Los Angeles Kings: Fans’ guide to the 2018 offseason
By Ed Stein
The Los Angeles Kings’ season has been over for almost two months. While the expansion Las Vegas Golden Knights are the big story, Kings fans want to move on. Here is your guide to the upcoming months.
Its been two months too long since the Los Angeles Kings took the ice. When the Stanley Cup Finals end, the NHL turns the page to a new season. We have some important dates and events Kings fans should know to get them through until the puck drops again at the Staples Center.
NHL Entry Draft
Dallas, Texas is the site for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft on June 22 and 23. The Los Angeles Kings have all of their own draft picks except in the seventh round. They also have the Islanders pick in round six. There is some high-quality talent available that the Kings can use to re-stock a depleted minor league system.
Free Agency/Arbitration
More from Los Angeles Kings
- LA Kings: Team dodged a bullet with Joel Edmundson
- LA Kings: Adrian Kempe must take leap forward next year
- LA Kings: Sean Walker extension brilliant for both sides
- LA Kings: Small sample size critical for Mikey Anderson’s confidence
- LA Kings: Thimo Nickl is an underrated defenseman in third round
The NHL contract year ends on June 30. Starting July 1, teams can sign free agents. That’s a good news/ bad news situation for the Kings. They only have nonconsequential restricted free agents to sign, so there won’t be a significant payroll increase. On the flip side, they only have about $4.2M under the cap to work with. They’ll need it to backfill the departure of some depth defensemen.
The bigger priority for Los Angeles Kings General Manager Rob Blake is next year’s crop of free agents. Drew Doughty‘s $7M per year deal expires at the end of the 2018-19 season. Restricted free agents Adrian Kempe and Alex Iafallo will also need extensions.
Prospect Development Camp
This is the first chance Los Angeles Kings fans have to see how the prospects of the future are developing. Players such as last year’s number one pick, Gabrial Vilardi, Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Kale Clague and the 2018 draft selections should be in attendance.
The Kings usually hold their prospect development camp toward the end of July. It usually culminates with either a prospect tournament or series of scrimmage game.
Training Camp
Next: The Lakers need to sign Lebron James
Every offseason ends with training camp. All the Kings players will be in attendance as they get ready for the 2018-19 season. They will be coming off almost four months to reflect on their first-round exit at the hands of Vegas. Hopefully, they come back to SoCal with a get it done mentality to carry them to another title.