LOS ANGELES -- For the past few seasons, the Los Angeles Kings were the self-described pests of the NHL, seemingly impossible to remove no matter how dire the circumstances. It had been a remarkable trait in the NHL salary-cap period, and it made their demise all the more profound.

Facing must-win games, the particular Kings lost 4-2 to the Edmonton Oilers on April 7 and have been eliminated from contention for that Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 3-1 loss to the Calgary Flames two days afterwards. It was the first time a protecting Cup champion failed to result in the postseason since the Carolina Hurricanes in 2007.

Injuries and off-ice issues on security combined with overuse of goalkeeper Jonathan Quick and defenseman Drew Doughty ultimately price the Kings.Antti Raanta Jersey

"This season i was all struggling to find that certain 'it' or even whatever you want to call it all yr," Kings general manager Dean Lombardi said. "So when it was over, after Edmonton and also Calgary, I think the reality is we got what we should deserved, and we have no person to feel sorry for … every time we thought we were acquiring out of it because we realized how to win or we'd been in big games before, well, that didn't happen. The good news is we can learn from this."

The Leaders should be humbled and re-energized after they performed 64 playoff games the previous 3 seasons.Justin Abdelkader Jersey They added energy forward Milan Lucic in the offseason, but they misplaced significant pieces from their 2 Cup-winning teams and their depth will probably be challenged.

Right wing Justin Williams signed with the Washington Capitals, and center Jarret Stoll signed with the New York Rangers as free agents. The Kings terminated the hefty contract of center Mike Richards.

Last season's uphill course started with the defensemen. Slava Voynov was suspended in October and Alec Martinez and Robyn Regehr missed significant time with injuries, as did midseason purchase Andrej Sekera. That forced Doughty to lead the particular NHL in total ice time,Jonathan Ericsson Jersey and coach Darryl Sutter consistently said it was too much for the Norris Trophy finalist.

Regehr upon the market and Sekera signed with Edmonton, which usually left Los Angeles with tiny depth after the core regarding Doughty, Martinez, Jake Muzzin and Matt Greene. Voynov's situation remained unresolved as of mid-August.

The drive for the playoffs ultimately pressured Sutter to play Quick 72 video games, tying his NHL career higher; his total ice moment was the second-most among goalies at the rear of Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals.

Offensively, the particular Kings remain a top-heavy group,Max Pacioretty Jersey but the addition of Lucic, acquired in the Boston Bruins for goalie Martin Jones, defenseman prospect Colin Miller and the 13th pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, gives them two lines as good as any kind of in the Western Conference.

A essential part will be getting young chicken wings Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson to be more consistent, and to find an effective base six. Los Angeles is based on Andy Andreoff and Nick Shoreline to center its third and fourth lines. The two have Fifty two games of NHL experience blended.

The Kings' American Hockey League online, the Manchester Monarchs, earned the Calder Cup and transferred to Southern California,Alexei Emelin Jersey so there will be chance to give their prospects a close look. They may have to make an NHL move to improve their depth, and Richards' agreement coming off the books gives them more flexibility.

Lombardi stressed the rest of the core group is in the prime, and he expects these to be motivated. He might have been speaking specifically about center Anze Kopitar, who had a down period although he was a Selke Award finalist. Kopitar perhaps best represents the particular Kings in all facets the past three seasons, and a extended offseason might be what he as well as Los Angeles needed.

"Well, now there's no excuse," Lombardi said. "It is a marvelous opportunity for our top players to take over that room, and they start by doing that, becoming the best they can be, and I think they will. There's no question in my mind what guys such as Kopitar and Quick and Doughty stand for, and hopefully this is an awakening. It's no fun watching the 2010 nfl playoffs. In the long run, we could benefit from this."

Author: Curtis Zupke | NHL.com Correspondent