Team: 2021-22 Los Angeles Kings

Initial Creation Date: May 8, 2020

Published: Aug. 4, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I know it's playoffs, but I guess all the non-playing teams can do is speculate...

With the rebuild completed in the 2021-22 season the Kings go with Kopitar, Turcotte, Vilardi, and Lizotte up the middle. Kopitar and Byfield will split centering duties as he mentors Byfield to play against some of the top competition in the league, it is noteworthy that I see this as the same place Stutzle will play if selected. Kupari and Madden transition to top-6 wingers allowing pure goal scorers Kaliyev and ****emo to feast on easier competition on the bottom 6. Turcotte and Vilardi will essentially be interchangeable as the middle six centers. Lizotte will face stiff competition to center the fourth line with Anderson-Dolan and Thomas fighting to play with Swedes (Kempe, ****emo)

Even before buying out the final years of both Carter and Brown, the Kings have plenty of room to provide a defensive one-two punch with Doughty and Hamilton (might be a bit on the low end with his price, but I think the low-profile of hockey players in LA would suit him well, also we have several museums!), blueliners Roy, Klague, Bjornfoot, Anderson, and Hutts move around until they find the places they fit best. However I really like Matt Roy and Mikey Anderson becoming the new Green and Martinez on the bottom line providing a mixture of leadership and skill. Did want to add another vet LH defenseman around $3M but not sure who the best fit might be, maybe a 35 year old Hjalmarsson?

Petersen has been slowly groomed to take the 1A role, however Quick still plays nearly 30 games with a newly bolstered defense infront of him.

It should also be noted that I assumed the Kraken will be selecting Martin Frk from the Kings for his low cap hit, and the belief he will thrive on Vilardi's wing in the 2020-21 season.