LA Kings: Three reasons team will and won’t make the playoffs
By Jack Weber
LA Kings Top-end talent
A lot has changed for the Kings since their last playoff appearance in the 2017-18 season. The formula for an LA postseason berth this year may be pretty similar, though: Anze Kopitar plays like a Hart Trophy candidate, and Drew Doughty plays like a Norris Trophy candidate.
That season, Kopitar was a candidate for the Hart as the league’s MVP, and Doughty was a candidate for the Norris as the league’s top defenseman as they led the Kings to the playoffs.
The key here is a bounce back from Doughty. Kopitar has continued to play at an elite level, but Doughty hasn’t been the same kind of defenseman over the last two seasons. He’s still only 31, though, so it’s not out of the question that he could still find a way to return to form.
If he does, it will go a long way for the Kings in the race for that fourth West Division playoff spot.