After an uncharacteristic omission from the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Los Angeles Kings bounced back this season, claiming their sixth playoff berth in seven years.
The team rebounded after a trying 95 points in 2015, setting a franchise record with 48 wins and matching the second-highest point total in team history and the best single-season finish in 25 years.
However, an unlucky draw in the first round pinned them against a superior San Jose Sharks team and lead to a departure from the playoffs after just five games. The Kings are likely bound to return to the postseason in 2017 if they tackle the offseason correctly.
Here are three things the Kings need to do this offseason:
Sign Milan Lucic
Lucic has not been shy suggesting his heart is with the Kings' organization. Even going as far to insist Sunday that he has no interest in hitting the open market on July 1st.
The 27-year-old bruiser enjoyed a successful first campaign with the Kings, collecting 20 goals and 55 points during the regular season, good enough for fourth in team scoring.
He found chemistry playing alongside Anze Kopitar and is a perfect mould for the team's sandpaper style of play.
Contract offers were reportedly swamped in early March, so both sides should have no problem extending this fitting engagement.
Strengthen defense
While the Kings house arguably the best two-way defender in the game in Drew Doughty, outside him and a couple others, the club's defense core is thin.
The trio of Dougthy, Jake Muzzin, and Alec Martinez have housed the bulk of the responsibility on the blue line and could use some assistance. The team lost a large piece after the Slava Voynov debacle saw him head back to Russia and has not been the same since.
The team added place holders Luke Schenn and Rob Scuderi, but neither are permanent fixes. The Kings need to bring in a true defender or two who can eat up minutes and relieve pressure from Doughty and company or prepare to face a similar fate next season.
Make Kopitar captain
While Dustin Brown has faired admirably in the past serving as the team's captain, it's time to face the music: The Kings are now Kopitar's team.
The 28-year-old has led the team in scoring in nine straight seasons, only failing to do so in his rookie year in 2007. He has been widely regarding as one of the best two-way forwards in the game and has played the role of leader incredibly well since entering the league.
Brown has served as captain the last eight seasons, and while he remains a leader, his production has slipped - seeing him failing to hit more than 28 points the last three seasons and largely occupying the third line.
Kopitar is the obvious successor to Brown as captain and now is as good a time as any to make the change.
