With the Olympics over (Congrats Canada!) the trade freeze has no officially lifted and teams are able to wheel and deal. The deadline is just 9 days away, coming up on Wednesday March 5th.
The Kings were one of the more actively talked about teams right before the deadline, and with the team struggling heading into the break it's no question why they were. Numerous names have been tossed around the twitterverse and blogosphere (For the record I feel like a complete tool using both those words, let alone in the same sentence.) and I'll try to sum up as many as I can.
As far as what it will take to get said players, I'll leave that portion out. I hate projecting on things like that and it's always risky to throw player XYZ's name into the mix haphazardly. So let's break down some of the rumored players out there and ones tied with the Kings in the recent weeks/months.
Sam Gagner, Edmonton Oilers, C/W
Gagner has been the big one, and one that picked up a ton of steam right before the deadline. Where there is smoke there's fire, and A LOT of mainstream media members ala Bob MacKenzie picked this one up. Who knows how it came about exactly but for a while it seemed like the Kings and Oilers were going to be dealing before the trade freeze. Apparently the trade reportedly hinged up at some point which prevented it from going through.
When you look at it overall, Gagner would be a decent addition to the Kings roster. He is an offensively oriented forward who can play both wing and center. However, he has struggled with Edmonton playing the former. A lot of critics like to point out two things with Sam though: His contract and his point totals. It is true, Gagner is extremely expensive given he has never cracked 50 points or 20 goals in the NHL.
Gagner is making $4.8 a season through 2015-16. That's a hefty price tag for someone who is just a shade over a point-per-game pace in their career. He is however just 24-years old which continues to surprise the hell out of me. Currently on his seventh season in the league at just 24, going on 25. In a winning culture with the proper development Gagner still has a lot of hockey left to play and the prime of his career still ahead of him.
Ales Hemsky, RW, Edmonton Oilers
Another name that has been linked to the Kings (and every other team in the league for that matter) is right winger Ales Hemsky. He is no doubt a skilled player, having posted multiple 50-plus point seasons which included two in the 70's. The detractor with Hemsky, as always, is his health. He has never played an entirely healthy season. In fact, Hemsky has missed AT LEAST 10 games in each of his last six seasons due to injuries. He also comes with a hefty price tag of $5 million a season, and will be a rental considering his UFA status at the end of the season. At 30-years old you have to wonder how much is left in the tank.
He has been hampered with a bad Shoulder since 06-07 and the biggest concern I see with Hemsky is how he fits into a physical LA Kings system. Also, when you look at the style of player he is, primarily a playmaker, it's hard to imagine he could find the same sort of offense here as he has in Edmonton. Putting Hemsky in the top six with LA would pair him up with the following. Richards and Carter, or Brown and Kopitar. With both Richards and Kopitar both already owning the roles of puck distributors on that line, it's hard to see what Hemsky could bring to the table in terms of lamp lighting. Mind you, he has only scored over 20 goals ONCE in his career back in 08-09 with 23. The majority of his points have come on assists and his goal totals generally hover in the mid teens. To me personally, it wouldn't make sense.
Thomas Vanek, LW, New York Islanders
Seemingly the hot commodity these days around the NHL, Vanek has already moved once this season from Buffalo to the Island. He is a pure goal scorer, no question, and two years of 40-plus and two years of 30-plus goals speak to that. He also just turned 30 so he is by no means outside of his prime. Looking at where Vanek would slot in with the Kings, he is for sure a top line left option. The Kings could roll out with Vanek and Carter as the 1-2 LWs, or heck have a top line of Vanek-Kopitar-Carter. Doesn't that sound appealing? The Austrian does have his faults though. He isn't considered a defensively gifted forward by any stretch of the imagination, nor is he noted for his effort level in a lot of instances. No matter where Vanek has gone or how good of a year he is having, he has notably vanished for long stretches of time. How he would mesh with Darryl Sutter is definitely a question mark.
There is also the return and the cost of Vanek. He will be a rental for the remained of the season, and an expensive one at that no matter how you slice it. He is making 5.75 on the season and it was reported by The Fourth Period that Snow wants a royal bounty for the rental forward. Considering Vanek has also stated he wants to pursue free agency this summer it's hard to imagine any team being that desperate as to give in to such high demands. Snow is in no position to bargain and if the asking price remains that high he will be a summer signing for someone. Question is are the Kings that desperate?
Dan Girardi, D, New York Rangers
Girardi is a dream name to throw out there in all honesty. If the Rangers do move the solid two-way defenseman, it would likely be out West so they don't have to deal with improving a team they may meet in the playoffs. However, there is the possibility still that the Rangers opt to sign him. Currently the team is struggling to find a way to make both captain Ryan Callahan and Girardi fit under the cap. It may look like they can, but when you notice that Brassard, Zucarrello, and Kreider are all up for resigning with Staal, Hagelin, and Stepan following shortly thereafter, it seems impossible.
Girardi is a bread and butter defenseman. He can move the puck out of his zone, play well in his own zone, and settle a pairing down quite well. He plays a ton of minutes for NYR and would be the perfect partner for Drew Doughty. One problem: Doughty is a right shot, Girardi is a right shot. Balance is something a lot of teams are aiming to get these days in their pairings, and if the Kings are dead set on going with a right-left balance down the lineup Doughty will remain without a partner even if Girardi is a King. It wouldn't be a bad thing to have Girardi as a second pairing defenseman, but the problem this season has seemingly been finding Doughty a partner. Although a Muzzin/Girardi pairing might be reminiscent of the Mitchell/Voynov and or Scuderi/Doughty pairings which worked so well for each of the young defenseman.
Ryan Callahan, RW, New York Rangers
This one might be a bit of a reach, but he does have many of the qualities that the Kings would desire. He has had numbers similar to Dustin Brown in his career, regularly being around a 20-30 player. At 28 he is still in his prime and could contribute right now. The cost would be pretty significant though no doubt. Callahan could easily fit into the Kings top-6 and would adjust to the system well. It's hard to gauge how much scoring he could contribute, but good players make it work and Callahan is a good player. He is a UFA at the end of this season making 4.275 a season.
Michael Grabner, RW, New York Islanders
Another player mentioned in the Fourth Period post was Michael Grabner. The Austrian broke out in 2010-11 with the Islanders potting an unprecedented 34 goals in his rookie season. Since then he has slowed down a touch but still seems to be a guaranteed bet on at least 25-30 goals a year. He is only 26 and comes at an extremely affordable price tag of $3 million a season. Did I also mention he has blistering speed and an extremely high shooting percentage as well? He can also kill penalties and play on the powerplay. Honestly, I don't see why the Islanders would be willing to move such a valuable and young piece, but if the price is right he makes sense in the Kings top-6/9. If he is actually available by himself and not packaged with the likes of Andrew MacDonald or Thomas Vanek though is the real question.
Christian Ehrhoff, D, Buffalo Sabres
This one struck me as an interesting move simply because of the background and because he is a left shooting defenseman who can play top minutes. First off, don't let the -10 rating on this season fool you, Ehrhoff can play very well in his own zone. He is also a big minute eater, playing between 23-28 minutes a night on any given night. He is a left shot, which pairs up with Drew Doughty quite nicely for the right-left balance. At 31 years old he's not young, but he's not old for a defenseman. He is also making a decently affordable $4 mil a season, however that contract stretches all the way to 2020-21 AND has a no movement clause. That alone could be a deal breaker. However, Lombardi drafted Ehrhoff in the fourth round of 2001 and GM's love to stand by their selections (typical Lombardi late round steal....).
Will Buffalo move him though? and with a NMC will Ehrhoff want to go? Buffalo have a number of young defenseman that aren't in the NHL or are just breaking in. Ristolainen, Zadorov, Pysyk, McNabb, and Jake McCabe (NCAA), are all highly rated defensive prospects just beginning the next steps of their careers. Ehrhoff's days are potentially numbered I would say. Could Lombardi go back to an old stand-by in the German?
Matt Moulson, LW, Buffalo Sabres
Wouldn't it be a coming full circle sort of thing for Moulson if he were to return to L.A? After all it is the team that gave him his first taste of the NHL. Not to mention his sister and brother-in-law (Jonathan Quick) are here. He's a left wing, and can score. Doesn't it just seem right? He is a rental so to speak with his contract expiring at the end of the year, and is making 3.1 million. That total will likely be in for a raise next season, but I don't know...if he is hypothetically traded to the Kings and does well I see the likelihood of an extension to be pretty strong. He's 30-years old and has had no problem finding the net with back-to-back-to-back 30 goal seasons out on Long Island. He did recently miss time with a lower body injury, but I don't believe it's anything significant enough to derail his being moved out of Buffalo. Kings have also dealt with the Sabres in the past for Robyn Regehr...so the lines have historically been open in recent history.
Drew Stafford, RW, Buffalo Sabres
Stafford has been linked to the Kings since his name popped up last year when the two were dealing on Robyn Regehr. The Sabres tossed a decent sized contract at him after he had a smashing 30-goal year back in 2010-11 and he has struggled since. He's a big bodied, gritty winger, but also has flashes of a goal scorers touch. He can be tremendously hot and cold though, which has become his modus operandi. Buffalo is having a fire sale also, gearing everything towards the future. Stafford is 28 and making $4 million a season until 2015-16, so seeing them part with the lifelong Sabre isn't out of the question. It might be the right time to sell on Stafford as well. While his early season struggles were evident he was white hot heading into the Olympics with six goals and nine points in the last seven games.
Mike Cammalleri, C/W, Calgary Flames
Like Moulson, Cammalleri has the former King card going on and he is also a scoring winger/center that can fit into the Kings top-6. He hasn't been as productive in the last couple of seasons though and has struggled to live up to a hefty price tag of $6 million a season. As a rental it's hard to know if the Kings are willing to shed salary to take a chance on him. It would be that feel good story no doubt for him to return to the Kings and head into the post season with the team that drafted him. A team that he was never able to play in the post season with. However, it seems unlikely even though the Kings have been linked to the 31-year old. Especially when you notice the downward trend in his productivity the last several seasons. Since 2008-09 he has been in a steady decline.
Other Notables
Andre Markov, D, Montreal - Doubt the Canadiens move him, but the name has been out there Max Pacioretty, RW, Montreal - Same as Markov. Why would they move him? Andrew MacDonald, D, NYI - Not sure how he fits into the Kings defense with Martinez being a better option overall anyways. Mark Giordano, D, Calgary - Not sure I see them moving their captain on, what with the little defense they have already. Lee Stempnaik, RW, Calgary - Linked to the Kings, but not entirely sure he is a big answer for goal scoring. Henrik Tallinder, D, Buffalo - Not the worst option for a rental I suppose, but not even close to the best. Tomas Fleischmann, LW, Florida - Brought up by user northernKing in the comment section. Good addition to the list.
Mind you, these are just rumors as always. Some are probably closer to true than others. Some are probably way off base. One thing for sure it will all become much clearer once we hit the days before the deadline. Or it becomes way murkier. That's why the deadline is usually pretty fun.
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