Keith Fries

keithfries@THNews

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Keith Fries is a contributor for The Hockey News, covering the LA Kings. He hosts a YouTube channel covering the team and has provided content for Puck Preps and Dobber Prospects. You can follow him @keithfries.

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Game Sixty Preview: Kings @ Blackhawks

The Los Angeles Kings finish their current three-game road trip against the Chicago Blackhawks. This will be the second-of-three meetings between these clubs during the 2024-25 NHL Regular Season; Chicago picking up a 4-3 shootout victory, in LA, on November 2, 2024. The Kings have yet to pick up a point, thus far, on this trip. Chicago return home from a three-game road trip where they went 1-1-1; finishing the trip with a 6-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday. In their last ten meetings, the Kings have had the Blackhawks' number with a 7-0-3 record and a goal differential of seventeen. TRASH CAN KICK NUMBER TWO If you've been following our game previews here at The Hockey News Los Angeles Kings, you're very familiar with the concept of kicking the trash can. For those of you new to this channel, kicking the trash can is something I heard former NHL Head Coach Dave Tippett discuss. I'm paraphrasing, but, Tippet said, "as the Head Coach, you can only kick the trash can in the locker room three times a season before the boys tune out." After the Kings gave up five goals in the third period to the San Jose Sharks on November 25, 2024, losing 7-2, I projected the first kick of the can was made. On January 20, 2025, the Kings lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1. I didn't think it was a game that warranted a kick of the trash can but Kings Head Coach Jim Hiller seemed to think otherwise. “I can tell you… I can probably count, maybe, only five times I’ve been disappointed in our team […] this season. Tonight was one of them; maybe the most.” – Kings Head Coach Jim Hiller after loss to Pittsburgh Penguins, January 20, 2025 Still, if I were in Hiller's shoes, I would have reserved my last two kicks for a later day. Well (in my opinion), that day came on Saturday (March 1, 2025) when the Kings were defeated by the St. Louis Blues 4-1. It wasn't the loss to the Blues that resulted in me saying the trash can got kicked. Rather, the culmination of a 12-16-5 record on the road, this season. Something has to give on that front because LA will need to win games on the road during the Playoffs. After the loss to the Blues, Hiller noted that he was personally, "encouraged," that Kings Captain Anze Kopitar told the team they have to, "raise the intensity. He's the guy — more so than me — who will get that done and get it straight in the dressing room." Going back to the loss against the Penguins on January 20, 2025 — a game Hiller said was arguably the most disappointed he's been with the team, this season — Kopitar addressed the media echoing Hiller's disappointment. “It was definitely not our game tonight. From top to bottom, we didn’t get anything going. Even when [we scored] the power play goal, they [came] right back and scored the fourth one which turned out to be a big goal. […] We just weren’t good enough, that’s the bottom line. Top to bottom, left to right, the game was not there.” – Anze Kopitar after loss to Pittsburgh Penguins, January 20, 2025 Kopitar rallied the troops after the loss to the Penguins, now he's doing it after the loss to the Blues. I assume Hiller was the one who kicked the trash can after the loss to the Sharks, but, it sounds like Kopitar may have kicked the second trash can. That's good in one sense because the players are taking ownership of the locker room. However, I'd prefer it come from one of the new guys in the room; like Forward Warren Foegele. Foegele is a mild-mannered guy who lets his play on the ice do the talking. That said, I'd love to hear a story spill out of the locker room that he kicked the trash can and told the team, "I didn't leave Edmonton and come to LA to lose. I came to LA because I know we can win!" The Kings have eight more road games (including today's matchup against the Blackhawks) to right the ship. Puck drop is slated for 5:35 PM PST. You can watch the game via the FanDuel Sports Network or listen live with the ESPN LA app. Photo Credit: © Kirby Lee-Imagn Images1y

LA Kings

Game Fifty-Nine Preview: Kings @ Blues

The Los Angeles Kings head into their second-of-three games on this current road trip taking on the St. Louis Blues. Last season, the Kings went 1-1-1 against the Blues, but outscored St. Louis by a combined score of 9-8. The Kings are coming off a 6-2 loss to the Dallas Stars, yesterday. This season, the Kings have done well in the second game of a back-to-back with a 5-2-1 record. Since returning from the season break, the Blues have earned points in all-four games they’ve played, recording three wins and an overtime loss. The Kings and the Blues will face one another three times beginning today through next Saturday (March 8, 2025). PLAYOFF PREPARTION For the Kings, this season’s series against the Blues couldn’t have come at a better time. Instead of spreading out these matchups over the eighty-two game Regular Season, this old school hockey scheduling format will act as a playoff simulation for both clubs. After today’s contest, the Kings will head to Chicago to face the Blackhawks on Monday. If I were Kings Head Coach Jim Hiller, I’d be telling my team to pretend the black, red, and white Chicago jerseys are blue, yellow, and white St. Louis jerseys. What I mean to say is: Approach these next four games like you would a playoff series. Two on the road, two at home. In a perfect world, the Kings would win all-four of their upcoming games. Personally, I'd be happy if LA picks up the next two road games, in regulation, while splitting their home matchups against the Blues, next week. Why would I advocate for losing games, particularly at Crypto.com Arena? It’s quite simple… I fear the Kings could get complacent at home. When the playoffs come around, the Kings are going to need to win games on the road because they will lose games at home. It's inevitable. This test against the Blues (and Blackhawks) over the next week should be approached as its own subset of games during the 2024-25 NHL Regular Season. These are not three of the eighty-two Regular Season games; these are pre-Playoff games. That doesn’t mean the Kings need to repeat their 4-0 sweep against the Blues like they did in the second round of the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. But they will need to be sharp, focused, and detailed. Puck drop is slated for 5:05 PM PST. You can watch the game via KCAL or listen live with the ESPN LA app. Photo Credit: © Perry Nelson-Imagn Images1y

LA Kings

Game Fifty-Eight Preview: Kings @ Stars

The Los Angeles Kings close out the month of February and begin the month of March with a quick, three-game Central Division road trip beginning in Dallas against the Stars. This is the third-and-final meeting between the Kings and the Stars during the 2024-25 NHL Regular Season. LA won the first-two games, both at home, with a combined scoring ratio of 4:3. The Kings are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday. In their last ten games played, the Stars have been on a tear with an impressive 7-2-1 record. Their overtime loss, in that span, was to the Kings back on February 7, 2025. JUST TAP IT IN Since the beginning of the 2025 calendar year, Kings Captain Anze Kopitar has only found the back of the net once – coincidentally against the Stars. He's played in twenty games during that span, registering twenty-five SOG. This season, Kopitar is averaging 1.27 shots per game. Prior to this twenty-game stretch where he’s gone cold, he was averaging 1.28 shots per game. So, for anyone looking to make the argument that he just needs to shoot more and that will solve the problem, it doesn’t hold water. While there’s plenty of time to get back on track before the playoffs, Kopitar would prefer to get the monkey off his back sooner than later. His usual linemate Forward Adrian Kempe looks to have found a new home alongside Forwards Quinton Byfield and Kevin Fiala. Do you bolster one line at the expense of Kopitar’s production or do you keep Kempe with Kopitar hoping consistency breeds success? It’s a catch twenty-two scenario. It’s possible the Alexes (Forwards Alex Turcotte and Alex Laferriere) could be a fit with Kopitar who, at different times this season, has shepherded the young skaters. Kopitar could assume a Jeff Carter That 70’s Line role with Turcotte and Laferriere as the next iteration of Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli. It's a line combination that Head Coach Jim Hiller has described as, "pretty dangerous." Sometimes, players get in their own heads. They might be gripping the stick looking for the perfect shot. But, whether it's a textbook snipe that pops the netminder's water bottle or a tap in rebound, a goal is a goal is a goal. To borrow some advice from the late, great Chubbs Peterson, "[s]top being a damn fool!" Wait, sorry... That's not the quote I was looking for. Here we go: "Just think of it this way... The other team has pulled their goalie. [The net's] wide open. All you gotta do is tap it in!" - Chubbs Peterson In seventy-three career games against the Stars, Kopitar has scored twenty-two goals. An asterisk you can put next to that statistic is: Kopitar seems to score some pivotal goals when facing Dallas. Puck drop is slated for 5:05 PM PST. You can watch the game via the FanDuel Sports Network or listen live with the ESPN LA app.1y

LA Kings

Kings Trade Target: Viktor Arvidsson

If you've spoken to any die hard Kings fans within the last couple of months, they'll tell you how the team is doing well but is in desperate need of a right-shot, scoring Winger. It's a narrative that has likely found its way between the ears of General Manager Rob Blake who heard the same outpouring of negative responses before flipping Forward Pierre-Luc Dubois for Goaltender Darcy Kuemper. Forwards like Jonathan Marchessault, Alex Tuch, and Brock Boeser have been thrown out there as names to keep an eye on. I don't see the Kings getting Marchessault because, even though Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz has alluded to tearing things down and starting over, Marchessault likely won't be shown the door that quickly. Tuch would fit the Kings' brand of hockey but I believe the upstate New York native is happy playing in Buffalo. As for Boeser, the Canucks may be willing to trade him to the Kings — even with both being Pacific Division rivals competing for a playoff position — but, the asking price may be too high for a guy on the last year of his current contract. What if the answer is a combination of all-three? A smaller Forward like Marchessault... a guy who has hometown roots to a certain extent... a guy who isn't on the last year of his deal but isn't on a lengthy, expensive contract either. What if the answer has been right there in front of us this whole time? What if the answer is bringing back Forward Viktor Arvidsson? With nineteen points (7G, 12A) in forty-three games, this season, Edmonton may be willing to part with Arvidsson and it may not be a deal that breaks the bank for LA. Arvidsson signed a two-year, $4M/AAV deal with the Oilers in the offseason. Presently, the Kings have a little less than $4M to spend and, since we're past the halfway point of the season, Arvidsson would be owed less than $2M. Because Arvidsson's point production is low, and he got hit with the injury bug earlier this season, the price tag could be a mid-round draft pick if the Kings are willing to eat Arvidsson's contract. For fans clamoring that the Kings need a right-shot, scoring Winger on the power play, Arvidsson may be the perfect fit. He knows the players and has built in chemistry. The system has changed but he’s familiar with Head Coach Jim Hiller and how he'd be utilized on special teams. It's not an option that doesn't present challenges, mind you. For one, if Arvidsson were to return, he'd likely be paired with his former linemates Phillip Danault and Trevor Moore. Danault and Moore have played well with Warren Foegele and have become one of Hiller's personal favorite lines to lean on. Maybe Arvidsson slides up and plays on his off-wing with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe. But then, Alex Turcotte gets moved into obscurity which would be unfair as, in my opinion, he hasn't played himself out of a job. Ultimately, combinations wouldn't matter beyond setting the initial lineup as Hiller is bound to make adjustments throughout the game. But, just for fun, here's how the Forward group may look if Arvidsson returns to LA. Foegele - Kopitar - Kempe Fiala - Byfield - Laferriere Moore - Danault - Arvidsson Jeannot - Turcotte - Lewis1y

LA Kings

Kings - Best Ticket in LA

Former NHL General Manager (Anaheim, Toronto, Calgary) and President of Hockey Operations (Calgary, Pittsburgh) Brian Burke iterated many times that he was never in the sports business; rather, he was in the entertainment business. Here in Los Angeles, we know all about entertainment. It's our industry. From actors and actresses, to musicians, to athletes, LA isn't short of talent. In the Los Angeles sports market, the Kings will likely always take a backseat to the NBA's Lakers and MLB's Dodgers. The Lakers' recent acquisition of superstar Guard Luka Doncic and the Dodgers' 2024 World Series victory make it even more of a challenge for the Kings to supersede them. Add the NFL's Rams and Chargers into the mix, coupled with the NBA's Clippers' new Intuit Dome arena, pitching the Kings as a must-see event is a hard sell. "[O]ur competition is not other sports teams or other hockey teams, it's every place that people can spend money for entertainment outside of their working hours. So: the theatre, movies, these are all things we compete with for people's hard earned money. [...] I happen to sell hockey tickets but I'm in the entertainment business." - Brian Burke One thing that will undoubtedly sell tickets to sporting events here in Los Angeles is winning. We love winners. Fortunately for the Kings, they are on a remarkable winning streak at Crypto.com Arena, this season, with a league-leading 19-3-3 home record. What the Kings are selling is this: you buy a ticket to come watch us play, you walk out to the sound of "Hollywood Nights" by Bob Seger. "There are three pillars that I base my teams on. One, I try to run it like a business. Because, I think, to get people to buy tickets and sponsors to invest in the game, they've got to see their dollars being spent intelligently. So, I've always prided myself on running it like a business; making sound decisions with other people's money. Second, we try to entertain the fan. We try to play a style that's consciously entertaining and that's a trademark of my teams. We try and chase the puck... we don't sit back and trap. We try to hit in all-three zones. We fight. We try to score a lot of goals. I want to entertain you. I have to get you to the edge of your seat several times a period for you to feel that this was a fun evening. And the third is the charity work. We insist on not just our front office staff do a ton of charity work, we make the players do it as well." - Brian Burke Let's start with pillar number three. The Kings recently hosted their Skate for LA Strong charity event to raise money and awareness for those who suffered dearly during the recent wildfires across LA. The event featured former NHL players, celebrities, musical performances, and first responders all suiting up for a great cause. There's your charity. Pillar number one... the Kings have certainly run things like a business. If you've attended a Kings game at the Crypt, this season, you know what I'm talking about. From the players finding ways to win, to Mikey Alexander and Kayla Knierim keeping the energy up during lulls in the action, to Patrick O'Neal and Jarret Stoll hosting the game in the concourse while those dudes standing in the background stare into the camera without blinking... everyone does their job and they do it well. Which brings us to pillar number two, the entertainment aspect. According to Burke, his entertaining teams: chase the puck, they don't sit back and trap — check. They hit in all-three zones and fight — double check (see what I did there?). They score profusely — check, sometimes. Point is, going to a Kings game is entertaining. When the Kings return to LA beginning on Wednesday March 5, 2025, there will only be sixteen home games during the 2024-25 NHL Regular Season. Angelenos, if you haven't made it out to a game, I'd seriously suggest you do.1y

LA Kings

THN Kings Roundtable Discussion: Should the Kings be Buyers, Sellers, or Stand Pat?

At the trade deadline, should the Kings be: buyers, sellers, or stand pat? What would they need? Who would they get rid of? The trade deadline will be an interesting time for the Kings and a pivotal moment in the legacy of Rob Blake's tenure as General Manager. Their team is flawed, but it is coming together as the best defensive team in the Blake era. As usual, it is a Kings team that lacks offensive punch. No surprise there, but they will find themselves looking around for an offensive boost. They should absolutely be buyers at the deadline, but to what extent? Who can they trade realistically? There is not much to give back towards any trade unless they dip into their prospect pool (Forward Liam Greentree) or, on the more controversial end, Defenseman Brandt Clarke. Kings fans should be prepared to land a Jake Evans, 4C-type Forward. If you want the Brock Boesers or Alex Tuchs of the world, you have to pay up. - Connor Doyle I believe the Kings should stand pat. Look, I get it… Adding a noteworthy piece at the trade deadline not only gives your team a boost but it shows the fans you’re serious about making a run at the Stanley Cup. To that last point, the Kings had great success adding Forwards Jeff Carter and Marian Gaborik in 2012 and 2014 respectively, leading to the franchise’s two Stanley Cup victories. But right now, the team is operating as a cohesive unit and adding or subtracting from that could prove problematic. - Keith Fries The Kings should be looking to buy before/at the NHL trade deadline (March 7, 2025) as they strongly need a consistent goal scorer. The team should also consider a third-line Center who can create plays and contribute offensively. - Sharlette Shahbazyan I believe the Kings are at the point where adding more of the same and hoping for a different result is no longer an attractive option. They are buyers, but they need to be bidding on a big fish at this point. Acquiring another 15-20 goal scorer doesn’t move the needle in my opinion. Go big or stand pat. - Karo Blikian1y

LA Kings

Game Fifty-Seven Preview: Canucks @ Kings

The Los Angeles Kings host the Vancouver Canucks for the third-and-final time during the 2024-25 NHL Regular Season. They’ve split the season series with one win a piece, each team winning on the road. The Kings come into this contest with a 5-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday. Vancouver is looking to pick up their first victory since the season break, having lost to Vegas and Utah on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. LA are 6-2-2 in their last ten meetings with Vancouver, outscoring the Canucks 32-20 in that span. Of those thirty-two goals for the Kings, five have come on the power play; three in their last three matchups. Power Play Coming Along at the Right Time I don’t often get a chance to make my way down to the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, CA, so what I’m about to say is merely speculation. This season, the Kings power play has struggled to generate goals, currently operating at a 15.6% success rate. Even though LA has only found the back of the net nineteen times on the power play, Head Coach Jim Hiller has consistently gone with his core group of players. Fans have clamored that the power play needs a shakeup – specifically a right-shot, scoring Winger. Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Boy, do I know it! It’s hard to argue against changing up the power play – according to Einstein’s definition. Going back to the beginning of this section where I mentioned I don’t get to make it out to practices, I assume the power play is working in that capacity. It’d have to be, right? I mean, if Hiller keeps rolling out the same power play skaters, he’d have to be getting positive results somewhere. The Kings’ penalty kill unit is the fifth-best in the NHL, this season, at 82.2%. If their power play units are producing in practice, they're firing on all cylinders against one of the top PK units the league has to offer. At some point, it was bound to transfer over into games and, since the season break, it's starting to (one power play goal in each game). Puck drop is slated for 7:05 PM PST. You can watch the game via NHL on TNT or listen live with the ESPN LA app.  1y

LA Kings

Game Fifty-Six Preview: Golden Knights @ Kings + Scouting the Pros: Quinton Byfield vs. Utah

The Los Angeles Kings host the Vegas Golden Knights for the third-of-four meetings this season. In the first two contests, both Vegas and LA picked up wins on home ice. The Kings are coming off a 5-3 regulation win over the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday. In their last ten meetings with the Kings, the Golden Knights are 6-4-0 with a combined score of 33-31 (in Vegas’ favor). All-time, Vegas are 18-13-3 against the Kings – LA 16-16-2.   SCOUTING THE PROS: QUINTON BYFIELD vs. UTAH - FEBRUARY 22, 2025 On Saturday (February 22, 2025), the Los Angeles Kings hosted the Utah Hockey Club, picking up a 5-3 regulation victory. I was honored to have been invited to attend that game as a member of the media, and used the opportunity to scout Kings Forward Quinton Byfield. Although held without a point in that contest, Byfield's play at Center really looks like it's coming along nicely. He continuously stuck to the middle of the ice, using his size to eat up space or set screens. When he did go roaming, Byfield was calculated with his decision making, knowing he could make a play more so than taking a risk. Byfield drew a penalty at 7:36 in the first period. I didn't think it was a bad penalty. Not saying it wasn't a penalty, just the kind of penalty you can easily put in the rearview. It did result in a power play goal for Utah. But, Head Coach Jim Hiller immediately put Byfield back on the ice, resulting in a goal just 0:28 later from Defenseman Drew Doughty – Byfield with a +1. Showed very good puck handling in traffic. Strong ankles/footwork – took some bumps but stayed on his feet. When playing with Forwards Kevin Fiala and Alex Laferriere, Byfield's offensive punch is on display but in a very subtle way. For example: Byfield made a quick one-touch pass and had the confidence to let Fiala and/or Laferriere make a play rather than holding onto the puck and waiting for his guys to get into position. Byfield was their safety blanket. Knowing Byfield can be a General on the ice who can also contribute a high level of offense is what the Kings envisioned when they reverted him back to Center. While the points may not be there, it's starting to trend that way. We all know how incredibly fast Byfield can skate. At times, you need that. However, I noticed how well he does when he slows the play down. Like, way, way down! At one point, he made an Offensive Zone entry and there were at least three Utah players waiting to greet him. With the puck on his stick, he sort of just stopped in motion, kept his head on a swivel to see what his options were, and then proceeded to play on. It would have been an ideal moment for Utah to try and steal the puck from Byfield but they looked frozen and stunned. If you were following the puck during the game, you may not be surprised to see Byfield without a point in this game. But, if you were following him during the game, you saw a guy who made plays away from the puck. When coaches talk about a player doing, "all the little things," that's what I saw from Byfield against Utah. PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS Using his size to clog up the middle. Anticipating a breakout pass – left his own zone a little early but didn't get away from the play. Reading where the puck is going; got to his man before the puck did. Forechecking; drew a penalty with an active stick. Not a bad penalty; throw it away and forget about it. Led to a PP goal for Utah but again, put it on the backburner. On the ice immediately after the penalty when Kings scored for +1. Good stick handling and backhand pass in traffic. Pressuring along the boards. For as fast of a skater as he is, Byfield shows really high confidence when he has the puck on his stick and he slows down the pace – almost like he knows he's not just in control of the puck but the entire situation. Setting screens, battling for position down low. Playing loose, lots of confidence. When Kevin Fiala and Alex Laferriere are playing a high offensive game, Byfield is their safety net and calming influence who can also contribute and match their offense. Made good contact on his one timer a couple times. Strong edges, hard to take to the ice. Very good hands in heavy traffic. - Keith Fries1y

LA Kings

Game Fifty-Five Preview: Utah Hockey Club @ Kings

The Los Angeles Kings return from the season break hosting the Utah Hockey Club for their second-of-three meetings this season. In their first matchup back on October 26, 2024, LA pulled out a 3-2 regulation victory over Utah where the Kings scored all-three goals from Defensemen Joel Edmundson (2) and Brandt Clarke (1). This season, LA are 17-3-2 at home, the Utah Hockey Club 15-11-3 on the road including a seven-game win streak from November 26, 2024, through December 20, 2024. UP THE MIDDLE/BUTT WHIPPING TIME With only twenty-nine games left in the 2024-25 NHL Regular Season, things will begin tightening up not just for the Kings but here at the Hockey News – as I’ll be suspending the levity in favor of brevity. This is the make-it-or-break-it time of the season where everyone on the Kings will be (and should be) held accountable. Long gone are the days of getting contribution from this person one game and that person the next. Yes, the Kings are in a playoff position but now is not the time to take their foot off the gas pedal. Rather, this is the time to attack the game head on and send the message to the rest of the league that you’re a threat. These games won’t be pretty and will have their challenges. The Kings might even see their prestigious home record take a turn for the worse. But, none of that will matter relative to how the team is actually playing. If they are going for the jugular while not cheating the game, they will be rewarded. The Kings players can’t lean on Head Coach Jim Hiller to motivate them; they must do it themselves. The players need to be the ones getting Hiller out of bed at the crack of dawn not the other way around. It's butt whipping time! Puck drop is slated for 6:05 PM PST. You can watch the game via the FanDuel Sports Network or listen live with the ESPN LA app. Related Videos: LA Kings Weekly Preview1y

LA Kings

Canada vs. Sweden: Doughty and Kempe Square Off

Feb 12, 25

LA Kings

Hiller’s Forward Lines Taking Shape: Key Combinations Mostly Set For Kings

Feb 11, 25

LA Kings

BREAKING: Englund Claimed Off of Waivers by Predators

Feb 10, 25

LA Kings

Game Fifty-Four Preview: Ducks @ Kings

Feb 8, 25

LA Kings

Game Fifty-Three Preview: Stars @ Kings

Feb 7, 25

LA Kings

Game Fifty-Two Preview: Canadiens @ Kings

Feb 5, 25

LA Kings

Opinion: Greentree Needs NHL Time As Soon As Possible

Feb 4, 25

LA Kings

Game Fifty-One Preview: Kings @ Hurricanes

Feb 1, 25

LA Kings

Game Fifty Preview: Kings @ Lightning

Jan 30, 25

LA Kings

Game Forty-Nine Preview: Kings @ Panthers

Jan 29, 25

LA Kings

Game Forty-Eight Preview: Kings @ Red Wings

Jan 27, 25

LA Kings