2020-21 season: 21-28-7, tied for sixth in Honda West Division; did not qualify for Stanley Cup Playoffs
Key arrivals
Phillip Danault, F: The 28-year-old, who signed a six-year contract July 28, scored 24 points (five goals, 19 assists) in 53 regular-season games for the Montreal Canadiens last season, and four points (one goal, three assists) in 22 Stanley Cup Playoff games to help them reach the Cup Final. … Viktor Arvidsson, F: The 28-year-old was acquired in a trade with the Nashville Predators on July 1 for two draft picks after scoring 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 50 games last season and no points in two playoff games. … Alexander Edler, D: The 35-year-old signed a one-year contract July 28 after spending the past 15 seasons with the Vancouver Canucks. He had eight assists in 52 games last season and was fourth in the NHL with 118 blocked shots.
Key departure
Kurtis MacDermid, D: Selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft on July 21, MacDermid was then traded to the Colorado Avalanche on July 27. He spent time on the taxi squad last season and scored four points (two goals, two assists) in 28 games for the Kings.
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On the cusp
Quinton Byfield , F: The 19-year-old and No. 2 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft made his NHL debut April 28 and had one assist in six games after scoring 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) in 32 games for Ontario of the American Hockey League. He is expected to make the Kings roster out of training camp. … Alex Turcotte , F: The 20-year-old, who was the No. 5 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, made his pro debut last season, scoring 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 32 games for Ontario. … Arthur Kaliyev , F: The 20-year-old led Ontario in goals (14) and points (31) in 40 games. Selected in the second round (No. 33) of the 2019 draft, Kaliyev made his NHL debut Feb. 2 and scored a goal on his only shot in a 3-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
What they still need
To get younger at defenseman. Edler is a stopgap and Drew Doughty has led Los Angeles in average time on ice every season since joining the NHL in 2008-09, including 26:23 last season at age 31. Tobias Bjornfot, 20, and Mikey Anderson, 22, should remain in regular roles this season, and the Kings hope
Brandt Clarke
, the No. 8 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, will arrive soon. The 18-year-old signed a three-year entry-level contract Aug. 10 and is expected to play for Barrie of the Ontario Hockey League this season.
They said it
"I feel like it's a great opportunity for me and for the team. We have something really up and coming with young and older players who really want to win and are hungry to win. I'm really, really excited to be a part of it." -- forward Viktor Arvidsson
Fantasy focus
Goalie Cal Petersen is a potential beneficiary of the Kings' offseason moves, notably the additions of Danault, Arvidsson and Edler. He has challenged Jonathan Quick for playing time at different points during each of the past three seasons and has a .916 save percentage in 54 NHL games since 2018-19, much better than Quick in that span (.896 in 110 games). Petersen is a deep fantasy sleeper for Los Angeles, a potential surprise playoff team in the Pacific Division. -- Pete Jensen
Projected lineup
Alex Iafallo -- Anze Kopitar -- Viktor Arvidsson
Adrian Kempe -- Phillip Danault -- Dustin Brown
Trevor Moore -- Quinton Byfield -- Andreas Athanasiou
Jaret Anderson-Dolan -- Blake Lizotte -- Gabriel Vilardi
Mikey Anderson -- Drew Doughty
Alexander Edler -- Sean Walker
Tobias Bjornfot -- Matt Roy
Calvin Petersen
Jonathan Quick
