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Pacific Division Power Rankings: Vegas Golden Knights slumping in Nov

By Andrew Steele-Davis

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 13: Vegas Golden Knights players talk during a stoppage in play during the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks at T-Mobile Arena on November 13, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 13: Vegas Golden Knights players talk during a stoppage in play during the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks at T-Mobile Arena on November 13, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 12: Blake Lizotte #46 of the Los Angeles Kings skates with the puck during the second period against the Minnesota Wild at STAPLES Center on November 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 12: Blake Lizotte #46 of the Los Angeles Kings skates with the puck during the second period against the Minnesota Wild at STAPLES Center on November 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NHLI via Getty Images) /

team. 67. . 6-11-1. Previous: 8th. Los Angeles Kings. 8

8. The LA Kings

This is very much the start of what could be a long rebuild for the LA Kings, who have an aging roster and a real lack of identity right now.

They are also hindered by the fact that they have $88,000,000 locked up in defenseman Drew Doughty and a further $80,000,000 invested in forward Anze Kopitar, both of whom are in the early stages of eight-year contracts.

Plus, there appears to be a controversy brewing with Russian forward Ilya Kovalchuk who looks to be on the way out of LA.

However, there is some light at the end of the tunnel given that there is a plethora of young studs in the Kings’ farm system, which was ranked No. 4 in the NHL by The Athletic back in the off-season.

This is going to be a gradual process, though, and the Kings are going to have to settle for missing the postseason for multiple seasons for the first time since 2008-09.

They did beat the Minnesota Wild 3-1 on Tuesday but they had lost three straight prior to that and, given the fact that they are expected to be sellers at the Trade Deadline, they won’t have too many wins to their name this year.

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