Inside look at Los Angeles Kings

NHL.com is providing in-depth roster, prospect and fantasy analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Today, the Los Angeles Kings.

Although the Los Angeles Kings have qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs the past two seasons, they've reached the point where just getting to the postseason isn't enough.

They made a big splash to increase their strength at center, acquiring forward Pierre-Luc Dubois in a trade with the Winnipeg Jets on June 27 for forwards Alex Iafallo, Gabriel Vilardi and Rasmus Kupari, and a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Dubois signed an eight-year contract that day.

"It's a great team and it's not a fun team to play against, so to be able to join them and be on the other side of it, to play with all those players, it's something I'm really looking forward to," Dubois said.

"I'm sure once I get to L.A. and get to meet everybody and get to skate with everybody, it'll hit me that this team is something I think we can go something special."

Dubois, who had 63 points (27 goals, 36 assists) in 73 regular-season games and four points (two goals, two assists) in five playoff games with the Jets, will likely play center on the second line. Anze Kopitar, who led the Kings with 74 points (28 goals, 46 assists) last season and signed a two-year contract July 6, will play center on the top line. Phillip Danault, who had an NHL career-high 54 points last season, will be on the third.

"Yeah, you've got to be deep," Kings general manager Rob Blake said. "You see the top teams in the West and to be able to have to match them, you have to be deep throughout.

"I would add [center Blake] Lizotte into that. We've asked him to play a little bit different roles for us at times, but he provides a lot of energy. But those four centermen will be key for that lineup."

Also key for the Kings is how things come together on defense. They traded Sean Walker to the Philadelphia Flyers and Sean Durzi to the Arizona Coyotes, which opens the door for others.

Brandt Clarkeis the Kings' top prospect on defense and when Blake was asked if he expected the 20-year-old to make their roster he said, "Yeah, I would think."

Tobias Bjornfot also could be in for a bigger role after playing 10 games for the Kings last season. He played 70 with them in 2021-22.

Last season, the Kings split most of their goaltending starts between Pheonix Copley (37) and Jonathan Quick (31) before Quick was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 1. This season, the duo will be comprised of Copley and Cam Talbot, who signed a one-year contract July 1.

It's the latest stop for Talbot, who has played for the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers (when Kings coach Todd McLellan was coach there), Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, Minnesota Wild and Ottawa Senators.

"When this opportunity came up, to sign here now, it just seemed like a no-brainer," said Talbot, who was 17-14-2 with a 2.93 goals-against average, .898 save percentage and one shutout in 36 games (32 starts) with Ottawa last season.

"This team is built to win right now, they're very goalie friendly with the system they play and I'm just going to try to step in, make it as seamless as possible and try to give them some good outings."

The Kings, who were 47-25-10 and finished third in the Pacific Division last season, have not won a playoff series since winning the Stanley Cup in 2014. Los Angeles is coming off two consecutive playoff losses in the Western Conference First Round, eliminated by the Oilers each time.

"I was fortunate toward the end of my career, I played with an organization like [the] Detroit [Red Wings] and I learned, you're not trying to make the playoffs, you're trying to win the playoffs," Kings president Luc Robitaille said. "That's the goal."