Recently in Player evaluations Category

JASON LABARBERA

This season: 45 games, 17-23 record, 3.00 goals-against average, .910 save percentage.

Positives: Actually made it to the NHL this season and did a strong job during points of the season. His size (6-foot-3, 230 pounds) remains his clear strong point and his positioning is usually solid. When he's able to stay healthy and get in a rhythm, LaBarbera is able to build some confidence and is capable of long stretches of good play.

Negatives: LaBarbera has still yet to show that he can make it through an entire NHL season without significant injury or without being replaced because of substandard play. He tends to be a little streaky -- but most goalies are -- and while his size is a positive, it also limits his mobility.

Looking ahead: Once again, LaBarbera will enter training camp battling for a job. It's been the same way every season since 2005. LaBarbera would have to be considered the favorite to earn the No. 1 job, although certainly not an overwhelming favorite. He will have to hold off Erik Ersberg and Jonathan Bernier, and possibly others, in order to win the job outright.

Contract situation: Signed through 2008-09 (cap number of $825,000 next season).

ERIK ERSBERG

This season: 14 games, 6-5 record, 2.48 goals-against average, .927 save percentage.

Positives: Surprisingly, Ersberg emerged as a bright light in an otherwise dark and grim goaltending situation. Before the season, the Kings believed Ersberg would need a full year of minor-leagues seasoning, but he had two shutouts in 13 starts. The rest of the goalies combined for one (LaBarbera) in 69 starts. For the most part, Ersberg looked sharp and composed and showed great rebound control.

Negatives: Ersberg's play generated a lot of excitement, and that's understandable, but it's also wise to remember that he had a 2.92 goals-against average in Manchester and hasn't yet dealt with the rigors of being a full-time NHL goalie. That's not to say he wouldn't thrive in that role, but what has he really proved at this point?

Looking ahead: It will be interesting to see what happens with Ersberg this summer. If things work out, Ersberg will at least be in the mix for a roster spot, with Jason LaBarbera and Jonathan Bernier likely serving as his primary competition.

Contract situation: Restricted free agent.

We'll do the last of the player evaluations today, with everyone's favorite position: the goalies. We're going to do a separate set of evaluations for the prospects, which will include Bernier and Quick. So why not start with...

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DAN CLOUTIER

This season: 9 games, 2-4 record, 3.43 goals-against average, .887 save percentage.

Positives: Well...hmmm. Cloutier did have one shining game, Feb. 21 against St. Louis, when he stopped 32 of 33 shots in a 5-1 victory. Then again, that game against the second-worst team in the Western Conference.

Negatives: It's easy to pile on Cloutier, but it's just been an unfortunate situation all around. He tried to play while hurt during 2006, and that's admirable, but his acquisition/signing was just a disaster, in every sense of the word. The one thing he can be blamed for is the way he turned on the organization, which publicly supported him throughout all his troubles.

Looking ahead: The summer could go in a couple different ways. The most likely outcome is that Cloutier will have the final year of his contract bought out. There's a chance he could end up in a long-term-injury situation, but regardless, it's almost certain that he won't be on the Kings' roster next season.

Contract situation: Signed through 2008-09 (cap number of $3.1 million next season).

LUBOMIR VISNOVSKY

This season: 82 games, 8 goals, 33 assists, minus-18 rating.

Positives: This depends on which Visnovsky you'd like to talk about: the one who, during the previous couple seasons, established himself as a potential Norris Trophy candidate, or the one who looked tenative and overmatched this season. When he's on his game, Visnovsky is, pound-for-pound, a very strong defenseman with great puck-moving skills and good offensive instincts.

Negatives: So, what happened to that guy last year? It certainly looked like a new player on the ice this season, and not in a good way.

Looking ahead: It's hard to say what went wrong with Visnovsky. A popular theory is that he got overwhelmed, mentally, by the combination of a big contract extension (which kicks in next season) and the fact that he was named an assistant captain. The hope within the organization is that he will settle down and return to previous form.

Contract situation: Signed through 2012-13 (cap number of $5.6 million next season).

TOM PREISSING

This season: 77 games, 8 goals, 16 assists, minus-6 rating.

Positives: With Preissing's game, it's all a matter of expectation. He's not the fastest or the strongest or the biggest, but he manages to play a solid, responsible game for the most part. Any team expecting Preissing to log huge minutes or play the point on the power play is going to end up disappointed, but in a defined role, he's a solid veteran.

Negatives: A relative lack of size and strength will always hold Preissing back. At age 29, it's hard to see Preissing ever evolving into a top-flight defenseman or a reliable power-play contributor.

Looking ahead: Preissing is a solid fourth or fifth defenseman, and not a bad player at the price the Kings have locked him up at. The problem is the Kings need better defensemen around him, so that his ice time can be managed better and his mistakes aren't magnified.

Contract situation: Signed through 2010-11 (cap number of $2.75 million next season).

JON KLEMM

This season: 22 games, 0 goals, 0 assists, minus-5 rating.

Positives: Klemm has made a career out of being a grinder. He will never end up with many points, but does what is asked of him, which is to work hard, fill a handful of different roles and be a mentor for the younger players. Klemm did his most important work this season while serving as team captain for the Manchester Monarchs.

Negatives: In an ideal world, Klemm wouldn't even have played as much as he did for the Kings this season. There's definitely value in having a grinder, but Klemm is 38 years old and already had reached the point in which he was a marginal NHL defenseman. There isn't any real speed or offense in Klemm's game.

Looking ahead: It might be the end of the road for Klemm, unless both sides see value in bringing him back in a minor-league leadership role. Klemm basically did what was asked of him, although not much more.

Contract situation: Unrestricted free agent.

JACK JOHNSON

This season: 74 games, 3 goals, 8 assists, minus-19 rating.

Positives: Came into the NHL with tremendous hype that was almost impossible to live up to, but still managed a solid rookie season, particularly for a player who had never taken a shift above the college level unti late last season. Johnson clearly has the size, skating ability and physical instincts to be an impact defenseman, and he showed that at times this season.

Negatives: Again, expectations were high. Johnson was hyped as a Calder Trophy favorite heading into the season and never really came close to reaching that level. He admitted, late in the season, that not until the final month (before his broken foot) did he start to feel totally comfortable on the ice. The offensive instincts he showed at Michigan still need to emerge at the NHL level.

Looking ahead: There's certainly no hand-wringing among Kings management about Johnson. He's still considered a future franchise defenseman and he's starting to develop the type of leadership skills that could make him a team captain one day. With expected development, he should take a major step forward next season.

Contract situation: Signed through 2008-09 (cap number of $2.15 million next season).

PETER HARROLD

This season: 25 games, 2 goals, 3 assists, plus-3 rating.

Positives: Hasn't made any dramatic improvements, but is slowly and surely establishing himself as an NHL defenseman with a solid all-around game. Harrold has displayed good puck movement in the defensive zone during his limited time in the NHL and totaled 43 points in 49 games with Manchester this season, so he has some offensive upside.

Negatives: Size and speed are two of the drawbacks in Harrold's game, but they won't prevent him from being an NHL player. He could stand to get a little stronger, which would help the team's overall toughness, and as he gets more experience, he should be better prepared to deal with the speed of the NHL game.

Looking ahead: Harrold seems likely, in the long term, to settle in as a fourth or fifth defenseman. With Johnson and Visnovsky already in the fold, the Kings need to sign or trade for at least one more strong defenseman to take some of the pressure off Harrold and allow him to thrive as he continues to develop.

Contract situation: Restricted free agent.

KEVIN DALLMAN

This season: 34 games, 3 goals, 4 assists, plus-4 rating.

Positives: The very definition of a role player, Dallman can step in after being scratched for a handful of consecutive games and play either center or defense. Never a flashy player, Dallman has solid puck-moving skills and some offensive skills. Managed a plus-4 rating.

Negatives: Dallman's size is considered a negative on defense, and he just can't seem to ``wow'' the coaching staff enough to earn a regular place in the lineup. More often than not, coaches chose Jon Klemm to fill a similar role.

Looking ahead: It's not unreasonable to think the Kings might re-sign Dallman in a seventh-defenseman role, especially since Klemm is 38 years old and since Dallman is well-liked by the Kings' younger players. Whether he can ever shed that ``spare defenseman'' label is another matter.

Contract situation: Unrestricted free agent.

ROB BLAKE

This season: 71 games, 9 goals, 22 assists, minus-19 rating

Positives: At times this season, Blake was the Kings' best defenseman. A slow start, mostly caused by his recovery from offseason hip surgery, gave way to a period of strong hockey, which Blake was unable to maintain, in part, because of other nagging injuries. When healthy, Blake remains a strong physical presence on a team that lacks physical defensemen.

Negatives: Not uncommon for 38-year-old players, Blake is injury-prone and slowing down. He didn't come close to giving the Kings $6-million worth, but that contract was the Kings' fault, not his. Still plays well in spurts, but might no longer have the energy to maintain it for an entire season.

Looking ahead: Despite some uncertain moments during the season, on both sides, it seems as though Blake would like to return to the Kings and that the Kings would like to sign him to a short-term contract, far below the $6 million he made in each of the last two seasons. Blake still has some value, particularly as the Kings attempt to work in a new, young crop of defensemen.

Contract situation: Unrestricted free agent.

Here's the last of the forwards. We'll tackle the defensemen next...

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JOHN ZEILER

This season: 36 games, 0 goals, 1 assist, minus-6 rating.

Positives: Zeiler's value comes in his ability to work hard in the corners, deliver hits, provoke opponents into penalties and play a responsible defensive game. He came out of relative anonymity in 2006-07 to earn a multi-year contract, and his value to the Kings clearly comes in an energy-line role.

Negatives: After an impressive 23-game stint in 2006-07, Zeiler signed a four-year contract and was on a two-way deal this season. He seemed set to hold down a regular role as a fourth-line winger, but never really got it going with the Kings even though he played almost a half a season in the NHL. His sophomore year lacked the same spark.

Looking ahead: Zeiler seemed to take a bit of a step backward this season, but with a salary of just over $500,000, he's a cheap and steady option in an energy-line role. Again, there should be considerable competition for those roles, so Zeiler's presence on the Kings' roster next season is far from certain.

Contract situation: Signed through 2010-11 (cap number of $543,750 next season).

BRIAN WILLSIE

This season: 53 games, 4 goals, 8 assists, minus-8 rating.

Positives: Never to be confused with a dynamic goal scorer, Willsie is at his best when he's playing a defense-first, energy-line role. His strong work ethic and responsible two-way play give him value, and he didn't complain when often made a healthy scratch.

Negatives: Showed some goal-scoring potential early in his career, but it never really materialized. Willsie is solid at several aspects of the game, but not really spectacular at any one thing. That makes him versatile but not particularly valuable.

Looking ahead: Willsie has probably run his course with the Kings, but should be able to find an energy-line role with a NHL team. He's good around the net, but won't attract significant attention unless he finds a way to put more pucks in nets.

Contract situation: Unrestricted free agent.

LAURI TUKONEN

This season: 1 game, 0 goals, 0 assists, even rating,

Positives: Despite some ups and downs in his pro career thus far, he's still a part of the Kings' plans and it's easy to forget that he's still only 21 years old. When he's playing consistently well, Tukonen uses his size to get to the net and is strong on the puck. He has the potential to play on a scoring line.

Negatives: Tukonen is about to complete his third season in the AHL and still hasn't make a significant impact. His goal totals have actually decreased, from 14 to 13 to 9. Consistency has been a major issues, and the other parts of his game aren't quite strong enough to make up for a lack of offensive production.

Looking ahead: It's time for Tukonen to make a statement. Given the strong depth at the forward positions in the Kings' system, he runs the risk of getting buried if he doesn't make himself stand out soon. The talent is there, it seems, but he needs to show something next season.

Contract situation: Signed through 2008-09 (cap number of $885,780 next season).

SCOTT THORNTON

This season: 47 games, 5 goals, 3 assists, plus-1 rating

Positives: When healthy, Thornton was a responsible two-way player, capable of providing gritty play. At times, could be one of the few players with the desire to mix it up a little bit. A respected locker-room leader, Thornton never expressed frustration at his situation, which included injuries and limited ice time.

Negatives: Injuries took their toll on Thornton, along with the general complications of being a 37-year-old player. Never the fastest player, Thornton had slowed down considerably and, at his best, had become a fourth-line winger by the end.

Looking ahead: Those looking for Thornton in September will have to search bike trails. Thornton, who is a cycling enthusiast, has said he is almost certain he will retire after 17 NHL seasons.

Contract situation: Unrestricted free agent.

TEDDY PURCELL

This season: 10 games, 1 goal, 2 assists, plus-2 rating.

Positives: Got only a brief taste of the NHL, but that experience should pay off later, when he cracks the NHL lineup for good. Purcell totaled 25 goals and 58 assists in 67 games with Manchester, oustanding numbers for a first-year professional player. There's every reason to think that Purcell's offensive skills will translate to the NHL

Negatives: There's the lack of NHL experience, but every young player goes through that. In general, Purcell will have to show, on the NHL level, that he's not just a one-dimensional player. Adding some bulk to his 6-foot-3 frame will help in that quest.

Looking ahead: Last summer, Dean Lombardi had Purcell penciled in as a potential top-line winger. At the time, that seemed optimistic, but given Purcell's tremendous success in the AHL this season, it no longer seems like a huge stretch. Purcell will have every opportunity, this summer and during training camp, to earn a spot on the Kings' roster.

Contract situation: Signed through 2008-09 (cap number of $1.35 million next season).

PATRICK O'SULLIVAN

This season: 82 games, 22 goals, 31 assists, minus-8 rating.

Positives: O'Sullivan's improvements have been well-documented, and he deserves a ton of credit from transforming himself. Once a top prospect, he was in danger of falling out of favor with the Kings, but he worked himself into a role as a top-three forward. O'Sullivan developed into a strong defensive player and began to fulfill his great offensive potential.

Negatives: There's a lot of excitement about O'Sullivan's season, and rightfully so, but it's wise to remember that he still has plenty of room to improve. This season was a strong start, and he should only get more comfortable playing alongside Anze Kopitar (if the Kings keep him there) but O'Sullivan will need to take another step forward next season.

Looking ahead: If O'Sullivan can continue on this upward path, the Kings have a keeper. After some initial questions, O'Sullivan proved himself to have a good attitude and a strong desire to win. He certainly has the ability to be a top-six forward for years to come.

Contract situation: Restricted free agent.

LADISLAV NAGY

This season: 38 games, 9 goals, 17 assists, minus-2 rating.

Positives: In spurts, Nagy showed the offensive creativity that led the Kings to give him a one-year contract last summer. He's still a creative offensive player with good hands, and had be been able to stay healthy, he might have been a 20-goal scorer, a plateau he reached in each of his first three full NHL seasons.

Negatives: He couldn't stay healthy. A neck injury took Nagy out of the lineup in mid-January and he never returned. Injuries played a big part this year, but Nagy's goal totals have decreased every season since 2003-04, from 24 to 15 to 12 to nine. Even when healthy, he probably produced at a level a bit lower than the Kings expected.

Looking ahead: Given his neck injury, and Dean Lombardi's hint-dropping about bringing more prospects into the fold, it seems highly unlikely that the Kings have Nagy in their plans as a top-six forward next season. If he's healthy, he will get a contract from another team and might be able to rebound.

Contract situation: Unrestricted free agent.

BRADY MURRAY

This season: 4 games, 1 goal, 0 assists, minus-2 rating.

Positives: Murray made his biggest strides during the summer and during training camp, when he impressed with his strong skating and work ethic and earned the No. 4 center role. Murray appeared in only four games with the Kings and, typical of a coach's son, he played an intelligent game and was a bright figure in the dressing room.

Negatives: Size -- Murray is listed at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds -- will always be an issue for him to overcome, as will injuries, it seems. Beyond that, does Murray have enough offensive upside to justify giving him a roster spot compared to other prospects. If he makes it in the NHL, it will be because of his grit, not his scoring touch.

Looking ahead: Murray will probably enter training camp in roughly the same position as last year. He will have a chance to earn an energy-line role, but the competition will probably be even more fierce this time.

Contract situation: Signed through 2008-09 (cap number of $942,400 next season).

MATT MOULSON

This season: 22 games, 5 goals, 4 assists, plus-2 rating.

Positives: There is some potential here. Moulson got bounced back and forth, between Los Angeles and Manchester, four times this season, but he managed some quality play in both leagues. In just 57 games with the Monarchs, Moulson totaled 28 goals and 28 assists. He seems to have a solid all-around game.

Negatives: Does he have top-six forward potential, and can he bridge the gap between the AHL and the NHL? There are a lot of players who put up strong numbers in the AHL but can't make it translate to the NHL. Moulson's challenges are to prove he belongs and prove that he deserves the ice time that might go to a younger prospect. Moulson could help his cause by packing on a little more muscle.

Looking ahead: This is a crucial time for Moulson. It's very possible that he can take a step forward and earn a spot on the NHL roster, but if he doesn't, he runs the risk of being pigeonholed as a talented AHL player who doesn't have the chops to move up. The opportunity should be there for Moulson to earn a third- or fourth-line role.

Contract situation: Restricted free agent.

ANZE KOPITAR

This season: 82 games, 32 goals, 45 assists, minus-15 rating.

Positives: Almost too many to list. After an excellent rookie season, Kopitar played all 82 games and improved his numbers in almost every category. By all accounts, he's a hard worker, a good teammate and a potential team leader. On the ice, he's creative, strong on the puck and has tremendous vision and great hands. What else is there?

Negatives: Someone would have to be fairly creative to come up with a major negative in Kopitar's game. Kopitar's main challenge will be to continue to improve, make his teammates better and fill a team leadership role.

Looking ahead: Kopitar is the Kings' unquestioned No. 1 center, and the only remaining question is, ``How good can he be?'' It's almost shocking to think he doesn't turn 21 until August. His ability to play at a high level will be crucial if the Kings are to

Contract situation: Signed through 2008-09 (cap number of $955,867 next season).

RAITIS IVANANS

This season: 73 games, 6 goals, 2 assists, minus-10 rating.

Positives: Scored six goals this season, only one fewer than $4-million-man Michal Handzus. Ivanans has a very defined role, and he has filled it to the coaches' satisfaction over the last two seasons. Enforcers can't afford to be one-dimensional in the post-lockout NHL, and Ivanans has displayed some skill, beyond the ability to fight.

Negatives: Even at his best, Ivanans will never be a skilled offensive player. He's 29 years old and unlikely to show significant improvement at this point in his career, so what you see is what you get.

Looking ahead: On a team that most followers agree lacked toughness, Ivanans was a notable exception. He returned relatively quickly from a painful broken cheekbone and resumed his physical style of play. Ivanans fills a crucial role and is not expected to contribute offense. As long as he skates strong and brings a physical element to the game, he's a valuable contributor.

Contract situation: Signed through 2009-10 (cap number of $600,000 next season).

MICHAL HANDZUS

This season: 82 games, 7 goals, 14 assists, minus-21 rating.

Positives: A year after major knee surgery, Handzus played all 82 games, which is a tremendous accomplishment and no doubt gave him a good mental boost. Later in the season, he seemed to be skating harder and with more confidence. Despite his offensive struggles, Handzus earned the respect of coaches and management with his good attitude.

Negatives: For $4 million, Handzus was a mess. The Kings signed him to be a second-line center, but for parts of the season he was centering the fourth line. He seemed slow and tentative for a major part of the season, not surprising for a player in his first season following knee surgery. His play left a huge void in that No. 2 center position.

Looking ahead: Four years is a long time, and $16 million is a lot of money. The good news is, players usually take a big step forward in their second year following knee surgery. If Handzus can improve, and reclaim that No. 2 center spot, it will go a long way toward establishing some much-needed depth in the lineup. If not, things could get ugly.

Contract situation: Signed through 2010-11 (cap number of $4 million next season).

JEFF GIULIANO

This season: 53 games, 0 goals, 6 assists, minus-9 rating.

Positives: A versatile forward who can give a team quality energy-line minutes. Giuliano is a responsible player and a strong skater with a good attitude, and he's a solid defensive player.

Negatives: There's little to suggest that Giuliano will ever develop much of an offensive game, and he's also limited by his slight build, as he is generously listed at 5-foot-9 and 205 pounds.

Looking ahead: It seems doubtful that Giuliano has a future in Los Angeles. He's the type of player that teams like to have around, because he's well liked and a hard worker, but the Kings seem more likely to give his minutes to an up-and-coming player who has more of an upside.

Contract situation: Unrestricted free agent.

GABE GAUTHIER

This season: 3 games, 0 goals, 0 assists, even rating.

Positives: Didn't get much time to show his stuff with the Kings, but Gauthier was a point-per-game performer for the Manchester Monarchs this season. He's not blessed with great size but he's solidly built and is a good pound-for-pound player. By all accounts, Gauthier is a hard worker and a team-leader type.

Negatives: Still quite green at the NHL level, with only eight games in the last two seasons, and he needs to make a breakthrough soon. With players such as Brian Boyle, Marc-Andre Cliche and Trevor Lewis waiting in the wings, Gauthier needs to make himself stand out next season or risk getting passed by these younger prospects.

Looking ahead: It's definitely possible to envision Gauthier on the Kings' roster next season, but it could largely depend on how some of those previously mentioned prospects develop this summer. Gauthier must still prove that he can play at the NHL level, but first he will have to put forth a a good showing at training camp.

Contract situation: Restricted free agent.

ALEXANDER FROLOV

This season: 71 games, 23 goals, 44 assists, plus-1 rating.

Positives: Increased his assist total to 44, from his previous high of 36. That's a positive development, considering Frolov has had the term ``puck hog'' attached to his name. As usual, Frolov was tremendously strong on the puck and seemed to improve his work ethic this season. He took a career-low 22 penalty minutes.

Negatives: Frolov's goal total decreased from 35 to 23 and was more in line with the 24 and 21 he scored the previous two seasons. More passing, and fewer shots on goal (160, compared to 195 the previous season) factor in there, but Frolov needs to be more productive on the power play, where he scored only five goals this season.

Looking ahead: It seems that Frolov has had the word ``enigma'' attached to his name for a while, but he showed signs of breaking out of that this season. Continuing to share the puck will increase his value in the eyes of coaches and teammates, but Frolov can't afford to get too far away from what made him a 35-goal scorer the previous season.

Contract situation: Signed through 2009-10 (cap number of $2.9 million next season).

MATT ELLIS

This season: 19 games, 1 goal, 1 assist, plus-2 rating (with Kings); 54 games, 3 goals, 5 assists, plus-3 rating (overall).

Positives: The expectations were fairly low when the Kings claimed Ellis off waivers from Detroit, but he was a lineup regular who averaged almost 13 minutes per game and played a responsible defensive game. Ellis proved to be a hard worker who wasn't afraid to throw his body around.

Negatives: At age 26, he's unlikely to develop much of an offensive game, so he's limited there and probably won't rise above an energy-line role. He's also not terribly big, which could potentially mean injury problems with his style of play.

Looking ahead: Ellis definitely has a chance to make an impact with the Kings, but he likely will be competing for a roster spot with players such as John Zeiler, Matt Moulson, Gabe Gauthier and Brady Murray. His defensive skills are a huge plus but his offensive limitations will hold him back.

Contract status: Signed through 2008-09 (cap number of $475,000 next season).

MICHAEL CAMMALLERI

This season: 63 games, 19 goals, 28 assists, minus-16 rating.

Positives: They all came early. Cammalleri was named an assistant captain at the start of this season, the youngest member of the Kings' leadership, and scored 10 goals in his first 10 games. He also further proved that he has the best shot on the team, with an unmatched ability to one-time the puck.

Negatives: After his brilliant start, Cammalleri scored only nine goals in his final 53 games. Nagging injuries didn't help, but Cammalleri took a huge step backward from the previous season, when he totaled 34 goals and 46 points. Also, there have been whispers -- loud whispers, to be accurate -- about how good of a teammate Cammalleri is. Cammalleri insisted that last year's arbitration process didn't impact him, but his downturn is otherwise hard to explain.

Looking ahead: 2008-09 will be a crossroads season for Cammalleri, in every sense. If he's not traded -- a move the Kings are expected to explore this summer -- he will return and enter the final year of his contract, needing a big comeback. Cammalleri clearly has first-line talent, but he will need to re-prove himself, both as a scorer and a potential team leader.

Contract situation: Signed through 2008-09 (cap number of $3.35 million next season).

KYLE CALDER

This season: 65 games, 7 goals, 13 assists, minus-11 rating.

Positives: Gone are the days when Calder was considered a potential 30-goal scorer. He's now known as an energy-line winger, a guy who can mix it up and contribute some offense. To that end, the Kings pretty much got what they expected. Calder played 65 games and totaled only 18 penalty minutes.

Negatives: It's quite a stretch to say the Kings got their money's worth. There are a lot of players out there who can score 20 points and play on the energy line who DON'T earn almost $3 million per season. The Kings were hoping for a rebound from last season, when Calder totaled 35 points in 78 games. That was considered a down year, but he went even lower this year.

Looking ahead: Calder is a serviceable winger, but the Kings overpaid for him and they've got him for one more season. Perhaps being a contract year will spark him to put up bigger numbers, but he seems unlikely to ever approach his career high of 26 goals. Calder has a defined role as an energy-line winger, if he can stay healthy.

Contract situation: Signed through 2008-09 (cap number of $2.7 million next season).

DUSTIN BROWN

This season: 78 games, 33 goals, 27 assists, minus-13 rating.

Positives: Where to begin? Toward the end of last season, coach Marc Crawford said Brown could be a 30-goal scorer. Brown, who had scored 31 goals, combined, in his previous two seasons, netted 33 this season and became a regular winger on the Kings' top line. He kept his penalty minutes in check, reduced his plus-minus rating from minus-21 to minus-13, took a career-high 219 shots on goal and, perhaps most importantly, improved his skills as a vocal leader.

Negatives: Not many. His assist total actually dipped, from 29 to 27, and Brown can't forget to retain that hard-nosed, hitting style, just because he has proved to be a talented scorer.

Looking ahead: Crawford thought he could be a 30-goal scorer. So did Brown hit his ceiling this season? That's hard to imagine, since he's only 23 years old. It was a great year for Brown, who signed a big contract and had his first child. The challenge is to get even better and avoid the type of letdown Michael Cammalleri had this season.

Contract situation: Signed through 2013-14 (cap number of $3.175 million next season).

BRIAN BOYLE

This season: 8 games, 4 goals, 1 assist, plus-4 rating.

Positives: It's hard to argue with the raw numbers. Four goals in eight games is nothing to sneeze at, and Boyle showed, at least in a limited tryout, that he has the skill to play at the NHL level. His size should make him a valuable asset going forward, particularly at the center position.

Negatives: His demotion back to Manchester came as something of a surprise, and came with a vague, somewhat mysterious explanation about him needing to develop better habits and learn how to play on a winning team. After his eight-game stint in February, Boyle never returned to the Kings.

Looking ahead: Sometimes it's hard to figure what the Kings are doing with Boyle. They make him a defenseman, then they switch him back to center. They bring him up from Manchester, then they send him back after he scores four goals in eight games. Fortunately, Boyle seems to be a bright guy with a good attitude. He needs to use his size and be a more physical presence, but it's very easy to see him having a future with the Kings, as soon as next season.

Contract situation: Signed through 2008-09 (cap number of $835,000 next season).

We did something like this after last season, breaking down the players. Since it's expected to be a slow period for the Kings, seems like a good opportunity! I'll try to get through a few players every day, and I'm curious to see what everyone's opinions are of these guys. So we'll start with forwards and go in alphabetical order. Up first...

DEREK ARMSTRONG

This season: 77 games, 8 goals, 27 assists, plus-4 rating.

Positives: Nagging injuries have been a problem in the past, but Armstrong played a career-best 77 games. He also managed a minus-4 rating on a team that allowed 35 goals more than it scored. As usual, served as a steady, respected presence in the dressing room and proved himself most valuable as a third-line center, when he could focus more on defense than offense.

Negatives: Played a career-high in games, but his eight goals were the fewest of his five-year Kings career. The low production came even though he totaled a career-best 118 shots on goal. Armstrong also had a career-high 63 penalty minutes. Too often, he is forced into second-line center duties, and that does not suit his game.

Looking ahead: By now, it's pretty clear what Armstrong can and can't do. He's a consistent performer, for the most part, but the Kings need Michal Handzus, or some other center, to step up so that Armstrong doesn't have to center the second line on a regular basis.

Contract situation: Signed through 2008-09 (cap number of $1.5 million next season).