The Los Angeles Kings have been stuck in a playoff rut, losing in the first round to the Edmonton Oilers for the past three seasons.
While the Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights compete for the top spot in the Pacific Division, the third-place Kings, with 67 points, are as close to the Calgary Flames (62 points), just one point out of a wild-card spot, as they are to the Oilers (72 points), who are second in the Pacific. The Kings are also four points ahead of the Vancouver Canucks (63 points), who are in the second wild-card spot.
Regardless of whether they face the Oilers again in the first round, the Kings are under pressure to secure their playoff spot and, more importantly, advance past their first-round opponent. To improve their chances, a trade before the March 7 deadline seems likely, as doubts about Los Angeles persist.
In a sense, Drew Doughty has been like a trade acquisition. He made his season debut on January 29 after recovering from a fractured ankle. His goal and two assists on Saturday were pivotal in the Kings’ 5-3 win over the Utah Hockey Club. He even logged 31:09 of ice time on February 8 and played well for Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
But the reality is that Kings GM Rob Blake is under significant pressure to guide the team to a deeper playoff run.
Los Angeles has about $3.56 million in cap space to work with as the trade deadline approaches, and Blake should consider adding a forward.
While the Kings continue to be a strong defensive team under coach Jim Hiller, Doughty’s return provides an offensive boost from the blue line. However, the Kings’ offense remains a concern, averaging just 2.87 goals per game, ranking 19th in the NHL. Their power play is even worse, sitting at a 15.2% success rate, which ranks 29th overall.
There may be forwards available via trade who could help boost the offense without disrupting Hiller’s defensive system. Players like Rickard Rakell of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ryan Donato of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Scott Laughton of the Philadelphia Flyers, a bottom-six option, could be potential targets.
However, the Kings will have to outbid other teams interested in these players, and securing a deal may require offering a top draft pick. Blake has all three of his first-round picks over the next three years, as well as two second-round picks. Keeping all of them may not be wise at this stage in the Kings’ competitive cycle, as they are focused on going deeper into the playoffs.
Blake needs the team to overcome the Oilers or any other opponent in the first round to validate his strategy for success. If the Kings fail to break free from their playoff rut for the fourth consecutive season, serious questions will arise about the long-term plan.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Kings will be a team to watch. It’s crucial for them to show progress at some point.