Los Angeles Kings: Offseason Shakeup Looming
Teams seek new players following Oilers series defeat by monarchs in playoffs
The Los Angeles Kings suffered yet another first-round defeat at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In what's become a frustrating pattern, the Kings have now lost to Edmonton in the opening round four years in a row. With the departure of General Manager Rob Blake, changes are on the horizon for the Kings in the offseason.
The Kings have made the playoffs six times since their 2014 Stanley Cup win, but they've never managed to progress beyond the first round during this period. The elite talent from the team's pipeline seems to have been exhausted, putting pressure on the new GM to revitalize the roster.
So, who might the Kings trade this offseason, and what should they be aiming for in return?
Shaking Up the Core: Kempe on the Move?
Adrian Kempe is nearing the end of a contract that sees him earn $5.5 million. The Kings have garnered some impressive seasons from Kempe, including three 35-goal campaigns in the last four years. However, his impending contract negotiation might see the Kings consider trading him for a high return if a new general manager takes over.
Kempe possesses a modified no-trade clause, but with 21 teams not on his list, multiple teams could be eager to improve by adding Kempe. A trade could significantly boost the Kings' prospect pipeline and free up cap space, making it a tough sell for fans and ownership, but potentially necessary, given Kempe's likely demands for a big pay raise post-contract.
Rejuvenating the Roster: Danault's Departure?
The Kings picked up Phillip Danault from the Montreal Canadiens as an unrestricted free agent ahead of the 2021-22 season. Despite solid defensive play, Danault's lack of scoring hurt the team toward the end of the season, and he failed to deliver the elite defensive play they anticipated in the playoffs against the Oilers. The new Kings GM may opt to trade Danault to secure assets for future use.
This hinges on whether the new GM is committed to a mini-rebuild, as the Kings have promising young players like Quinton Byfield, Brandt Clarke, and Mieky Anderson who could be part of the core moving forward. If Danault is to be traded, the Kings would have to navigate his ten-team no-trade list, making the deal more challenging, but possibly achievable for a solid defensive center with team control.
Assessing the Defense: Edmundson's Exit?
The Kings signed defenseman Joel Edmundson to a four-year deal worth $3.85 million per year last offseason. As the salary cap increases, this contract becomes less burdensome. However, at 31 years old, Edmundson is unlikely to be a significant positive influence over the next few years.
If the new general manager embraces a rebuild, they may consider trading Edmundson this offseason, especially if they manage to retain Valdislav Gavrikov, who is a better option as a stay-at-home defenseman. If Marc Bergevin, who was an advisor with LA last summer, is appointed as the new general manager, there may be reservations about trading Edmundson, as Bergevin was the one who signed him with the Canadiens.
A forward-thinking general manager could make the Kings significant players in the offseason trade market, with the potential to trade players to buy or sell, and ultimately refresh the roster to stand a chance in the playoffs.
- In the upcoming offseason, the Los Angeles Kings may trade Adrian Kempe, considering his high salary and the potential for a new general manager to seek a high return.
- The Kings could trade Phillip Danault to secure assets for future use, as his lack of scoring and defensive play during the playoffs affected the team's performance.
- The Kings' defenseman Joel Edmundson's contract becomes less burdensome with the increasing salary cap, but his age might make him a candidate for trade if a rebuild is embraced by the new general manager.
- The Kings' prospectpipeline could be boosted significantly if Kempe, Danault, or Edmundson are traded, freeing up cap space for the new general manager to rejuvenate the roster.
- The new general manager has the opportunity to make the Kings significant players in the offseason trade market, aiming to refresh the roster and stand a chance in the NHL playoffs.
