Los Angeles Kings fantasy projections for 2023-24

As part of NHL.com's 32 in 32 series, the fantasy hockey staff has projections for relevant players on the Los Angeles Kings. Players are listed in order of fantasy rank for this season.

Anze Kopitar, C

NHL.com fantasy rank: 70

Reason for optimism:Kopitar had 28 goals and 74 points last season, his most since reaching an NHL career-best in each category in 2017-18 (35 goals, 92 points). He led Los Angeles in points, even-strength points (53) and led all Kings forwards in time on ice per game (20:18) and power play ice time (3:01). Since entering the League in 2006-07, Kopitar ranks fifth in the NHL in points (1,141 in 1,292 games).

NHL.com point projection: 72

Kevin Fiala, LW/RW

NHL.com fantasy rank: 71

Reason for optimism:Fiala averaged better than a point per game in his first season with Los Angeles (72 points in 69 games) and of all players with at least 50 games played over the past two seasons, he is one of 38 averaging at least a point per game in that span (1.04 points per game; 157 points in 151 games). Fiala has high upside with the likelihood of playing on the second line with newly acquired center Pierre-Luc Dubois.

NHL.com point projection: 71

Adrian Kempe, C/LW/RW

NHL.com fantasy rank: 85

Reason for optimism:Kempe set career highs in goals (41), assists (26) and points (67) last season and has established himself as a goal-scoring presence with at least 35 goals in back-to-back seasons, his 76 total goals, tying him with Jake Guentzel (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning) for the 14th-most in the NHL in the span. Kempe is a reliable fantasy option having missed only seven games in the past six seasons.

NHL.com point projection: 70

Pierre-Luc Dubois, C

NHL.com fantasy rank: 95

Reason for optimism: Dubois enters his first season with the Kings after an NHL career-best 63 points in 73 games with the Winnipeg Jets last season. He likely will center the second line, with high individual upside playing with Fiala. Dubois has scored at least 20 goals four times in his six NHL seasons and has also reached the 60-point mark in back-to-back seasons.

NHL.com point projection: 68

Drew Doughty, D

NHL.com fantasy rank: 115

Reason for optimism:Doughty played 81 of 82 games last season and had 52 points (nine goals, 43 assists), which was his most in a season since he had 60 in 2017-18. He is a staple on the Kings power play, which ranked fourth in the NHL last season (25.3 percent). Doughty had the 10th-most power-play assists among NHL defensemen last season (23) and is a fringe top-20 fantasy player at the position this season.

NHL.com point projection: 56

Other LAK players to consider in fantasy: Viktor Arvidsson, LW/RW; Phillip Danault, C; Brandt Clarke, D

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