While much of the early season for the LA Kings has been filled with negatives from the coaching to the playing staff, there have been some major positives that have been completely overlooked. Whether it is offseason moves working out nicely or young players coming to fruition, there have been some very nice storylines occurring during the LA Kings season. This article is going to be focusing on a couple of the early season positives that have propelled the Kings to a 12-9-4 start.

One of the biggest positives so far has been the play of the newly acquired Kevin Fiala. In his first season with the team, he currently has a team high 26 points on 7 goals and 19 assists. His creativity is constantly on display as he is always looking to create a scoring chance. He is definitely one of the most skilled players I have ever seen play for LA and his ability is miles clear of most others on the ice. His acquisition continues to look better and better as LA was able to lock him up to a very nice long term contract and Fiala is just entering his prime. His play has been a major reason behind LA’s offensive success so far this season.

Another player who has been making plays on offense is 23 year old Gabe Vilardi. The former 1st round pick was somebody who a lot of Kings fans had given up on before the season. A couple of major injuries had led to many thinking that his career would never turn out to what was expected of the former top 3 projected pick. This season has been his true breakout as he has shown a new level of scoring ability and physicality with a team high 13 goals and 18 points. Vilardi has way more control on the ice and he seems to understand how to use his body to create chances significantly better than in previous years. His shot is dangerous and he controls the crease when he is setting screens. Vilardi’s breakout season is another positive for LA when some other prospects have struggled to get going. 

The final player I want to talk about is Philip Danault. When LA signed him for 5.5 million dollars in the 2021 offseason, many thought LA had overpaid for his services. Danault has quickly become a key player for LA and been a catalyst for their recent playoff berth. Adding a new level of offense to his stellar defensive play has made him an absolute steal for the Kings. He is 4th on LA in scoring with 18 points while also becoming the alternate captain in his 2nd season with the team. He has become a leader in the dressing room and a key player in LA. 

While the Kings definitely haven’t gotten off to the perfect start to the season, they have definitely been good enough to be in a playoff spot and there is still plenty of room for improvement. There are moves to be made and early season positives will hopefully continue for the whole season. As fans, we should try to focus on the positives and trust that the coaching staff, players, and front office will figure everything else out. Let’s try and support the team in the best way we can, Go Kings Go.