Los Angeles Kings trade rumors: Goal scoring on the deadline agenda
The Kings need goal scoring ... again. Can they get it -- again -- at the deadline?
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It's trade deadline time and the Los Angeles Kings are a great defensive team that dominates puck possession, but they have one large flaw that could waste all of it.
They can’t score.
Sound familiar? It should, because that's exactly what they were going through two years ago when general manager Dean Lombardi completed a blockbuster trade to acquire Jeff Carter from the Columbus Blue Jackets for defenseman Jack Johnson. After that trade the Kings offense took off, they were one of the best teams in the league, and they steamrolled their way through the playoffs to their first ever Stanley Cup win.
Maybe it doesn't need to be an addition as big as Jeff Carter, but the Kings need to find a way to get some offense. It probably isn't going to come from within, unless captain Dustin Brown has a huge post-Olympic offensive surge.
Will Sam Gagner talks heat back up?
The one name that was connected to the Kings the most prior to the Olympic break was Edmonton Oilers forward Sam Gagner. Things even got to the point where we heard of a potential name going back in return the other way in Kyle Clifford. Those talks, however, seem to have cooled in recent weeks. Gagner wouldn't have made the same type of impact Carter did a couple of years ago, but he's a skilled forward that could help fix a power play unit that has been one of the worst in the NHL this season.
Given that they have cap space and a clear need for offense, the Kings seem like a team that might have at least a passing interest in one of Thomas Vanek or Matt Moulson. Moulson would be an interesting addition if for no other reason than the fact they once already had him in their organization, but they let him go before he signed with the New York Islanders and turned into a consistent 30-goal scorer. Moulson does one thing well: goes to the front of the net and scores a bunch of garbage goals in the dirty areas. Fortunately, if you're only going to do one thing well, that's a pretty good skill to have.
Interest in Andrew MacDonald?
While the Kings No. 1 target would seem to be somebody -- anybody, really -- that can put the puck in the net, there was an Andrew MacDonald rumor that surfaced recently to add some depth on the blue line. It seems that the Islanders are asking a pretty high price for MacDonald and he wouldn't really satisfy for a primary need for the Kings so it's hard to see there being much of a match there. But then again, the Kings did make a similar move last year when they went out and acquired Robyn Regehr from the Buffalo Sabres.
