High expectations for Kings as training camp begins

The start of training camp Saturday will launch a new era for the Kings and Ducks.

The Kings, sixth in the Western Conference last season and a playoff qualifier for the first time since 2002, will face high expectations for the first time as a group.

Although they didn’t land free agent winger Ilya Kovalchuk — which could be a blessing if the salary cap shrinks in the next labor agreement — they upgraded their defense by signing shutdown specialist Willie Mitchell. They now have assets to trade if their young forwards can’t boost last season’s five-on-five scoring production, which ranked 18th in the league.

Centers Andrei Loktionov and Brayden Schenn will get chances to win spots, and General Manager Dean Lombardi said he doesn’t expect Schenn to be held back by the sore left knee that kept the 19-year-old out of rookie camp. Lombardi repeatedly touted the skill of left wing Scott Parse, who had 11 goals in 59 games last season, so this is a big camp for Parse.

“There hasn’t been that radical addition a la Kovalchuk, but I do think you’re going to get some improvement from within,” Lombardi said. “I think our back end is going to be better at getting pucks up for the forwards, which inevitably creates offense.

“As far as the other thing, we’ll see how it plays out and keep looking.”

For once, the Kings have quality depth in goal. Jonathan Quick was designated the starter, but Jonathan Bernier, the American Hockey League’s top goalie last season and impressive in three games with the Kings, should push him hard.

Quick won’t play 72 games again, an unjustifiable burden for a first-time starter and first-time father.

“Bernier has lived up to his expectations but Quick’s in the best shape of his life,” Lombardi said. “These kids are growing up. These are things general managers enjoy watching.”

For the Ducks, this summer was gloomier than the marine layer that blanketed local beaches.

Defenseman Scott Niedermayer’s retirement meant that in successive years the Ducks have traded Chris Pronger and lost Niedermayer, a calm leader and sure Hall of Fame pick. With a slowing Niedermayer the Ducks were 11th in the West and gave up the second-most shots against in the NHL, an average of 33.4 per game. This season shapes up as being worse, though 2010 first-round pick Cam Fowler and 20-year-old Luca Sbisa will get opportunities to show their stuff.

“You don’t just replace two defensemen like that, a 1A and a 1B defenseman. It doesn’t happen,” Ducks General Manager Bob Murray said. “That’s how fortunate this community was and this team was to have those two at the same time.

“We’ve got to find a way to get another top defenseman who can be a 1 or 2, but that’s easier said than done.”

Continuing the gloom, winger Joffrey Lupul remains out indefinitely because of a blood infection and free-agent signee Toni Lydman is undergoing tests to determine the cause of his double vision.

But there is some good news: Teemu Selanne, on pace for 40 goals last season but derailed by injuries, has returned. Bobby Ryan signed a five-year contract and franchise center Ryan Getzlaf apparently has recovered from a badly injured ankle.

Selanne, Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Saku Koivu and Ryan — likely to move from the wing to center after a good audition last season — give the Ducks enviable skill up front. Center Nick Bonino, 22, could join them. Goaltender Jonas Hiller should be fine.

But the Ducks’ playoff chances will turn on their ability to piece together an adequate defense and avoid the slow start and frequent slumps that undermined them last season.

“I still believe this group can do damage if we make it. But we can’t have those bad stretches,” Murray said. “Hopefully our players are aware of that. We were healthy when we fell behind and then the injuries started.

“Last year, hopefully, was an eye-opener. This year, no excuses.”

And, for both local teams, no looking back.

helene.elliott@latimes.com

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