Five things the Kings must do to return to the NHL playoffs – Los Angeles Times

Former Detroit Red Wings forward Andreas Athanasiou is one of the players making his Kings debut this month.

(Paul Sancya / Associated Press)

While Athanasiou will have to wait and clear a quarantine period before joining camp later this week, the Kings other key offseason acquisition made a strong first impression Thursday.

Two-time Stanley Cup champion Olli Maatta, a 26-year-old left-handed defenseman the Kings acquired in an October trade with the Chicago Blackhawks, slotted in next to Doughty on the teams top blue-line pairing.

Our games are very similar, said Doughty, who has cycled through a host of different and often less experienced partners in recent seasons. He used to spend his offseasons in [Doughtys Ontario, Canada hometown] London so I skated with him for maybe three or four summers there. I get along with him really well. I think were going to be something special together.

That could be a key development for the Kings. Doughty, 31, might be the veteran they most need improvement from. Though the team believes his numbers dont tell the full story, the former Norris Trophy winner has seen his production slip significantly over the last two seasons.

A lot of people have me written off as not even a good player anymore, Doughty said. So all that becomes personal, and all that drives me to be better this year, to make our team better.

The Kings will also have to decide which prospects crack their opening night roster. Among players aged 22 or younger, Vilardi looks like the only lock. Andersson, Samuel Fagemo, Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Akil Thomas, Rasmus Kupari, Matt Luff and Carl Grundstrom could all be in contention for a forward spot; Mikey Anderson, Kale Clague and Tobias Bjornfot (who played in the World Junior Championship) could compete for a position among the defensemen.

Fellow World Juniors participants such as Quinton Byfield, Alex Turcotte and Arthur Kaliyev are also set to join either the Kings taxi squad or their minor-league roster following that tournaments conclusion. The team appears unlikely to play any of them to eclipse the seven-game NHL threshold in order to preserve a year on their entry-level contracts.

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Five things the Kings must do to return to the NHL playoffs - Los Angeles Times