After yesterday's article, which discussed how Los Angeles Kings may look next year on defense and in net next season, today I’ll be looking at how the forward group could turn out. I’ll also say I won’t be including any potential first-round pick in this year’s draft here, just because the Kings will likely be picking far enough out that we can’t be sure who they’ll be taking.
FORWARDS
I’ll start with the centers. I think whether or not Alex Turcotte makes the jump to the NHL next season will have a pretty big impact for the Kings down the middle. I’d like to think Jeff Carter will be moved to the wing, which would retain some depth in the top-six while not taking the spot of any young centers. We know Kopitar will be centering the first line and I’ll say if Turcotte does start with the Kings, the centers will be Kopitar, Vilardi, Turcotte and Lizotte, with Amadio being shifted to the wing. If Turcotte doesn’t head right to the NHL, I think Carter still plays on the wing, with the Kings using Kopitar, Vilardi, Lizotte and Amadio as centers. I'm hopeful that both Turcotte and Vilardi at least start with the Kings at center.
The top-six wingers will likely be Alex Iafallo and Adrian Kempe on the left side, with Carter and Dustin Brown on the right side, assuming Carter isn't playing center. It does get a bit more interesting in the bottom-six though.
We don’t know if Trevor Lewis will be re-signed but even though he’s been with the organization for over a decade, it probably makes more sense to part ways. Los Angeles is already going to have to figure out how to work some younger players into the lineup and keeping Lewis, who’s already 33 years old, isn't the best idea. I will say though that I think restricted free agents Nikolai Prokhorkin and Austin Wagner will both be re-signed for cheap.
Martin Frk is likely to play right wing on the third line and if Amadio isn’t playing center, he could be playing on the right side of the fourth line. On the left side, I’d hope the Kings have Carl Grundstrom starting in the NHL. He definitely projects as a top-nine forward and he’d be a great fit to play left wing on the third line. Lastly, I’ll say that Trevor Moore will play left wing on the fourth line, with Prokhorkin and Wagner as the spares. If Turcotte doesn't join the Kings, however, Amadio likely plays center and Austin Wagner draws into the lineup on the fourth line. This also means that Jaret Anderson-Dolan and Matt Luff would be starting back in the AHL, which isn’t the worst option, as it’ll give them more of an opportunity in a larger role, rather than playing on the fourth line with the Kings or sitting as a spare.
So here’s my projection for the forwards, as well as the lineup as a whole:
Iafallo - Kopitar - Brown
Kempe - Vilardi - Carter
Grundstrom - Turcotte - Frk
Moore - Lizotte - Amadio
Spares: Prokhorkin and Wagner
Hutton/Short-term UFA - Doughty
Anderson - Roy
Bjornfot/Clague - Walker
Spare: MacDermid
Quick
Petersen
With this lineup, the Kings would start really integrating their young talent into the lineup, without pushing them into roles that they’re not ready for. It certainly may not go exactly as I’m predicting, but expect more prospects to win a roster spot next season.
Here’s today’s poll question (results and discussion will be posted tomorrow):
Do you think Jeff Carter will play at center or on the wing next season?
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