I, for one, have played the franchise mode in NHL by EA Sports more than I’d like to admit. What do I always notice? The LA Kings rarely get the love they deserve through EA Sports. I recall NHL 16′ for example. Milan Lucic was an 88 in Boston, but once he came to LA: an 86. The Kings have championship-caliber players but need more X factors and superstar abilities. Breaking down where these players’ ratings are done through the perspective of EA Sports. In NHL 24, this is where the trend will land the Kings’ impactful players.
Anze Kopitar
NHL 23: 89
Anze Kopitar is a first-ballot HOF that has been a pillar of success for 2-way hockey. He carries five superstar abilities, including Quick Draw, Quick Pick, Tape To Tape, Unstoppable Force, and Yoink! He is the 39th-ranked player on EA Sports NHL 23. At age 35, going into his 36th age season, a dip would be considered.
NHL 24 projected: 87-88
Unfortunately, ‘Chel’ is unkind to aging players who do not exceed a point per game. Kopitar has yet to do so since his Hart-nominated season. He is different from the powerhouse player he was in previous games when you could take over a game playing as him. A great player to control when shutting down top players outside of quick transition hockey.
Drew Doughty
NHL 23: 89
Another first ballot, Doughty is a great all-around defender who doesn’t blow your mind in any category but does everything reasonably efficiently. Doughty has dropped off offensively in the last few years but is still a competitive top-pairing defenseman in one of the more structured defensive systems in the league. Doughty will be getting closer to his mid-thirties, and without more offense, he seems due for a dip in his rating.
NHL 24 projected: 88
We live in a world where Erik Karlsson will likely be a 92+ and Doughty falls in rating each season. Thank goodness this is a video game, no?
Kevin Fiala
NHL 23: 86
Fiala’s rating is a middling top six, high top nine forward (yes, he played that role last year at times). His abilities do not blow you away, and his rating reflects that.
In reality? He played in the top nine to be a matchup nightmare. He had consistency issues playing with elite players due to coverage issues on his defense. However, this is an over-a-point per-game player with fantastic edgework, vision, shifty and beautiful release. EA Sports must step to the plate and push this rating much higher. One of the better even-strength players in the league.
NHL 24 Projected: 88-90
EA Sports, do the right thing. Kevin Fiala is an absolute star.
Adrian Kempe
NHL 23: 85
Wow. To be fair, Kempe broke out during the season in which 23′ came out right before. This player, though, followed up a 35-goal season with 41. He found his consistency; he is one of the fastest players in the league and was also lights out in the playoffs. He has one of the best bargain contracts in the league and appears to be a burgeoning superstar. Did I also mention his 2way game has become ever more complete? Helps to play next to Kopitar.
NHL 24 projected: 87-89
Back-to-back 30+ goal seasons. Elite sniper, elite wheels, and solid 2way player. Seems like a slam dunk.
Pierre Luc Dubois
NHL 23: 85
Dubois has spent two seasons with Winnipeg up and down the lineup, being, at times, a 1C but, for the most part, a high-ceiling 2C. He has gotten closer to a point-per-game player but has yet to reach that milestone. All the intangibles are there for him to finally be a point-per-game player and achieve the one thing that’s set him back during his career in the NHL: consistency.
NHL 24 projected: 86-87
I wouldn’t expect to factor in other intangibles for a video game. Due for a bump up, regardless.
Phillip Danault
NHL 23: 85
Danault received more love from EA Sports than I expected last year. He’s always in the Selke conversation, and the ‘NICE’ line in LA carried them in the second half of the 22′ season into the playoffs. He’s a true shutdown centerman with great passing vision who can put up decent numbers while playing with skilled players. How he fits in with the Dubois acquisition? Something tells me EA Sports will look at this negatively.
NHL 24 projected: 84
Dropping in the lineup will not look favorably in a video game, even if this makes the LA Kings a juggernaut down the middle in reality.
Mikey Anderson
NHL 23: 83
The complement to Drew Doughty among the top pair, Mikey Anderson is a reliable two-way defenseman who focuses more on the defensive side of the puck. Absolutely won’t blow you away offensively, but it cannot be figured out of the play entirely. He’s an underrated defenseman, much like Matt Roy, you need to put up top-four points to be top-four rated.
NHL 24 projected: 83-84
Shutdown defenseman who puts up minimal points for the number of minutes he plays. An 84 would be generous for EA Sports.
Quinton Byfield
NHL 23: 80
The number two overall pick for the LA Kings in 2020 is due for a substantial bump. While he didn’t fill the back of the net, he was moved to the wing to play on the top line, and they performed exceptionally well down the stretch. With just an average shooting percentage, Byfield is due for a much-improved points-per-game basis playing next to two elite players.
NHL 24 projected: 83-84
When you also get a chance, look at the size of the Kings top line. Oh yeah, Kempe and Byfield can fly too.
Viktor Arvidsson
NHL 23: 83
Do back-to-back solid years cash you in for a bump-up in the rating? It’s entirely possible. Does playing next to Danault on the projected third line bring you back to your original rating? It’s also entirely possible. Don’t expect Arvidsson to go anywhere but down, unfortunately. The veteran volume shooter isn’t the player he once was, but he has generated two excellent seasons in LA. If there’s a bump, it’ll be very little.
NHL 24 projected: 82-84
Matt Roy
NHL 23: 80
So, he’s a top-four pairing defenseman, who plays against the opposition’s best, and chips in offensively. Had some of the best metrics of offensive play driving in the NHL while paired with Vladislav Gavrikov down the stretch. Kings will get a whole season of that. I do expect the continued overlooking of Matt Roy, but an 80 is just too low.
NHL 24 projected: 82-84
Keep sleeping on Matt Roy, one of the most underrated players in the league.
Trevor Moore
NHL 23: 82
The final member of the NICE line took a step back from his 22′ season points-wise but still finished the season strong. His rating is low, and playing in the bottom six with his current contract may hurt you as a GM in the video game mode. He is a much better player in reality. Still, he will maintain a low rating in the video game unless he breaks out like Kempe or Vilardi did.
NHL 24 projected: 82-83
Sorry Trevor, but it’s hard to believe EA Sports will be giving you a bump up.
What does this mean for the Team?
The Kings in NHL 24 will have solid players down the middle with Kopitar, Dubois, and Danault. None of those players are going to have the abilities needed to take over games while you play with them. The real strength is going to be on the wing. Two wingers in particular, Kempe and Fiala, are purely elite. If Byfield remains an elite threshold player, he will bump up nicely over time during a GM mode.
The defense will look incredibly thin compared to other teams in the game. They will lack an “elite” number one and a substantial number two. Most teams’ top players will run circles around LA’s defense.
I omitted the goaltending because EA Sports looking at Talbot and Copley? Are you expecting anything higher than an 82 or an 83?
You have some work to do if you’re starting a GM mode with the LA Kings.
Luckily, it’s just a game.. right?
