On its website, The Hockey News is counting down — or counting up, as it were — its playoff predictions for the 2009-10 season. They have the Kings slotted at No. 12, noting that the Kings have “the deepest core of prospects in the league” but will have trouble making the playoffs in the deep West. I saw another set of predictions today that had the Kings at No. 10.

I’ve yet to see a publication “predict” that the Kings will make the playoffs, but a) I’m certain I haven’t seen them all, so please point one out if you see it, and b) it’s still early, so not all of the preseason prognostications are out there yet.

What do you think? Is No. 12 excessively low?

The Hockey News 2009-10 NHL regular season predictions