Defense really needs Drew Doughty back
The struggles from the goaltender position can't fall entirely on Darcy Kuemper and David Rittich because they haven't gotten the same production from the players in front of them. Last season, the Kings gave up the fourth fewest shots in the NHL, an average of 28 shots per game.
This season, the Kings have already allowed the seventh most shots in the league at 153, an increase of two shots per game over last season. Meanwhile, four teams ahead of them have played six or more games.
There is no question that the defense hasn't been nearly as consistent and there is a few reasons for that. There is none bigger than the absence of Drew Doughty, who is one of the best defensemen in the NHL. He suffered an ankle injury during the preseason that will keep him out a few months so this is a problem that will persist for a while.
In addition to Doughty not being available, Joel Edmundson missed the last two games as he returned to Los Angeles for the birth of his child. This has required some shuffling and even seen players like Jordan Spence get benched for a game, who hasn't gotten off to a great start this season.
Hopefully the return of Edmundson can help bring some stability to the defense but it might be on these younger players like Spence and Brandt Clarke to step up in the interim.