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Top 250 rankings
NOTES: These fantasy projections (for 82-game season), a collaborative effort by Pete Jensen, Anna Dua and independent correspondent Jonathan Baron, have been quantified based on factors including but not limited to past performance in the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs, projected line combinations, power-play usage, team goalie situations, injury history or concern, sleeper upside, anticipated regression or bounce-back candidacy, age, contract status and overall upside for this season. The below totals are safe estimates and do not necessarily indicate each player's ceiling or floor and should be used as a basis for decision-making in all fantasy leagues. Players are listed below in order of NHL.com top 250 rank.
Kings 32 in 32: [Season preview | 3 Questions | Top prospects]
Kevin Fiala, LW/RW -- He was acquired by the Los Angeles Kings from the Minnesota Wild then signed a seven-year contract after NHL career highs in points (85; tied for 22nd in League), goals (33), plus/minus (plus-23) and shots on goal (262; tied for 16th) last season. Fiala, who ranked 10th in even-strength points (67) last season, should be considered a top 75 overall fantasy player with an even higher ceiling with likely top-line and first power-play exposure to elite center Anze Kopitar after mostly a second-line role in Minnesota.
NHL.com point projection for Fiala: 79
Drew Doughty, D -- He was limited to 39 games last season and missed all of the Stanley Cup Playoffs after wrist surgery but had the best points-per-game average of his NHL career (0.79; 31 points). Doughty, who's expected to be ready for the start of the season, is a three-time 50-point producer with strong coverage of hits (1.75 per game in NHL career) and should be considered a top 15 fantasy defenseman and top 100 overall player again after the Fiala trade.
NHL.com point projection for Doughty: 51
Anze Kopitar, C -- The center led the Kings in points (67), assists (48) and power-play points (22) last season and helped them return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after not qualifying in the prior three seasons. Although Kopitar, a two-time 80-point producer, didn't come close to his NHL career high (92 points in 2017-18), the Fiala trade gives the veteran center renewed fantasy appeal and puts him back in the top 100 overall fantasy rankings.
NHL.com point projection for Kopitar: 70
Jonathan Quick, G --The Kings goalie was tied for ninth in the NHL in even-strength save percentage (.923; minimum 40 games) last season and should get more goal support this season after the Fiala trade. Quick should continue to benefit from the Kings defense, which allowed the second-fewest shots on goal per game last season (28.5) and be considered a fringe top 15 fantasy goalie with 30-win potential (six seasons of at least 33 wins) if he remains the clear starter over Cal Petersen.
NHL.com win projection for Quick: 27
Adrian Kempe, LW/RW -- He's coming off a breakout season with NHL career highs in goals (35), points (54), power-play points (16) and shots on goal (247) and can build off his success on the top line and first power play with Fiala and Kopitar. Kempe should be considered a fringe top 100 fantasy forward who can reach another gear if Los Angeles' power play (16.1 percent last season; 27th in NHL) improves with Fiala and a healthy Doughty.
NHL.com point projection for Kempe: 59
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Other LAK players to consider in fantasy: Viktor Arvidsson, LW/RW; Sean Durzi, D; Arthur Kaliyev, LW/RW; Phillip Danault, C; Trevor Moore, LW/RW
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