HOCKEY'S HERE: LOS ANGELES KINGS

The first hint of fall is in the air. It's getting dark earlier, and soon it will be too cold to spend Saturday nights sharing a 2-4 of Blue and listening to Guns N' Roses at the gravel pit. It's time to air out your gear, sharpen your skates and tape your stick -- it’s hockey season. Sure, your team flat-out ached last season, but there's hope, unless you're an Islanders fan. In that spirit, Out of Left Field is here with early looks at all 30 NHL teams. Presenting: The L.A. Kings.

Last season: 89 points, 4th in Pacific Division; missed playoffs
Coach: Marc Crawford (1st season with team)
Young gun: Dustin Brown
Store this name away: Patrick O'Sullivan (somehow the Leafs never noticed him during his draft year, even though he was playing junior in Mississauga)
Hey, get a load of the new guys: Rob Blake (who actually spent his first 12 seasons in L.A.), Alyn McCauley
Blogs (including but not limited to): The Battle of California, Hockey Pacific,
Pop culture moment: The Gretzky Era, when the Kings had their own B-List version of Celebrity Row, consisting of Alan Thicke, various other Canuck expats, and celebs who had beaten Jack Nicholson at golf and made themselves persona non grata at Laker games.

The Jack Johnson trade with the Carolina Hurricanes (as James Mirtle noted, there's no doubt who won) shows what direction El Lay is headed in. They're probably a year away from being a legit playoff team, since it will take at least that long for Crawford and new GM Dean Lombardi, late of San Jose, to put their own stamp on the team and realize that Dan Cloutier is not a franchise goalie. (Of course, Crawford didn't realize that in Vancouver, either.)

Bottom line: You look at the Kings and you see an odd mix of guys who are either pretty raw or past their prime, although a soon-to-be-37 Rob Blake is still one of the league's top five defencemen.

There's just not enough firepower up front for a serious run from this team. When Craig Conroy is your top-line centre, you're in trouble. A smart-assed (not to mention a wee bit sexist) way to put it would be that only impressive scoring the Kings have done of late was when team meathead Sean Avery's had a relationship with Canuck-cutie actress Elisha Cuthbert.

The Kings will give Phoenix a serious run for the Pacific basement.

Also in Pacific Division: Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, Phoenix Coyotes, San Jose Sharks

Back with more later. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.