It’s likely that we’ll see the Edmonton Oilers face the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the playoffs yet again this spring. The Pacific Division rivals have faced each other in the first round over the past three seasons, with Edmonton advancing each year.
However, this season feels different. It feels like the Kings have a real shot of upsetting the Oilers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this post-season.
I reached out to Jesse Cohen, the host of the official podcast of the L.A. Kings, to gain a better understanding of the team and how they’re feeling heading into the playoffs.
First things first… What’s the biggest difference between this year’s Kings team and last season?
Will it hurt if I say Warren Foegele? I’m not sure there’s one biggest difference. I think the Kings just make more sense as a complete roster and the Oilers make less sense as a complete roster.
For Oilers fans unfamiliar with the Kings this year, who have been the standout players this season? I assume Foegele is one of them.
He definitely has been. Kuemper as well. Adrian Kempe. Byfield has developed a ton. Edmundson was surprisingly effective. He plays more minutes than Kopitar or Kempe.
With how the team has developed this season, do you think the Kings can beat the Oilers this year?
Absolutely
Some Oilers fans feel that could be the case this season. Lastly, as someone who covers the L.A. Kings, what has the energy and vibe been around the team this season?
I think that after last season, there was some skepticism and concern, but as the season had progressed, I think the excitement has built. The emergence of young players, the success of veterans added to the roster, the performance of Kuemper, and the outstanding home record has made Kings games a pretty happy place to be.
We appreciate Jesse’s insight on the Kings for this article. You can find him on X and his podcast, All The Kings Men, on all podcast platforms.
While Oilers fans don’t want to hear that this could be an early exit this year, it’s more that the Kings seem much stronger than in past years and can pose a real threat. That’s especially the case if they gain home-ice advantage over the Oilers as they have a 28-4-4 record at home this season.
That said, this is an experienced Oilers team with many players who went to the Stanley Cup Final last June. One would assume they are itching for the playoffs to begin; however, the team’s injury concerns could ultimately hold them back. On the flip side, we have yet to see this Oilers team at full strength, especially with Evander Kane and Trent Frederic in the lineup, and we have yet to see if the core players can heal up and be 100 percent for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
