $700,000 salary. We will see what kind of season he has for the LA Kings.
LA Kings forward Martin Frk said he wants to score 30 goals.
Martin Frk‘s 2020 may have been highlighted by his hardest shot at the AHL Skills Competition last January. But, look for the Czech Republic native to make some noise at the NHL level.
While he has yet to play a full season for the LA Kings, Frk made a good first impression last season.
In just 17 games, the 27-year-old scored six goals and a pair of assists. Yet, while the 2020-21 season will be an abbreviated one, it will nonetheless mark Frk’s first full season with the LA Kings. With a hard shot, expect the opposition to be on their heels when Frk has the puck.
Overall, this season will be a good test for the winger to really prove himself.
In addition to the aforementioned, Frk is set to make $725,000 this season. Not bad for a player with a plethora of promise.