Plucky Kings complete 2nd half turnaround, clinch playoff spot

Los Angeles, CA - If the EHE had to name one of its most surprising stories of the 2016-17 season, the Los Angeles Kings' improbable turnaround would be a prime candidate for the spotlight. 

Sitting in 27th place in December with their playoff hopes all but extinguished, the Kings underwent a complete overhaul in the space of two months, then rode a new-look top line and second-half surge to clinch a playoff spot and a series against the rival Edmonton Oilers.

"I couldn't be happier with the way our season has gone," said rookie Kings GM Jay Seo. "What I'm most proud of is that we achieved our success in a sustainable way and didn't sacrifice our long-term future to get to the postseason. We're in for a fight against a very good team, but no matter what happens, this season has been a huge success for our organization."

So what were the reasons for the Kings' unexpected turnaround?

A new-look top line

The arrival of big-name wingers Johnny Gaudreau and Brendan Gallagher created one of the most dangerous lines in the EHE during the second half of the season. Playing alongside captain Jonathan Toews, Gaudreau and Gallagher produced at a .97 and .90 PPG pace respectively and revitalized an anemic Kings offense. 

An infusion of puckmoving talent on the blueline

One of the biggest issues that plagued LA in the first half of the season was a lack of puckmoving ability among its defensemen. Brent Burns and Andrei Markov were the team's best options on that front, but they were tasked with too much two-way responsibility and are now both on the wrong side of thirty years of age. 

Once promising young blueliners Colton Parayko and Shayne Gostisbehere were brought in and the ice-time was divided more evenly among the six-man group, the team's fortunes began to change, despite losing both Chris Tanev (injury) and Brian Dumoulin (trade). Rookie defensemen Zach Werenski and Steve Santini have both performed admirably in full-time roles, and they look to be integral pieces to the Kings future depth on the back end. 

Financial health and long-term franchise stability 

Back in December, the Los Angeles Kings were by far the poorest team in the EHE, and were slated to be bankrupt by the end of the season. Indeed, the club's financial situation was so dire that commissioner Kevin Lacy reportedly told then-incoming GM Jay Seo to prioritize shedding payroll instead of worrying about on-ice competitiveness. 

Though it may not have been obvious at the time, that financial mandate was the primary reason why so many Kings veterans were offloaded in the space of a few weeks. Indeed, trading away players like Andrei Markov ($8 million), Brent Burns, Patrice Bergeron ($5.5 million each), and Darren Helm ($4.5 million) reduced the team's payroll by over $25 million and resulted in a season-ending net positive bankroll of $24 million and a respectable 15th place finish in the EHE bankroll rankings.

By that metric alone, the Kings season was a success -- now, the club gets to sit back and enjoy a guilt-free playoff run before looking towards next season.