NHL Power Rankings Roundup: LA Kings slip outside the Top 10 across the board

The Los Angeles Kings last week saw a pretty significant jump in the power rankings across ESPN, Bleacher Report, and NHL.com that moved them into the Top 10. This week, the Kings dropped a bit but not by much. Let's take a look where they landed across the publications.

ESPN Power Rankings

Current Ranking: 11
Previous Ranking: 9

ESPN's Power Rankings this week looked at fantasy production and if it is time to panic on players. For the Los Angeles Kings, Quinton Byfield was picked and and they were correct with a verdict of panic.

Quinton Byfield, RW (43.2%): The lack of a single power-play point is one concern, along with his removal from the top unit. Through the fantasy lens, so is Byfield's third-line role. If all remains as is, we might be in for another season of inconsistent fantasy returns. Verdict: Panic.

The former first round pick has certainly been more productive recently with two goals and two assists in the past five games but most of that came against the Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks. In the past three games, he has had only one assist and three total shots on goal.

This was supposed to be a big season for Byfield and he will need to turn things around quickly for that to happen.

NHL.com Power Rankings

Current Ranking: 11
Previous Ranking: 9

Similiar to ESPN, the Kings dropped two spots in the power rankings on NHL.com but Brian Compton was right to recognize the play of Vladislav Gavrikov. He has easily been the team's top defenseman and done a good job keeping this group on track with Drew Doughty out.

Gavrikov is a free agent after this season and has played his way into a pretty good contract and the question will be whether or not that is with the Los Angeles Kings or another team.

Bleacher Report

Current Ranking: 11
Previous Ranking: 8

The reason for the drop across each power rankings is due in large part to the team's recent struggles as they have now lost three of their last four games, which is noted in the power rankings by the Bleacher Report. What might be even more concerning is how they have lost as the offense has been almost non-existent with only five goals in the three losses.