Chris Pronger

the Sergei Chaps, the Coles, the Schmitz, the Vitek Danichats, the Tanevs, those players who've been in that environment to really help.

But it's what makes them interesting.

Whereas with the Kings, like, yes, there's the Andrzej Katara of it all.

But at the same time, like, they are still trying to figure out how to get beyond the first round.

Because in the time since they last got beyond the first round, Colorado's gotten there, Dallas has gotten there, I believe Minnesota's gotten there, Vegas has gotten there, Edmonton has gotten there.

Um...

the Canucks has gotten there, the Predators have gotten there.

Like damn near everybody in the West at some point has either gotten beyond the first round or they've been in that same situation as the Kings, except for now, not that there weren't questions with the Kings, but there really are questions about how you get this done.

Because when you look at what San Jose is doing, you think about the off season Nashville could have, who's to say what happens with Winnipeg and other teams and

There's no guaranteeing that the eight spots going to be there.

And it almost wasn't this year for them.

The Edmonton Oilers.

Sure.

Maybe that's the lazy answer, but it really is the Edmonton Oilers because there is a countdown with that team.

Like, once again, you're trying to figure out beyond that for Dreisaitl, McDavid, Nugent, Hopkins, Hyman, Nurse, Ekholm, Bouchard.

How do those supporting cast members sort of perform in these environments?

Because, like, Corey Perry is gone.

Evander Kane is gone.

Connor Brown is gone.

Brent Kulak is gone.