For the last 18 years (12 with The Hockey News) Dobber has reviewed each team from a fantasy-hockey standpoint and graded them.

The 19th annual review will appear here on DobberHockey throughout the summer. This is not a review of the likely performance on the ice or in the standings, but in the realm of fantasy hockey both for the season ahead as well as the foreseeable future. Offensively, will the team perform? Are there plenty of depth options worthy of owning in keeper leagues? What about over the next two or three years? These questions are what I take into consideration when looking at the depth chart and the player potential on that depth chart.

Enjoy!

* * Pick up the DobberHockey Fantasy Guide here – always updated * * 

Gone – Matt Luff, Kurtis MacDermid

Incoming – Viktor Arvidsson, Phillip Danault, Alex Edler

Impact of Changes – Early in the offseason, the Kings were able to trade for Arvidsson after there was a chance that the Predators would lose him in the expansion draft. Arvidsson might be able to make it work on the top line because he can play either left wing or right wing. Danault will also be an important acquisition filling the void at second-line center. He has never reached a 55-point pace, but the Kings are bringing him in as a two-way specialist, something he excelled at with Montreal.

The Kings also added experience to their blueline, signing longtime Canuck Alex Edler. At age 35, Edler still appears capable of top-4 minutes, which is what the Kings might need with their mostly inexperienced blueline.

Ready for Full Time – The Danault acquisition will ensure that Quinton Byfield receives more protected minutes once he is a permanent fixture on the Kings. Since Byfield is still waiver-exempt, there's still a chance that he could start the season in the AHL even though he has already played in six NHL games. He has a big body (6-4, 215 lbs.), so he may need more time to develop than other early first-round picks. For that reason, be very patient with him in keeper leagues, as his upside is huge.

2019 first-round pick Alex Turcotte seems even more likely that Byfield to start the season in the AHL. Turcotte scored 21 points in 32 games in his first season with the Ontario Reign, which certainly isn't bad. Yet with a bucketload of prospects, the Kings should have no issues bringing him along slowly. A 1-2 punch up the middle with Byfield and Turcotte could be a real strength for the Kings in the future.

Kale Clague got into 18 games for the Kings in 2020-21, posting six assists. He could earn a permanent spot on the big club this season as he matures into an effective two-way defenseman.

Fantasy Outlook: The Danault acquisition means that Anze Kopitar can focus on offense, which might lower his icetime overall. However, Kopitar won't have as many defensive-zone starts. Now that Kopitar is 34, the Kings may want to lower his icetime to keep him fresh. Just like Arvidsson, Adrian Kempe can play both left wing and right wing, which should give him something in the top 6. As a result, Alex Iafallo or Dustin Brown could lose value if Arvidsson and/or Kempe plays on the top line with Kopitar. The Arvidsson acquisition could also impact whether Kempe or Iaffalo remain on the first-unit power play.

Drew Doughty has been consistent over the last three seasons, ranging between 0.5 and 0.6 PTS/GP. However, he was inconsistent in terms of how he got there. He started the season with 30 points in his first 38 games, then finished with just three points in his last 18 games. Unfortunately, the 31-year-old defenseman been a double-digit minus performer over those three seasons as well. He will still be leaned on for heavy minutes, so don't expect the later-season slump to continue. With an $11 million cap hit for six more seasons, the Kings will be counting on Doughty for quite a while.

Expect Cal Petersen to take on the majority of starts again. His ratios weren't spectacular in 2020-21 (2.89 GAA, .911 SV%), but that's to be expected with the Kings in a rebuilding state with a young defense. With Jonathan Quick still around, Petersen probably won't be a high-volume starter (at least not yet). The 35-year-old Quick is signed on for two more seasons.

Fantasy Grade: C+ (last year was also C+)

2021 Offseason Fantasy Grades

Anaheim

Arizona

Boston

Buffalo

Calgary

Carolina

Chicago

Colorado

Columbus

Dallas

Detroit

Edmonton

Florida