{"id":27743,"date":"2010-10-12T16:57:37","date_gmt":"2010-10-12T21:57:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.capperspicks.com\/blog\/?p=27743"},"modified":"2010-10-29T13:28:24","modified_gmt":"2010-10-29T18:28:24","slug":"predictions-2010-la-kings-betting-preview-121010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/capperspicks.com\/blog\/nhl\/predictions-2010-la-kings-betting-preview-121010\/","title":{"rendered":"2010\/11 Los Angeles Kings Predictions \u2013 Odds \u2013 Season Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

2010-11 NHL Predictions\/Previews: Los Angeles Kings<\/strong><\/h2>\n

CappersPicks.com NHL Betting<\/strong><\/a> and gambling site provides the BEST Online hockey predictions<\/strong><\/a> for you to bet on for the 2010\/11 NHL hockey season! Stick with us all season long! <\/p>\n

In the post lockout era, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks showed that building through the draft leads to championships. It seems the Los Angeles Kings are on the verge of becoming the next team to prove that theory.<\/p>\n

LOS ANGELES KINGS<\/strong>
\nStanley Cup odds: +1800<\/p>\n

Almost a decade\u2019s worth of missed postseasons helped L.A. assemble a ton of big prospects, from Drew Doughty to Dustin Brown to Anze Kopitar, and all the stockpiling finally paid off last season. <\/p>\n

The Kings exploded back into the playoffs and enter 2010-11 as legit Stanley Cup contenders. But did they do enough this offseason to take another step forward?<\/p>\n

Everywhere you look in the Kings\u2019 lineup, you see young studs. Up front, Slovenian Anze Kopitar has emerged as a legitimate No. 1 NHL center. He\u2019s a point-per-game player already and can still improve; he\u2019s just 23 years old. Kopitar has help up front from gritty captain Dustin Brown, tenacious Wayne Simmonds and crafty Justin Williams. The Kings have another young gun ready for a big role: center Brayden Schenn, a first-round pick from 2009.<\/p>\n

On the back end, Drew Doughty seems poised to become the best offensive defenseman of this generation. Blessed with a tremendous instincts and creativity reminiscent of Ray Bourque, Doughty tallied 16 goals and 59 points as a 20-year-old last season. Washington\u2019s Mike Green, by comparison, had 12-points as a 21-year-old sophomore. Doughty is unquestionably the franchise\u2019s pillar. Jack Johnson, a former third overall pick for Carolina, provides great skating, size and swagger as Doughty\u2019s partner in crime.<\/p>\n

Jonathan Quick set a single-season franchise record for wins last year but, should he falter, the best goaltender not starting in the NHL waits in the wings. Jonathan Bernier ripped up the AHL last year and impressed in his NHL debut as well. He\u2019s L.A.\u2019s goalie of the future. He\u2019ll likely back up Quick this season but should be ready to take over No. 1 duty at any moment.