Why This Kings Team Might Be the Best of the Rob Blake Era

Is this the best Los Angeles Kings team of the Rob Blake era?

Lofty expectations but a lack of real goals was a theme for most of the Luc Robitaille and Rob Blake regime. As the Kings look to be on the cusp of a fourth straight postseason berth, it's about time we stack them up to seasons past.

Well, this Kings team is on pace to achieve a 100-point season this year, which would be the second Blake season to do so. Sitting at 93 points with a possible 16 points left in the season up for grabs, the Kings are well within the realm of possibility of surpassing their 104-point season from 2022-23. Despite playing five games out of the remaining eight at home, two of those games are against the Edmonton Oilers and the Colorado Avalanche. So, I would preach more under than over at that 104 number.

The team has been improving defensively for the last three seasons, overarchingly. They went from being the ninth-best team in the league in 2021-22 (when they barely scored more than they allowed 235:232) to being the third-best team last season, allowing 210 goals in total. The 2024-25 Kings currently sit at 184 goals allowed for the season. Using the season average to judge the final eight games, that brings that number up to 204 (rounded). That would indeed separate the team as the best defensive team in the Blake era.

The number is quite refined, considering the last fourteen games as a measuring stick, as the trade deadline saw a subtle but impactful facelift in the form of Andrei Kuzmenko, which Blake deftly implemented without sacrificing from the roster. In fourteen games since the deadline and Kuzmenko's rushed onboarding process before their game against St. Louis, they have allowed 25 goals, which is 1.78 per game since the pickup. With that number averaged in the final eight games, it brings the Kings' goals allowed down to 198.28, or rather a 145.96 average over the course of an 82-game season.

The 198 goals allowed predicated pace would be better than some of the formidable years the Kings have put together in the last decade. Better than Jonathan Quick's second Jennings season in 2017-18 (202), Darryl Sutter's hardnosed team in 2016-17 (201) but in the breath of elite company such as the 2015-16 flare out Kings (192), the missed championship defense in 2014-15 (197).

While not along the lines of their championship formidable years, the 82-game average (145) with Kuzmenko is actually better than the 2013-14 (168), 2011-12 (170) seasons. In fact, this is a team that is scoring well above those two championship rosters (188: 11-12, 198: 13-14).

Using that same average to indicate scoring, the Kings have potted 50 in the fourteen games since landing Kuzmenko, and the goal total of the year would land right around 246. Now that 14-game run includes two seven-goal games and one eight spot. Probably not likely to see many of those down the stretch.

Regardless, this will end up being the third-best scoring team in the Blake era while being the best defensively.

I'll circle back to Kuzmenko and the deadline because it's kind of important to note. These fourteen games have been exceptional, remarkable, use all the superlatives you want. They are second in the league in points accrual during that time.

Most news outlets will continue to lather the red-hot Blues, though they have only accrued one more point (23) than the Kings (22) in one less game. That's correct; the 11-3-0 Kings are only overshadowed slightly by the post deadline Blues, who are operating at a .885-point accrual (yowzers) at 11-1-1.

One of their two losses? March 8th at Crypto.com arena.

So, what feels like the best Kings team under Blake will potentially go into the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the league and will face the Edmonton Oilers yet again. Before judging that matchup, I'll note that nothing should be considered aggregate when looking at favorable or unfavorable matchups concerning a season accomplished.

Take a look at how they went into the playoffs, not their season as a whole, as that is the most critical factor. History aside, depth aside, two-headed monster, and health aside, this is an Oilers team operating at a .625-point accrual percentage. With all their health issues, that's still pretty darn good.

The Kings, on the other hand, are operating at a .786-point accrual percentage. They've given up the third-fewest high-danger goals in that span (12: averaging less than one a game). They've had the third-highest scoring chances for percentage at 55.48 and allowed the third-fewest goals, at 24 per NST.

Now, switch to just even strength, and you've got a bully of a team right now. They've allowed the fewest goals allowed in the league (14) while being the second-highest scoring team (34), the fifth-fewest scoring chances allowed (239), and second fewest great danger goals allowed (8 - tied with St. Louis).

The league will continue to talk about how St. Louis is the team to avoid come playoff time, and in all due respect, there's absolute fairness to that. But anyone not seeing the Kings as a current wagon should reconsider their positioning.

When considering the Oilers positioning of playing the Kings in the first round, they would be playing the stingiest Blake team of the era, a team firing on all cylinders, boasting the best home record in the league (28-4-4) while having the upper hand in that chase for home ice advantage. These factors don't seem like a favorable matchup for their most recent and utilized first round playoff dance partner.

I would preach caution to Kings naysayers spouting doom over a fourth consecutive matchup.

If any of the Blake-era teams will do it, it might just be this one. With two games left against Edmonton, one at home and one on the road, there's potential for an excellent preview of things to come. Connor McDavid in the lineup or not, these games will be pivotal not just for home ice but as a measuring stick that can be misconstrued further with the late-season recoveries of Trent Frederic and Evander Kane. All is shaping up to be a doosie of a postseason, as the Kings could do some real damage if they stay hot.