LA Kings Putting a Strong Focus on Defense This Season

Training camp has come and gone, but it gave us a good look at what the Los Angeles Kings will be prioritizing this season. One thing became clear throughout camp: defense will continue to be a major focus for the team. With new head coach Peter Laviolette bringing a more aggressive style of play, the Kings are looking to build on their defensive foundation while creating more offense. While it is still too early to tell how everything will translate over the course of the season, the Kings have given us a good idea of what they want their game to look like.

Defense at the Center of Laviolette’s System

The Kings put together a strong performance in their final preseason game against the Anaheim Ducks on Sept. 26, earning a 6-2 win. The matchup offered a glimpse of what his system could look like this season, especially when it comes to the blue line, structure, and pairings. Drew Doughty and Brian Dumoulin were paired together, with the two defensemen also making an impact offensively. Doughty finished with three points, while Dumoulin helped create the Kings’ second goal and assisted on another.

Laviolette also emphasized the importance of cleaner breakouts, better movement through the neutral zone, and players supporting each other. While the Kings did allow two goals, their overall structure and puck movement showed some of what the head coach is looking to establish heading into the regular season.

Defensive Foundation Should Be Kept

The Kings have built a strong defensive foundation over the past few seasons, and that should continue to be a big part of their identity under Laviolette. With a more attack-minded style in place, the focus has been on getting all five players working together and making quick reads when the puck changes possession. The defensemen will also have an important role in helping the team move the puck and transition into offense, especially with veterans like Doughty leading the way.

Laviolette now has the task of getting the Kings comfortable with the changes he has brought to the team and making sure they carry over once the games begin. Training camp gave the team time to work on the new approach, but the regular season will provide the first real test of how well the players have adapted. With the new system in place, how quickly the Kings can make those adjustments part of their everyday game will be something to watch.

Kings Need to Maintain This

One of the biggest questions for the Kings will be how quickly they can adjust to a more attack-minded style. The team has spent the past few seasons building its identity around defense, but Laviolette is looking for more movement and creativity in the offensive zone. That could give players more opportunities to create scoring chances while allowing the Kings to build on the foundation they already have.

There’s Still Hope

There is still plenty to be excited about with the Kings, but their 8-4 loss to Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche on opening night showed there is still work to do. The Kings struggled to keep Colorado off the scoreboard, giving up eight goals after spending much of the offseason and training camp emphasizing their defensive structure. At the same time, scoring four goals showed that the team can create offense, but it will need to find more consistency at both ends of the ice.

With the regular season underway, the Kings will have a chance to see how quickly the changes under Laviolette translate into actual games. The loss to Colorado was only one game, but it also showed why finding the right balance between the team’s defensive foundation and its new attack-minded approach will be important moving forward.