from Helene Elliott of the LA Times,

Only occasionally this season has General Manager Dean Lombardi seen the Kings resemble the group that blended a strong work ethic, forbidding goaltending and staunch defense to win the Stanley Cup twice in three seasons.

"There's been pockets where it kind of looks like us. You say, 'There it is,' and then it goes the other way," he said. "Lately I think it's been better. We've seen greater pockets of it. But is it where needs to be? No."...

"We're just kind of treading water right now, not really swimming forward, not really swimming back," right wing Justin Williams said Monday. "We're just kind of there, and that's not good enough. It's not OK with us."

The fact that the Kings are not satisfied is encouraging. This group has largely been self-policing, with occasional prods from Coach Darryl Sutter.

The question is whether they have the physical and mental reserves to repeat after three long playoff runs and the unexpected loss of defenseman Slava Voynov to a league-imposed suspension. He has pleaded not guilty to a felony domestic violence charge, and his jury trial is set for March 2 — the day of the trading deadline....

Top-four defensemen like Voynov are hard to find, and the Kings are unlikely to acquire one; if they replace his salary and later get him back, they'd be over the cap and would have to make a move. Lombardi said Monday he can envision Voynov returning this season if a jury determines he's not guilty.

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