Author: Connor Doyle

US Navy Veteran and UCLA Class of 2024. Background in International Development Studies. Los Angeles born and raised. Following hockey for over a decade.

Farewell, Alex Iafallo: An Anomaly in the System

The 2016-17 Season was disastrous for the LA Kings. The team came off a stunning first-round exit via the San Jose Sharks from Dean Lombardi’s final push for a third cup. The primary acquisition, Milan Lucic, walked away in free agency to the Edmonton Oilers. Vincent Lecavalier retired off into the sunset. The Kings finished […]

Rob Blake Saga Part I: The Precursor

The predecessor to Rob Blake was Dean Lombardi. Lombardi steered the organization to two championships around a Western Conference Final loss to a surging dynasty in the form of the Chicago Blackhawks. In fact, between 2010-2015, the LA Kings and Chicago Blackhawks claimed Lord Stanley every year except for a 2011 Boston triumph. 2015 marked […]

Pierre-Luc Dubois in a Winnipeg Jets uniform doing the Superman Celly after a goal.

Rumor Mill spikes as LA Kings linked to Winnipeg Jets

Following a conclusion to the season that did not end as planned again in Winnipeg, talks are heating up about breaking up their core. It is no secret that teams are willing to part ways with high-quality players in today’s NHL when sustained underachievement occurs. A lot has left to be desired from the Jets […]

Masterful: Three-way trade paves the way for Productive Offseason

The Kings entered this offseason with underlying questions that capture legitimate weaknesses in the organization. If the Kings didn’t shed contracts, they would unlikely improve on the progress made during the 2022-23 season. One of the biggest questions was goaltending and the Logjam of righties. Cal Peterson signed a contract he did not live up […]

Questions Ahead as Championship Duo Enters Pivotal 23-24 Season

The formidable ‘Holy Trinity’ in hockey is a team that covets a: world-class goaltender, defenseman, and centerman. It is a recipe that has a proven track record, with the 2012-14 championship era LA Kings as a perfect example. They weren’t a juggernaut regular season team but were systematic in a seven-game series. The Kings won […]

3 Forwards with “Make or Break” seasons going into 2023-24

In a year where the LA Kings were no longer playing with ‘house’ money, many blue-chip prospects stepped into more significant roles. Gabriel Vilardi has broken out, and with a hopeful bridge contract on the horizon, he seems to be a lock to score 50-60 points when healthy (iffy history). This is after a year […]

LA Kings: What Does the Blue Line Look Like Next Season?

The LA Kings made the playoffs for back-to-back years for the first time since 2013-2014. While they played with house money last year, this year’s expectations were higher than ever. These expectations were expanded on with Rob Blakes’s potential rental move, sending franchise icon goaltender Jonathan Quick to Columbus for Vladislav Gavrikov and Joonas Korpisalo. […]

A Sunrise, or Sunset for the LA Kings: The Aftermath

For the second year in a row, the LA Kings have been bounced out of the playoffs by the Edmonton Oilers. It took six games, three of which went to overtime, for the Oilers to advance to play the Vegas Golden Knights. In many ways, this series was a disappointment, regardless of the uphill climb […]

Line Over The Boards: Pushed to the Brink

Last year for Game Five in Edmonton, the LA Kings and Oilers went back and forth to lead the game to an overtime match. Adrian Kempe sealed that game just 72 seconds in. It was the only overtime game in last year’s series. This year we have seen three overtime games in the first four […]

Line Over The Boards: Kings Take Series Lead Amidst Controversial OT

In the first playoff game at Crypto.com area this season, the LA Kings have established themselves in a pretty good spot. Not only did they establish a lead in the series (again), but they finally played a first period where they outshot, outhit, and outscored the Oilers. The Oilers have outscored the Kings 4-0 this […]