I am looking forward to another profitable NHL season. We finished the 2008-09 season going 27-13 (7-0 on 10*'s) on my last 40 service plays. I had another winning season fully documented.

Pay close attention as this article has produced major profits since I started in 1998. Last year, we pretty much nailed both of our two spotlight NHL teams with the Carolina Hurricanes and Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks had a breakout season with 104 points and making it to the Western Conf. Finals. The Hurricanes finished with 97 points and made the Eastern Conf. Finals.

Today, we will take a look at our NHL Western Conference spotlight team for 2009-2010 and than next week at our Eastern Conf. spotlight team.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------ by Jeff Hochman

2008-09 NHL Western Conference Spotlight team: LA Kings

The fans of the LA Kings are in for a treat this season as they are on the cusp of being a playoff team for the first time since 2002. This team reminds me a little bit of the 2008 Chicago Blackhawks---- which was built on speed, with a constant motion offense, solid special teams, and excellent goaltending. I don't think the LA Kings will be as good as the 'Hawks were last season but this team is poised for a huge turnaronund. One reason is that West seems to be a little down as in year's past.

The Kings have drafted NHL-ready type players for the last five years and were busy this Spring acquiring proven talent. Veteran defenseman Rob Scuderi, fresh from his starring role with the Penguins during the Stanley Cup finals, and veteran forward Ryan Smyth were brought in and will help a lot in more ways than just on the Ice. Both are winners and character guys who should help the Kings get over the rough parts of a grueling season. Justin Williams, who had back-to-back 30-goal seasons with Carolina back in 2005 and 2006 should be healthy to start the season. He played in all 82 games when he produced those monster seasons and hasn't played more than 37 games since.

The Kings' roster isn't expected to have many open spots in training camp, but if there's one young player with a chance to step up and earn a spot, it might be 19-year-old center Andrei Loktionov. Last season, Loktionov came over from Russia and had 24 goals and 42 assists in 51 games for Windsor of the junior-level Ontario Hockey League. The Kings are fairly deep at center, with Anze Kopitar, Jarret Stoll and Michal Handzus, but he has a huge up-side and will be a quick call-up if any injury rears its ugly head.

Most people don't know that the LA Kings have a very good defense. A big reason was the play of Drew Doughty. He moved the puck, averaged a ton of ice time (Led all rookie defensemen in time-on-ice per game), and he played in every situation. Because of his mobility and vision, Doughty is the ideal leader for the Kings’ defensive rotation now, and in the future, because he can kill penalties, quarterback a power play, and move the puck out of his zone after making a great even-strength defensive play. Matt Greene, Jack Johnson, and Sean O'Donnell are all above-average defensemen. All of them are getting better.

The Kings should have one of the best young Goalies in all of Hockey. Jonathan Quick was 21-18 with a 2.48 GAA and .914 save percentage. Like his name suggests, he's quick and agile in the crease area. He had four shutouts and one interesting note is that when he faced a team with a winning record his GAA dipped to 2.04 and a .939 save percentage. This 3rd-round pick in 2005 could be ready for a break-out season. Erik Ersberg is one of your better back-ups in the West. He started for the Kings last year before he got hurt.

The Kings were 34-37-11, 79 points, 14 in the West last season. Check out were I think they will end up.

Jeff's Projected 2009-10 record: 41-31-10 (92 points, 6th seed out West)


The NHL season begins on October 1st, 2009. I am the #1 documented NHL Handicapper at The Sports Monitor of Oklahoma. Nobody has won more in Hockey over the past 12 years fully documented. I finished #1 in 2002 (NSM) and #1 again in 2006 and 2007. Save $200 before October 4th.

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