The Los Angeles Kings haven't seen much playoff success since their glory days of the early 2010s, putting many members of the Kings' organization in the hot seat to capture the success of teams' past.
The NHL’s 2023-24 season is still a couple of months away, but the pressure on athletes, coaches, GMs and team owners remains throughout the year. That pressure is what we’re examining in this ongoing THN.com “Hot Seat” series.
Working through teams in alphabetical order, we’re pointing out three to four people per team who are on some sort of “hot seat.” One NHL player, team owner, GM or coach will go on the hot seat as someone dealing with considerable pressure to have a high-impact performance in 2023-24 or land in the team’s doghouse; a second player, team owner, coach or GM will go on the “warm” seat as someone not facing an imminent firing or trade, but whose time with their team could come to an end this year; and a third player, team owner, GM or coach will go on the “cold” seat, identifying them as very likely to remain with their team for the foreseeable future.
Kings’ Hot Seat: (Tie) Pheonix Copley, G; and Cam Talbot, G
Copley was a revelation of sorts for the Kings last year, a 30-year-old journeyman who came into the season with just 31 games of NHL experience before taking the starter’s job for his own. But by the time the playoffs rolled around, GM Rob Blake had traded for veteran Joonas Korpisalo, and Korpisalo played the grand majority of time in the Kings’ first-round showdown against Edmonton. Following their loss to the Oilers, Blake allowed Korpisalo to leave via unrestricted free agency and spent far less salary cap space to replace him by signing UFA Talbot to a one-year, $1-million contract.
That leaves Copley (who is playing on a one-year, $1.2-million contract) and Talbot as the Kings’ netminding tandem this season. Somehow, the 36-year-old Talbot wrangled a no-trade clause out of Blake, but if both he and Copley struggle during the season, it’s possible L.A. goes back into the trade market and acquires a proven veteran between the pipes.
The Kings haven’t made it out of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs since winning the Cup in 2014, and nothing less than at least one playoff series win will satisfy L.A. brass. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Copley or Talbot who carries them into round two, but if either one fails to deliver above-average results during the regular season, they could be parted with, and there will be no long-term ramifications for the Kings. Blake is clearly gambling with his goalies, and time will tell if the gamble was a good one.
Kings’ Warm Seat: Pierre-Luc Dubois, C
As the Kings’ biggest off-season addition, Dubois is in no danger of being traded. That said, considering his brand new, eight-year contract – which has a cap hit of $8.5 million – will put a spotlight on him from Game One of the regular-season, straight through the playoffs and throughout his new deal.
The 27-year-old set a new personal best in assists (37) and points (63) last year, but his $2.5-million raise in salary carries increased expectations. At the end of this season, he’ll become the Kings’ highest-paid forward, and this year, he’ll likely center the second line alongside wingers Kevin Fiala and Viktor Arvidsson, so surpassing the 60-point plateau will need to be an absolute minimum for him.
The Kings need Dubois to elevate his game to justify his salary. If he fails to produce 65-points or more he won’t be able to shut out the anger L.A. fans would have for another step sideways by the team and Dubois’ role in it. Dubois is in his prime, and seeing him hit the 30-goal plateau this coming season and being approximately a point-per-game player would validate the investment Blake has made in him. But if things don’t work out as hoped this season, we can see fans turning up the heat on Dubois.
Kings’ Cold Seat: Anze Kopitar, C
Kopitar’s current contract expires at the end of 2023-24, but the Kings captain ensured he’d remain in L.A. through the end of his Hockey Hall-of-Fame-worthy career when he signed a two-year, $14-million deal in July. The 35-year-old center proved he still has lots left in the tank in 2022-23, generating 28 goals and 74 points in 82 games – his best totals since 2017-18, when he put up 35 goals and 92 points (both career-best totals) in 82 games.
Kopitar has done it all at hockey’s highest level, and he’s earned the right to wear only one team’s uniform throughout his NHL playing days. Beloved by fans and respected by teammates and opponents, Kopitar has nothing to worry about other than trying to win the third Cup of his career. He’s the cornerstone of LA’s competitive foundation, and after he retires, he’ll be regarded as one of the very best Kings of all time.