NHL.com: Inside look at LA Kings

NHL.com is providing in-depth roster, prospect and fantasy analysis for each of its 30 teams throughout August. Today, the LA Kings.

A close look at the Los Angeles Kings last season revealed some cracks in their armor, even after they took the proper steps to seal them.

Los Angeles led the Pacific Division for much of the season and finished one point behind the Anaheim Ducks for first place, only to be eliminated by the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference First Round. Even after the midseason acquisitions of center Vincent Lecavalier and defenseman Luke Schenn seemed to solidify their lineup, the Kings couldn’t fully fill roles behind their top players and lost to the Sharks in five games.

“We knew we were vulnerable,” general manager Dean Lombardi said. “We really got exposed in the playoffs. … I also think we had some mental issues in terms of having dealt with success, and a good punch in the nose like we got in the playoffs hopefully woke us all up.”

That was supposed to be the motivating theme two seasons ago, when the defending champion Kings missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They have no playoff series victories since winning the Cup in 2014 and face another uphill path this season because they’re up against the $73 million NHL salary cap.

The Kings have been right at the cap for several years because of big contracts for centers Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter, right wings Dustin Brown and Marian Gaborik, defenseman Drew Doughty, and goaltender Jonathan Quick. As a result, they couldn’t re-sign left wing Milan Lucic, who signed a seven-year contract with the …

continue reading in source kings.nhl.com