The Los Angeles Kings are in third place. That’s not something anyone expected to read this season, but after winning their last six in a row, the Kings look to not only be in contention for a playoff spot but perhaps even the West Division crown. They sit just two points behind the division-leading Vegas Golden Knights and one behind the St. Louis Blues, though all three teams have different amounts of games played. Los Angeles GM Rob Blake is starting to see the payoff from the incredible prospect pool he has accumulated, with players like Gabriel Vilardi, Jaret Anderson-Dolan, and Mikey Anderson all making strong contributions this season.
Now, perhaps with an eye on the future and the present, Blake is ready to add. From Darren Dreger on TSN’s latest Insider Trading:
Rob Blake of the Los Angeles Kings is another one looking for a defenseman…25-and-under, he specifically wants a dynamic, left-shot defenseman. When you look at the Los Angeles Kings they do have an abundance of forwards, particularly at center ice. I’m reminded of the big trade that involved the Columbus Blue Jackets a few years back and the Nashville Predators. Ryan Johansen for Seth Jones. If something like that could be worked out for Rob Blake and the LA Kings, he’d do that in a heartbeat.
Taking out the obvious note that anyone would do Jones for Johansen right now if they were the one getting the defenseman, Dreger seems to be implying that Blake isn’t just looking for a depth defenseman to fill out the roster. Instead, the Kings may be looking for a more impact name and be willing to move another high-potential forward in the process. Remember at the time of the deal, Johansen was coming off a 71-point season with the Blue Jackets and had 26 through the first 38 games in 2015-16.
Interestingly, another young Nashville defenseman has been in the rumor mill lately, as Dante Fabbro was not ruled an untouchable. The 22-year-old is a right-shot though, so perhaps that wouldn’t be on the radar for Blake in Los Angeles. His teammate Mattias Ekholm shoots left but doesn’t fit into the 25-and-under club, meaning he’s probably off the list too.
Dynamic young defensemen aren’t on the block often, so Blake may be waiting a while. What this does signal though is that the time for a tear down may be behind the Kings as they look to compete instead of rebuild.
Can we agree that anything written by Dreger should be, if in fact we will be making future posts from the TSN analyst and trade breaker, paraphrased and put more succinctly? I am reminded of all his appearances where he decides, and there is no question about it, that being wordy is the appropriate, if not necessary way, to perhaps discussing all matters pertaining to the National Hockey League as it relates to hockey matters.
@Down with OBP – The problem with that is the time it would take Gavin, Brian, Zach and Holger to get articles posted. And, the paraphrasing would be subjective, so Gavin’s take could be different than Brian’s, etc. Readers here would be left with questions about seemingly missing information. So, the lowest common denominator would be just posting the link to Dreger’s (or anybody’s) original column. And, naturally, if you do it for Dregs’ stuff, then everybody else would have to be treated the same, meaning more jumps to here and there to finish getting the info.
^ kind of, if not exactly, like this?
Summarizing sounds hard.
And to be clear – my issue is not with the site. It’s with Dreger because he really needs to be filtered down.
@Down with OBP – The answer is not to restrict Dreger, but for you to find the info elsewhere. Personally, I revile Farber, Haggerty & Brooks, and if they are on a podcast or live stream, I will immediately switch to something else. That’s the right way to “filter.” Just go to a better info source.
Make a massive trade for dahlin and eichel. Let’s make that push with our draft capital.
@Tatsumaki – I thought you wanted the Kings to get better! :)
Top young defensemen that fit under 25 and elite
1. Hughes
2. Sergachev
3. Werenski
4. Bean
a little soon to call Bean elite imo
Makar, Chabot & Miro belong on top of that list.
Eaton these are of those that might be available. Not in terms of talent. There’s no way makar gets delt
I’d much sooner have provorov on that list than bean. Bean has talent but in no way is elite at this point. Makar should be right there with Hughes. And as Eaton mentioned chabot and heiskenen easily usurp bean and werenski.
I recall an article in the off-season where someone suggested the LAK sign Sergachev to an offer sheet. It made a lot of sense then, even more so now….
Are you not listening? None of the players you mentioned would be delt. Hence when I mentioned ones with teams struggling left handed and under 25
Kings get Tony DeAngelo and the 2nd round pick we gave up for Lias Andersson. Rangers get Daniel Brickley and the rest of Dion’s Phaneuf’s contract.
Rangers can’t take on money.
Is deangelo right handed?
Oops, never mind.
Going to be hard considering they already used that 2nd round pick.
I know dunn isnt dynamic or elite, but hes pretty good and left handed, maybe the blues could figure something out with the kings. Maybe a young forward or draft picks
Don’t the blues have a bunch of defenders on IR?
Just gunnarsson. Parayko is day to day. Once hes back they are healthy minus there 7th dman gunnarsson. They brought up mikkola and have walman as a potential 7th if dunn was traded. Then peronivich next year. Just a thought since they were trying to trade him so badly earlier in the season.
We’re gonna have to move some $ some how with Tarasenko coming back…
Yeah for sure. Another reason I think they trade dunn for pick or picks. Mikkola makes the minimum. Gunarson and barbe LTIR helps alittle, and a retroactive bozak placement would help too depending on when hes due back.
Man in the last two days we have 2 posts with the Canucks wanting a good young forward and the kings wanting a dynamic defenseman. Join the club, I’m pretty sure this is on every teams wishlist. Tomorrow, the oilers want a young, elite goaltender…
@backhandinbaptist – Or, *any* elite goaltender…like a Kuemper, for instance?
I’d take kuemper! Kudos to smith he has played pretty well, but I just can’t see him and koskinen sustaining any kind of playoff success with Smith being nearly 40 and koskinen at best a 1B option and at worst an average backup.
Just let Toby play.
I don’t see this happening anytime soon with the expansion draft around the corner. Probably an offseason move if it happens at all.
How far is Claque away from being permanently in the NHL?
Gostisbehere
Hughes sounds amazing for the right price
Call Jarmo and get Zach Werenski. Give up a couple of promising centers. Win-win.