Not So Fast

What a difference a year makes.  The Kings are much better than they were last year.  They are currently sitting in a playoff spot and were just a point or two out of first place a few weeks ago.  The Kings might make the playoffs, and one might even go out on a limb to say that they have a very good chance to make the playoffs, but they aren't ready for the big time...yet.

As was fortold by me, and several hundred thousand others, Calgary and Edmonton are mounting their charge to the playoffs.  Calgary has been especially impressive (Lucky for Tofolli), and look to be the legitimate challenger to Colorado for the Western Conference.  As a result, both the Kings and the Quacks have dropped a bit down the standings.  Microcosms aside, two very young and still rough around the edges teams had to slide a bit.

The Kings are lacking in a few key areas.  For this team to become a real threat for the cup, the defensemen need to get nastier and more consistent.  Anderson, Durzi, et al. have come a long way, but need to continue to improve to a point where they are frustrating the best teams.  Right now teams like Colorado never really worry about facing them.  The Kings need other teams to know ahead of time that they will have to suffer to win.  To be fair, I saw components of this the other night against Edmonton, which is a good start.

I feel a bit like a heel making this next statement, because we have already had so many positive surprises, but this team must become more dynamic offensively.  I don't know that players like Kempe, Iaffalo, and Moore can improve much more than they already have.  I'm looking to the wee baby Kings.  This team needs at least two of the following players to step up and become dynamic offensive threats: Byfield (who isn't playing terribly), Turcotte, Fagemo, Kaliyev, or a suprise player to be named later.

I honestly don't feel like I'm asking for anything unreachable.  In fact, I can confidently state that I expect to see these changes.  In the meantime, I'm going to bask in the glow of a team that is playing some pretty darn good hockey.  Last year I couldn't even watch an entire period before I had to turn it off.  It was just too painful.  This team is now fun to watch, and frankly on the cusp of something big.


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