Los Angeles Kings fantasy preview for 2020-21

As part of NHL.com's 31 in 31 series, the fantasy hockey staff identifies relevant players from the Los Angeles Kings. For more fantasy coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy and subscribe for free to the NHL Fantasy on Ice podcast.

Kings 31 IN 31: [Season preview | 3 Questions | Top prospects | Behind the Numbers]
Anze Kopitar, C (NHL.com rank: 70) -- Kopitar has been the Kings' leading scorer in each of the past three seasons, including 62 points (21 goals, 41 assists) in 70 games last season. He averaged 0.89 points per game, an improvement from 2018-19, when he averaged 0.74 in 81 games (60 points). There was a 19-point gap between Kopitar and forward Alex Iafallo, who was second on the Kings with 43 points (17 goals, 26 assists). Regardless of how Los Angeles' rebuild progresses, Kopitar is a standalone fantasy asset and the ideal No. 2 center to target in the fifth or sixth round of a standard draft.
Drew Doughty, D(133) -- Since 2014-15, Doughty is 12th among defensemen with 281 points (58 goals, 223 assists), eighth in power-play points (118) and 12th in shots on goal (1,097) in 477 games. Last season, when the Kings were 28th in the NHL standings with a .457 points percentage (29-35-6), Doughty returned plenty of fantasy value with his coverage of points (35), power-play points (14), shots on goal (141; 2.1 per game) and hits (1.6 per game). Plus/minus has been the only fantasy drawback for Doughty recently; he's a minus-50 the past two seasons.
Jonathan Quick, G (198) -- Quick has helped the Kings win the Stanley Cup twice (2012, 2014) and has a .913 save percentage in 644 games during his 13 NHL seasons. With Los Angeles potentially incorporating forward prospects Quinton Byfield, Alex Turcotte and Gabriel Vilardi this season, Quick has bounce-back fantasy appeal, especially if he gets more goal support. He finished strong last season, going 5-0-1 with a .957 save percentage and one shutout in his final six games, and should be attainable in the late rounds of most fantasy drafts.
Quinton Byfield, C(209) -- The No. 2 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft could be the Kings' second-line center behind Kopitar this season, and he could see power-play time with Kopitar and Doughty. It's possible Byfield (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) even replaces Tyler Toffoli on the first power play; Toffoli was second on the Kings last season with 18 goals despite being traded to the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 17. Byfield is a top 25 player for keeper and dynasty leagues and could be the fifth-most valuable fantasy rookie this season behind New York Rangers forward Alexis Lafreniere (No. 1 pick of the 2020 draft), Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov, Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin and New York Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin.

Alex Iafallo, LW(230) -- Iafallo and forward Dustin Brown are the Kings' best options at wing entering this season and each is an underrated target late in fantasy drafts. Iafallo, a fixture on the top line with Kopitar last season, was second to Kopitar on the Kings in scoring and was tied with Brown and forward Jeff Carter for third with 17 goals. Iafallo, in his third NHL season, had career highs in goals, assists (26), power-play goals (six) and power-play points (nine), and could have a higher ceiling if the Kings get back into Stanley Cup Playoff contention.
Other players to consider in later rounds or off waiver wire: Dustin Brown, RW (245); Cal Petersen, G (230); Alex Turcotte, C; Gabriel Vilardi, C; Carl Grundstrom, LW/RW
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