Kings return to camp: Three burning questions as champs try to repeat
The defending Stanley Cup Champs returned to the ice Friday at the Toyota Sports Center as training camp for the 2014-2015 season officially opened. The Los Angeles Kings return nearly the entire roster from their spring playoff run -- the only one who wasn't re-signed was defenseman Willie Mitchell.
There's only one big question that they must answer: Can they become the first team in 16 years to repeat as the Stanley Cup Champions? But it's not a question that can be answered in September.
For now, here are the three burning questions for the Kings as they open camp.
What's wrong with Drew Doughty?
During Thursday's physicals, it was discovered that the star defenseman had suffered some sort of upper-body injury during the offseason. Little information was disclosed by team officials, including exactly when Doughty would be able to participate in camp, but it was an issue that had not shown up during exit physicals following the Stanley Cup.
When asked about Doughty's condition, head coach Darryl Sutter only said he was, "Really good. I'm sure you talked to him."
Doughty was not made available to the media and was the only player from the Stanley Cup squad held out of Friday's on-ice drills. However, Kings' officials said his absence simply was "precautionary" and that his status was day-to-day.
A few key players underwent surgery in the offseason for some minor issues. Goaltender Jonathan Quick and winger Kyle Clifford each had wrist surgery while center Jarret Stoll underwent an operation on his hip. All three were on the ice Friday, but Sutter indicated that they might not be ready for full-game participation.
"And I'm not answering any more questions about Doughty, Quick, Stoll, Cliffy, all the guys that are not ready to play," he said.
What will Marian Gaborik's production look like?
The NHL posteason's goals leader was locked up by the Kings in the offseason when he signed a five-year contract. The top-line sniper will be able to play a full season with center Anze Kopitar and winger Dustin Brown on one of the league's best lines.
"There's definitely some chemistry," Kopitar said. "Once we get on the ice, he knows what type of players me and Brownie are and we're just trying to kind of complete each other as good as we can. I've said it all along, when Gabi gets the puck around the net it's dangerous."
Gaborik scored 14 goals for the Kings in the playoffs (.54 per game) and his production was upped as soon as he got to L.A. It's conceivable that he would be able produce at a similar rate throughout the regular season, but the Kings play a different brand of hockey from October-April than they do in the playoffs. They play a physical, defensive style of hockey that grinds down opponents and requires extreme physical exertion. Gaborik has yet to play a full season of true Kings hockey.
"He's a good player and he's what we needed at the right time," Brown said. "You know how dynamic he is and that sort of thing. He fits well in with our group. It's just a matter of getting him where he needs to be to play our game for a full 82."
But should he continue producing at a high rate, it will provide some much need regular-season relief for the team that was the fourth-lowest scoring team in the league.
"Hopefully he can provide some scoring during the regular season," Kopitar said. "We usually need it."
Brown: Kings treating title defense with more 'professionalism' this time around
Which rookies will make the roster?
So you want to play for the defending champion Kings, huh? Well, it won't be easy.
An extremely insular group, it takes a dedication to the brand of hockey that the Kings play.
"If you don't want to play that way, you stand out pretty quickly," Brown said. "It's just how we're built and how we've been together... There's no one guy who gets to do it his way."
Defenseman Brayden McNabb is believed to be NHL-ready. Acquired in March, he was a free agent after spending this season in the AHL but the Kings signed him to a two-year contract. There's still a final d-man job up for grabs but Jeff Shultz, who played in the postseason Freeway Series after Robyn Regehr was injured, will compete for that spot as well.
Winger Andy Andreoff is out of minor league options but Jordan Nolan has shown promise in a handful of NHL performances. There are few spots to go around but plenty of battles to be waged.
