Luke Platt 
Photo Credit: USA Today Sports
With the recent inexcusable loss of Kale Clague on waivers, the question has to be asked: What is the standard to be a King?
The LA Kings have quite a few players who have struggled. Yet, it seems like many of them have acquired tenure despite their level of play.
Let’s start with Olli Maatta. The veteran defenseman was brought in a year ago to add depth, but he has had a hard time fitting in with the Kings. During his time in LA, Maatta has tallied just six assists in 56 games, and he has also posted a -12 rating to go along with it. And yet, he remains part of the roster.
On the other hand, Kale Clague is still a young defenseman at only 23 years old with tons of upside. He tallied 5 assists in 11 games with the Kings this year and helped stabilize the blue line when both Doughty and Walker were lost to injury.Â
This, however, didn’t stop Clague from being put on waivers, and he was eventually claimed by the Montreal Canadiens. The Kings’ former second-round pick, who they put five years into developing, was lost for nothing.
To state it mildly, putting Clague on waivers instead of Maatta made absolutely no sense, but this isn’t the first time the organization has done things that made people question how the team is being managed.Â
One such example occurred last year when Todd McLellan kept sending out Kurtis MacDermid on a consistent basis even though all of the numbers showed the Kings were far and away a better team when he sat.Â
Another head-scratching decision is the fact that Trevor Moore is still in the lineup this year. The local player out of Thousand Oaks, CA quickly built up a fan base after the Kings acquired him.
He also had a fantastic year on the ice last season for the Kings, tallying 10 goals to go along with 13 assists in 56 games. These are solid numbers for a third-line forward, but that was last year.
This season, Moore has struggled to keep up the consistency he previously demonstrated. He has just 1 goal and 1 assist. That means he is on pace for 8 points in an 82 game season, yet the Kings seem reluctant to give anyone else a shot.
They appear to have a completely different set of standards for players like Olli Mattaa and Trevor Moore than they do for players like Martin Frk, Gabe Vilardi, and now former King Kale Clague.
Speaking of Frk, he is currently with the Ontario Reign and has totaled 10 goals and 12 assists in just 17 games. He would be a logical call-up for a team that continues to struggle with goal scoring.Â
You could even make a case for Alex Turcotte to be called up. Although he was recently out of the Reign’s lineup due to an injury, when he is healthy, we need to see what he can bring at the NHL level. Instead, he still has not seen NHL game action despite being the fifth overall selection in the 2019 draft, which was two and a half years ago.Â
The standard to be a King needs to be based on a consistently high level of play from each member on the roster. If this isn’t the goal every night, then the organization is not taking the steps necessary to become a legitimate playoff team.
Homestand Woes, Clague Headed For Waivers, Panthers, and Other LA Kings Bullets
I’m not convinced that you know better than Blake. This seemed more like a rant than an analysis. If Clague can’t make one of the worst teams in the league, he is probably going nowhere. If Blake couldn’t make some kind of deal before putting him on waivers, what does that say about his talent. Even Montreal was content to let the teams in front of them claim Clague. All Kings fans are frustrated that the rebuild is not going faster, but I doubt that Clague lost on waivers is an indicator of deep problems.
O think your assessment is a bit harsh. Clague has had a few stints with the Kings and really didn’t seem that he had a future with the Kings. A glut of D men on the left side not enough on the right. The Kings feel comfortable with the addition of Durzi and the re-acquisition of Wolanin to the Reign roster… maybe they could’ve tried to trade him but, for what, a piece that has no chance to make the team. Ollie Maatta adds a veteran presence which, for the kids, is a good situation. I wish Kale well in Montreal.
Awesome & necessary shot across the bow!
Matta, who has been consistently the worst D-man the kings have iced, (statistically proven) has continually been given ice time over others who have out played him. Calling out a GM who loses a 23 yr old asset for nothing when sending Matta down would have enabled the team to keep them both is beyond a head scratcher, (even if you didn’t plan to resign Clauge in the off season) screams incompetence, & places another weighty debit onto the scales of this irriteration of Kings management!
Additionally, it begs further examination of these other questionable moves, the current dismal play of the parent club, & the regression of some of thier highest draft picks!
It also sucks to be a fan of a team who continually shoots themselves in the foot while supplying ample ammunition to remain a laughing stock of a franchise. Maybe, just maybe, this move will be a blessing for Clauge as we Kings fans once again watch a former player have success on another team! Color me formally disgusted!
This doesn’t read like a rant to me. Why would you willingly waive a 2nd round pick who is still only 23 instead of Maatta who is currently making $4 mill and riding the pine most nights. Head scratcher for sure. Clague did not look out of place this year. Fans do not get the luxury of seeing what goes on behind closed doors, but I would really like to get Blake’s rationale on this one.