In the past three National Hockey League seasons, the Los Angeles Kings have won two Stanley Cups by out-sizing, out-muscling and outlasting their opponents. Skill, of course, has also played a major role in their success. Led by guys like Anze Kopitar (six-foot-three, 224 pounds) and Jeff Carter (six-foot-four, 212 pounds), many of L.A.'s bladed monsters are top-end talents within the league.
In the NHL's Western Conference especially, opposing teams are trying to measure up to the Kings because they know that in order to have a shot at the Cup, there's a good chance they'll have to get past L.A.'s hulking lineup. The Anaheim Ducks are a perfect example and even the Vancouver Canucks are trying to get bigger with the likes of six-foot-one, 194-pound Radim Vrbata, six-foot-one, 196-pound Nick Bonino and six-foot, 192-pound Derek Dorsett.
If size ever went out of fashion in a no-clutching-and-grabbing NHL that was more friendly to the little man, it's definitely back in style now.
Locally, a different Kings team appears to be following the same recipe that has worked so well in L.A. The Prince George Spruce Kings have added a ton of beef to their menu this off-season, with five new players who stand at least six feet tall and range from 185 pounds to 210 pounds. The fresh faces include 19-year-old forward Frankie Spellman (six-foot-one, 200 pounds), 20-year-old forward Michael Buonincontri (six-foot-two, 205 pounds), 19-year-old forward Taylor Allan (six feet, 185 pounds), 20-year-old defenceman Valik Chichkin (six-foot-three, 210 pounds) and 18-year-old defenceman Jake McCarthy (six-foot-one, 195 pounds).
Most importantly, all these guys can apparently play. According to Kings general manager Mike Hawes, Spellman has a nice offensive touch to go with his bulk and Buonincontri - who already has an NCAA scholarship to St. Cloud State University - is a pure goalscorer. Hawes, meanwhile, pegs Allan as a top-six forward with skill and grit and Chichkin as a guy who will eat up big minutes on the blueline. As for McCarthy, he has signed on with the University of Massachusetts for 2015-16 and is expected to bring a little bit of everything to the Kings. He's physical, knows how to move his feet and has a high IQ for hockey.
In Hawes's view, the upsizing of teams isn't yet a trend in the B.C. Hockey League. So, in that respect, the Spruce Kings may be ahead of some of their league rivals in the type of club they are trying to build.
And yes, Hawes is mindful of what has been happening at the NHL level. He's hopeful the formula will work here.
"I think we were skilled last year and we were quick, but I think we lacked in a little bit of strength and size," said the GM, who signed a three-year contract extension in May. "I wanted to make up for that this year and I think it's conducive to the size of the ice surface here at the Coliseum. In my 10 years here, the bigger the team we've had the more success we've had. Combining the two this year, we've still got a ton of speed, a ton of skill but a little more size and strength, and I hope that's a good mixture."
Ultimately, the goal is to win a playoff championship. And while the Spruce Kings have been a strong regular-season team the past three years (combined record of 90-63-7-14), they haven't been able to get through the first round of playoffs, a time when the games get much more physical.
On paper, the Kings - who have 12 returning players - look awfully good heading into 2014-15. Hawes thinks so too but says "the proof will be in the pudding."
Training camp starts next Friday. Heading into it, the Kings' most significant problem might be finding enough XL jerseys to go around.
"We won't have any trouble with that one," Hawes said with a laugh.
