The 2023-24 season for the Los Angeles Kings saw significant leadership changes as head coach Todd McLellan was let go and replaced by assistant Jim Hiller in an interim role. Hiller guided the team to a playoff spot, but they faced the Edmonton Oilers for the third straight year.
Unfortunately for the Kings, this matchup didn’t go their way, with the Oilers eliminating them once again, sending Los Angeles home early for another summer. On the upside, Edmonton moved on to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006. This offseason has already seen several key roster changes as general manager Rob Blake works to enhance the team.
The Kings parted ways with the underperforming forward Pierre-Luc Dubois, trading him to the Washington Capitals for goaltender Darcy Kuemper, who is returning for a second time with the Kings. Additionally, Cam Talbot signed with the Detroit Red Wings, Matt Roy also moved to the Capitals, and Viktor Arvidsson opted for the Oilers.
Kings fans may justifiably wonder when the team will be able to make sustained playoff runs again, especially as their two cornerstone players, Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar, are aging.
Can veteran defenseman Drew Doughty outlast Father Time?
Drew Doughty, a key player for the LA Kings and a vital contributor to their Stanley Cup wins in 2012 and 2014, continues to fulfill his role as the team’s top defenseman, playing in various situations. However, he will be turning 35 this season, and Father Time is relentless. The silver lining is that despite past injury issues, Doughty managed to play all 82 regular season games in 2023-24, racking up 50 points.
Doughty’s aggressive playing style makes him more prone to injuries, and with 1,177 games played, he has quite a bit of wear on him.
Can Darcy Kuemper regain some of his former goaltending prowess?
Not long ago, Kuemper was regarded as one of the NHL’s elite starting goaltenders, finishing fifth in Vezina Trophy voting in 2018-19 while with the Arizona Coyotes. He was traded to the Colorado Avalanche before the 2021-22 season and helped lead the team to its first Stanley Cup victory since 2001, posting solid statistics with a 2.57 goals against average.
Now back on the market, Kuemper signed a multi-year contract with the Washington Capitals, a team whose Stanley Cup aspirations have diminished in recent years. During his first season with the Capitals, he recorded a 22-26-7 record, and the team missed the playoffs.
Last season, Kuemper lost his starting position to Charlie Lindgren, who had strong performances, leaving Kuemper as the backup. His 3.31 goals against average was the highest he had seen since struggling with the Coyotes in 2018.
As he steps into the role of main goaltender for the Kings, with David Rittich backing him up, Kings fans may be concerned about Kuemper’s recent struggles and his age. Nonetheless, General Manager Rob Blake expressed confidence in their goaltending duo, stating, “We’ve had to go to different goalies here in the last couple of years for different circumstances. But we have comfort in those two getting us where we want to go.”
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