The Kings were reported to have a degree of interest in Canadiens winger Patrik Laine last month after losing Kevin Fiala to a season-ending leg injury at the Olympics. Those talks quickly fizzled out, but after another rash of injuries in L.A., they’ve demonstrated renewed interest in the former 40-goal scorer, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports.
As things stand, the Kings’ injury list has effectively derailed their chances of making the playoffs, even after swinging a trade for Artemi Panarin last month. One of their better scoring options, Andrei Kuzmenko, had surgery to repair a torn meniscus last weekend and is effectively done for the regular season. They also recently lost Joel Armia to injured reserve and are now dealing with an upper-body injury to Quinton Byfield.
That’s a third of the Kings’ regular forwards unavailable, not including Trevor Moore, who’s currently dealing with an illness. To no surprise, they’re 1-3-0 coming out of the break while only averaging 2.25 goals per game. They fired head coach Jim Hiller on Sunday and promoted associate coach D.J. Smith as the interim head coach to finish out the year, but lost 4-2 to the Avalanche in their first game under Smith last night.
As things stand, the Kings are only four points out of a playoff spot with a game in hand, but have three teams – the Predators, Sharks, and Oilers – to leapfrog in that order – to get back into the picture. The crowded field leaves them with a 27.7% chance of making the playoffs at this stage, per MoneyPuck.
Scoring isn’t just a recent problem for the Kings, though. L.A.’s offense has clicked at just 2.52 goals per game, fourth-worst in the league. Their 16.8% success rate on the power play isn’t much better at 26th out of 32 teams. Panarin has yet to score since his acquisition, but does have three assists in four games.
Still, the situation is untenable with Fiala and Kuzmenko now out long-term. That’s led general manager Ken Holland to consider a reclamation hail-mary project like Laine, who will carry little to no acquisition cost thanks to his exorbitant $8.7MM cap hit destroying most of his trade value. The Habs, in desperate need of cap flexibility to augment their roster at the trade deadline, have been trying to move him for weeks to no avail. He hasn’t played since late October due to core muscle surgery, but has been practicing in a non-contact jersey since January, so he’s on the verge of a return and could be simply held out of the lineup for trade protection at this point.
Laine was a non-factor to start the year with one assist and a -3 rating in five games. He was nonetheless an effective secondary scoring presence in a more limited role in Montreal last season despite missing nearly 30 games with a left knee sprain. He had 20 goals and 33 points in 52 games for the Habs last year. That works out to a 0.38 goals per game figure that would currently lead the Kings.
If healthy, the pending free agent could get a long leash in the Kings’ top nine and feature on their top power-play in an effort to give them enough offense to eke out a heater over the last few weeks.
They really need to pick up Sonny Milano at the deadline for a very low pick. He is a UFA next year anyway, Caps can retain salary if needed, just give them a pick and a fresh start for Sonny.
Hard pass!
As a 4th liner maybe, but even then, still a reach for me
The Kings should not be doing any of this, they should be letting the young players actually play; last night, they were the only bright spot and they hung in there against the best team in the league. Picking up scraps in a desperate attempt at a quick first round exit is stupid and unhelpful in the long run.
Agreed, but the only guys to score were 23 years old Clarke and 1st game Booth. I would take a swing at Laine if he is 100% healthy. Maybe Montreal takes salary back or Kings can give them Foegle or Moore to balance out the salary. If anything Laine will help the PP!
They will not even be in the first round. They should be sellers.
I could maybe see that being a worthwhile swing if he was under contract at a reasonable amount beyond this year but he’s not, so what’s the point of that type of move this year? They should be selling, not adding, and if they add it should be for something that moves the needle for future years. Maybe EP, if you can get him at a steep discount.
Please handcuff Holland to his couch until after the trade deadline. No more trades, play the yutes
It ain’t over till it’s over!
LA desperately needs a 1C for the future, and Laine isn’t the answer. Thomas is. But, it would cost more in return, and they probably don’t have the prospect(s) StL wants; they also have been reportedly asking for 2 1st rounders. And Thomas has a full NMC so he’d want to come to LA.
Laine hasn’t played a game since October. He’d fit right in, Roster is full of vets who aren’t producing or playing.
Horrible idea in a season full of horrible ideas for LAK
For me, it completely depends on the price. If we could get him for a bag of chips, I’d do it, because what would it hurt? At worst you get a former 40 goal scorer for a low price
They need to circle back on the overdue rebuild.
Um, no!!! This is season lost up in flames! Make this trade Holland and you might as well get your bags packed for immediate departure.
TIME TO REBUILD!!
But that’s already fcked up by trading away Greentree for a has been.
Rebuilding is not a good idea right now. Byfield, Kempe, Panarin, Laferriere, Fiala (when he was healthy), Clarke and Doughty is a legit contending core right there, alongside a goalie tandem that I’d make the case for top 5 in the league. The Kings should trade the other older players away for youth and go from there and contend right now. That’s why Holland was hired to begin with. Rebuild isn’t even an option under him right now. This dude has built stanley cup teams in the past, so why not give one last stab at it?
Sorry to say it, but Doughty is no longer a core piece. He’s lost a couple of steps and gets beat quite often, although he can still move the puck out of the zone well.
They need to make a decision on Byfield and stick with it. Is he a winger or a center? If he’s a center, he’s a 2C unless he can take that next step.
Bottom line, they are going to need a true 1C. Not sure where you find one, unless you sell the farm for Thomas or can pry Petterson away from Vancouver. Neither see likely
Agreed. The main reason I listed him is because there is no shot they move him, so he’ll be sticking around regardless. He’s extremely washed, which is sad to say, but still a former top 5 d-man
Dear Ken
Three words. DON’T DO IT
This is grasping at straws or a Hail Mary
Do you want a quick fix? Nobody’s gonna agree with me.
Go get. Magniopani. Go get Kane. And do whatever you can to get either Thomas or Pettseson.
That gets you in the playoffs
I honestly agree with Pettersson and the Mangiapane pick ups, but I’m not sure with the Kane one. Injured way to much and has locker room problems, and hasn’t been that good this year. They need to find a player like they did last year with Kuzmenko who just catches a spark at the right time and rides it to the postseason
Holland trying his best to turn a bad year into a disastrous one.