What to Expect in 2023-24
The Los Angeles Kings had an impressive 2022-23 season, finishing with 104 points and securing the final guaranteed spot in the Pacific Division. While they struggled against division opponents, they excelled against other Western Conference teams. They showcased their offensive prowess, converting on 25.3% of their power play opportunities, but their penalty kill struggled, only killing 75.8% of their opponent’s power plays.
Leading the charge for the Kings was Anze Kopitar with 74 points, followed closely by Kevin Fiala with 72 points. Andre Kempe was the team’s top goal scorer with 41 goals. However, the goaltending was inconsistent, resulting in a goals against average of 3.10 and a save percentage of .892.
In the offseason, the Kings made some key additions to bolster their roster, most notably acquiring Pierre-Luc Dubois from the Jets. They did lose some players in the process, including Alex Iafallo and Gabriel Vilardi, but Dubois brings an offensive spark to the team. Goalie Joonas Korpisalo, who had a stellar season, is now with the Ottawa Senators. The Kings added Cam Talbot as their new goalie and also brought in Trevor Lewis, Andreas Englund, and David Rittich.
Two X-Factors for the Kings this season will be Pierre-Luc Dubois and Cam Talbot. Dubois’ contribution will significantly improve the team’s scoring ability, while Talbot’s consistency in goal will be crucial for their success against tough opponents. The goaltending situation will likely be a near 50/50 split between Talbot and Pheonix Copley, with David Rittich providing additional depth.
The Kings’ schedule stretch from October 11th to November 16th will be a crucial period for the team. They will face challenging opponents both at home and on the road, including the likes of Colorado, Vegas, Pittsburgh, and Ottawa. How they fare during this stretch will provide insight into their potential for the season.
According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Kings have +2200 odds to win the Stanley Cup, +1100 odds to win the conference, and +450 odds to win the division. Drew Doughty has a long shot chance of winning the Norris Trophy at +10000 odds.
Overall, the Kings are expected to maintain their performance from last season. With the addition of Dubois and solid goaltending, they should remain competitive and potentially secure a playoff spot. A cautious bet would be to take the over on their team total points of 100.5.
Stanley Cup 2023/24 Odds
Outright
Carolina Hurricanes +900
Toronto Maple Leafs +1000
Colorado Avalanche +900
Edmonton Oilers +900
New Jersey Devils +900
Vegas Golden Knights +1200
Boston Bruins +1500
Dallas Stars +1400
New York Rangers +1400
Florida Panthers +1600
Los Angeles Kings +2000
Tampa Bay Lightning +2000
Minnesota Wild +3300
Buffalo Sabres +3300
Calgary Flames +3300
Pittsburgh Penguins +2800
Seattle Kraken +2800
Ottawa Senators +4000
New York Islanders +5000
Vancouver Canucks +5000
Detroit Red Wings +6600
Nashville Predators +6600
St. Louis Blues +5000
Washington Capitals +8000
Winnipeg Jets +5000
Chicago Blackhawks +15000
Columbus Blue Jackets +10000
Anaheim Ducks +15000
Philadelphia Flyers +15000
Arizona Coyotes +25000
Montreal Canadiens +25000
San Jose Sharks +25000
Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
