CAMPING OUT IN L.A.

LOS ANGELES, CA – The official start of the Los Angeles Kings’ 2022-23 season kicked off on Thursday as the team hit the ice for the first time since last May’s first-round seven-game defeat to the Edmonton Oilers.

The tone that permeates around this team is different than the first three seasons of Coach Todd McLellan’s tenure. The growth of the team powered by the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2018 has established an air of confidence required for a team that is in a place where merely making the playoffs will be considered a success. While there were no pronouncements of “the Cup or bust” made by the team’s core leadership, repeating a first-round playoff elimination won’t define success.

Adding a proven playmaker in Kevin Fiala and the return of defensemen Drew Doughty (who pronounced himself 100% after season-ending wrist surgery) and Sean Walker legitimizes Los Angeles’ contender status for a Pacific Division title, but questions still abound as to if the team will build off a transitional last season.

NO SNEAKING

When you’re a playoff team, you don’t have the luxury of sneaking up on the opposition. The Kings are no longer a secret, by buying into McLellan’s system in what was a pivotal season for the current regime. Over the course of 82+7 games, they established an identity of a tenacious checking team that didn’t overpower you, but you couldn’t overpower (let’s just forget Games 2-3 vs. Edmonton). From the drop of the puck on October 11, the opposition will be ready to contest every inch of the ice.

GREATER EXPECTATIONS

It’s not just the opposition who is taking notice. If the opening day crowd at the L.A. practice facility is any indication, the fan base expects more, as well. Over the past few seasons, a handful of spectators would be in attendance for Day 1 of camp. Not so in 2022 as the stands were filled for a Thursday 11AM scrimmage.

Unlike last season, a 1-5-1 start won’t go unnoticed. The remaining championship core (now down to three: Anze Kopitar, Doughty and Jonathan Quick) spoke about welcoming the return of higher expectations and while their track records tell you they can handle it, can the rest of roster handle the weight and pressure of being asked to achieve more?

ACSENDING THE GOALTENDING THRONE

When we last left the Los Angeles caged kingdom, Quick controlled all corners of the territory. He was the go-to guy down the stretch and started every postseason game with Cal Petersen only seeing the crease when the Oilers routed the Kings in Game 3.

The ascension the Kings expected and wanted with Petersen awarded a $15 million, three-year contract last summer never came. Not to grasp control of the net was one thing, but the regression in Petersen’s game (.890 save percentage, 2.70 GAA) is something that needs to reverse field this season.

Quick, who turns 37 in January, is in the final season of his 10-year deal (remember those?) and told me on Thursday we shouldn’t make plans for a farewell tour; the plan is continuing to play at the expiration of his deal.

The pair combined save percentage (.901) tied for 19th and both were aided by the puck possession system that was only second to the Carolina Hurricanes in shot suppression.

Q ABOUT Q

It’s Go Time for Quinton Byfield.

All the factors that hindered his development (the COVID times, last season’s training camp injury) are gone. He played half an NHL season, got a taste of the playoffs, and had the opportunity to learn from Kopitar and Phillip Danault in 2021-22, so there should be no uncertainty about what is necessary to succeed.

With two established pivots in front of him on the depth chart, Byfield doesn’t need to be a 30G, 30A man yet, but he can’t be a 5G, 5A contributor – especially if McLellan’s stated plan of 15-18 minutes per night he stated on the current episode of The Kings Of The Podcast. Give Byfield credit for knowing that it’s time to be an impact player with his comments on Day 1 of camp.

“I’ve put quite a bit (of pressure on myself to produce), honestly,” he said. “My whole life I’ve been an offensive player – through minor hockey, the OHL, even the American League. It’s something I want to do; be more loose out there, make some plays, be more confident with the puck. I need to hold on to the puck a bit longer using my puck protection, shielding off guys and finding guys. If I find Arty (Arthur Kaliyev, a probable paired winger) in the slot, I know it’s going to be in the net.”

It's just Day 1 in what stands to be an intriguing season and my full season outlook will come before Opening Night.