Power Rankings: Kings following NHL's turnaround script

Updated Nov. 3

The good thing about being in Hollywood is that when new script ideas are lacking, there is always the option of recycling an old one. Like say, the story about taking a perennial loser and turning it into a winner, seemingly overnight.

Newcomer Ryan Smyth is a Kings catalyst. (US Presswire)

The hockey version of this movie has played out a couple of times already in the aftermath of the lockout, first with the Pittsburgh Penguins and more recently with the Chicago Blackhawks. Both teams took their lumps for a few seasons, drafted high and as a result, put together lineups that grew quickly together before taking the league by storm.

In Los Angeles, the Kings are trying to become the next ones. So far they seem to be on the right path.

Colorado, and to a slightly lesser extent the Phoenix Coyotes, may have laid claim to the NHL's best Cinderella story early in this season. But for a team that hasn't been to the playoffs since 2002, the young Kings have been no less impressive. Los Angeles has the third-most points in the Western Conference, tied for fourth in the league and is a top 10 team in overall offense and the power play.

The Kings are getting the kind of goaltending they've been lacking for years from 23-year-old Jonathan Quick, the defense has two budding young stars in Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson, and leading man Anze Kopitar is the top scorer in the NHL. Meanwhile, the supporting cast that has been methodically put together by GM Dean Lombardi since he took over in 2006 has been improving with every game under the patient coaching of Terry Murray.

Lombardi, who set the foundation in San Jose when he was there with his drafting and development process, has used the same philosophy in Los Angeles, stockpiling young assets and supplementing them with a few key veterans. The most notable has been Ryan Smyth, who came in a trade this summer from the Avs and is arguably the best turnaround player in the league. Smyth is putting up big numbers of his own, but more importantly, he has triggered Kopitar's breakout effort.

"Smitty knows how to play the game and he's rubbed off on Kopi," Kings defenseman Sean O'Donnell said.

And on the rest of the team.

Here are the rankings through Monday night's games: