The next team in the 2023 Fantasy Hockey Team Preview is the Los Angeles Kings. They have slowly been on the rise, but have run into a bit of trouble getting anywhere in the postseason. Nevertheless, much of their youth has come in and acclimated to the lineup or been traded. They won’t be a top team and have holes, but they will be a playoff team.
With the depth the Kings have, there are quite a few fantasy hockey options this season. You just have to know when to grab them or when to wait. Between the youth and veterans, there is a lot to choose from. Let’s get into each position and the fantasy value you can expect from players in Los Angeles this season.
Los Angeles Kings Fantasy Hockey Preview
Kings Forwards
Kings Line 1
The Kings should have three productive lines this season. That means there should be a good deal of players on those lines who will have an impact in fantasy. The top line should feature Anze Kopitar, Adrian Kempe, and Quinton Byfield. While the first two are fantasy hockey locks, Byfield is a maybe. Kopitar led the Kings in points and all forwards in ice time. As a great two-way centerman with strong offensive abilities, that shouldn’t change much. Kempe led the team in goals and topped 40 on the season. Goals are harder to come by and he’s only getting better. As for Byfield, he didn’t get a full season in the NHL, top line, or wing. That seems to be where we’ll find him this season. I wouldn’t take a chance until the last round at the highest.
Kings Line 2
Pierre-Luc Dubois is the new addition to the lineup and he could get a nice boost. He doesn’t have to handle top-line duties and Kevin Fiala should be on his wing. Fiala recorded over a point per game last season but missed 13 games. There’s no worry about him continuously missing time, so he will be the most impactful player to own from the Kings in fantasy hockey.
Dubois is good for at least 20 goals and 60 points and is able to hit other categories. He could very well be the second or third most valuable forward on the Kings. Arthur Kaliyev seems to be getting a good look in the top six this season. If he sticks on this line with what he’s been able to do on the fourth line, he’ll be a breakout player this season. He is definitely worth the late-round pick as he gets power-play time.
Kings Line 3
Now the third line also has value. Philip Danault is one of those players you just don’t want to drop if he’s on your fantasy hockey team. He’ll get points and should still see a lot of ice time despite lining up on the third line. Viktor Arvidsson is someone I can see moving up at times from this line. He makes this line a whole lot better offensively. The winger scored 26 goals and 59 points in 77 games. The only reason he might play lower is to spread out the scoring. You might have to deal with a bit of missed time with him throughout the season though.
Trevor Moore was relevant in fantasy hockey in 2021-22, but not last season. He missed 23 games and his production dropped. He could jump back up with his new linemates, but don’t draft him. He’s a waiver wire add if he gets hot or shows promise again.
Kings Defensemen
The Kings don’t have much to offer in fantasy with their defensemen. Drew Doughty is always a lock. He will play in all situations and the most on the team each night. He recorded 52 points last season, which is good enough to make the top three on any fantasy team. Doughty really does it all and is one of those veterans who is reliable every year in fantasy hockey.
After Doughty, Brandt Clarke would have to be the next best option. Mikey Anderson and Matt Roy will probably top out at 25 points. Vladislav Gavrikov is capable of more, but he is focused heavily on the defensive side of the game. That leaves Clarke who scored 23 goals and 61 points in 31 OHL games last season.
Kings Goalies
The Kings goalies might be better than who they had to start last season, but worse than what they ended with. The team lost Joonas Korpisalo which was a hit. They got Cam Talbot on a very cheap deal after a down season in Ottawa. With better team defense and a defensive core, I think he actually surprises some. He likely won’t be elite, but he’ll take over the starter role eventually. I would envision the Kings starting out as a tandem though. Pheonix Copley isn’t a bad choice, but he has less fantasy value than Talbot.
The Kings have a lot to offer owners in fantasy hockey this season both in the draft and on waivers. There will likely be movement throughout the lineup and changes as we go along. The Kings surprised us with their offensive capabilities and only got better in that area over the offseason. Next up in the 2023 Fantasy Hockey Team Preview is the San Jose Sharks.
Make sure to check out all of our Fantasy Hockey Team Previews as they roll out over the coming weeks!
Looking for more great fantasy hockey analysis? Check out our 2023 Fantasy Hockey Draft Kit for team previews, rankings, and all the sleepers you can shake a stick at.