Best Bet: Under 74.5 Season Points
Worst Bet: Kings to win the Stanley Cup 200:1
The 2018 Los Angeles Kings finished with a record of 31-42-9 and 71 points. They finished in 15th place in the Western Conference and 8th in the Pacific division. The Kings are certainly in rebuild mode. What makes things worse is they have a lot of contracts that are high dollar amounts, which makes the rebuild process more difficult. They can’t eliminate any of the giant deals, and they can’t attack free agency because of that making the future look bleak in Los Angeles.
The Kings averaged 2.46 goals per game last season which was the 2nd worst average in the NHL only in front of the Anaheim Ducks who averaged 2.43. They also had the 4th worst power-play goals per game average at 0.43 and were tied with the 5th worst power-play goal chances per game with the Edmonton Oilers at 0.70. Anze Kopitar led the team in points and assists with 60 points and 38 assists. Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar finished tied for the team lead in goals with 22 apiece. Both Kopitar and Brown will be back this season. However, the offense for the Kings doesn’t look to make much an improvement as they didn’t have any significant signings in free agency.
Los Angeles allowed 3.21 goals per game which finished tied for 20th with the San Jose Sharks. They saw an average of 31.44 shots per game which was the 14th most in the NHL. Jonathan Quick who started the majority of the games for the Kings last season had a record of 16-23-7 as a starter while recording two shutouts and had a save percentage of 0.888. Quick will likely remain the starter for Los Angeles once again this season.
Los Angeles Point Total: O/U 74.5
Last season the Kings finished with 71 points on the season which caused them to finish in 15th place in the conference as well as 8th in the Pacific division. This season not much will likely change as they weren’t able to make any significant signings to improve the team offensively nor defensively. They bring back their top two offensive players from last season in Anze Kopitar, and Dustin Brown. Both Kopitar and Brown have the chance to once again lead the team offensively in stats. Jonathan Quick had a save percentage of 0.888 last season which was one of the worst in the NHL and will likely remain the starter again this season. It’s hard to imagine a team that lacks the young talent to show significant improvements in the standings, especially without making any significant moves in the offseason. I look for the Kings to remain one of the worst teams in the NHL again this season. The Kings will likely finish with one of the worst records in the NHL making the under 74.5 points on the season the best bet for the Kings this season.
Los Angeles Kings To Win The Pacific Division: 100:1
The Los Angeles Kings are projected by Vegas to once again be the worst team in the division with odds of 100:1 to win the division. They will likely be battling the Anaheim Ducks once again for the last place in the division. The Kings also play in the same division with the Vegas Golden Knights, San Jose Sharks, and Calgary Flames. All three teams of those teams are Stanley Cup contenders this season. The Kings are not in any way significantly better this season compared to last. Along with having multiple teams ahead of them in terms of talent in the division makes it tough to see them being even a competitive team this season. I don’t see that happening, and as a result, I cannot recommend placing any bet on the Kings to come close to winning the division.
Los Angeles Kings To Win The Western Conference: 100:1
The Los Angeles Kings tied with the Anaheim Ducks as the least likely to win the Western Conference this season at 100:1. The Kings finished last season ranked 15th in the Western Conference with 71 points and were 22 points back of the Golden Knights from even qualifying for the playoffs. In the offseason, the Kings failed to make any significant moves to help improve their chances of being a competitive team. They do return their top two offensive stat producers from last season and Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown. Outside of those two, they lack any scoring power on the team. They play in one of the toughest divisions in the Western Conference, and they are not likely to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs because of the lack of talent they possess. It’s even less likely that they win the Western Conference this season. It’s not a smart move to place a wager on the Kings to win the Western Conference this season.
Los Angeles Kings To Win The Stanley Cup: 200:1
The Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, and Detroit Red Wings are all tied as the 2nd biggest longshots to win the Stanley Cup. The only team less likely to succeed are the Ottawa Senators who are 500:1. The Kings play in one of if not the toughest divisions in the NHL along with the Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks who are almost guaranteed to make the playoffs this season. The Los Angeles Kings are in rebuild mode and lack the cap space to make any significant moves this season. This reason is why they didn’t sign anyone significant in free agency. They are a team that is unlikely to be in the top three in their division which means they aren’t likely to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season and if Los Angeles fails to do that, they don’t have a chance of winning the Cup this season. I look for the Kings to miss the playoffs, so I am not recommending placing any wager on them to win the Stanley Cup. No matter how small of a bet you think of making DON’T DO IT!
