Russell Morgan 
It’s deadline week. And with only a few days left until the NHL Trade Deadline on Friday, general managers are scrambling to put the finishing touches on their respective clubs. For the LA Kings, many questions are left unanswered. Mostly due to Rob Blake‘s absence from answering such questions, but also from the play on the ice.
What gaps in the lineup must the Kings fill to emerge as true contenders? Where does Brandt Clarke fit into the equation, now and in the years ahead? And who might LA pursue before the deadline buzzer sounds? With Blake offering little clarity, I’ll dive into these pressing questions myself.
Brandt Clarke
Brandt Clarke, the Kings’ highly touted prospect, has fans scratching their heads after yet another healthy scratch in St. Louis. The 2021 eighth overall pick burst onto the scene this season, stepping up admirably when Drew Doughty was sidelined.
Over his first 25 games, Clarke logged an average of 18:44 per night, racking up 16 points (3 goals, 13 assists) and a +6 rating. But the momentum has since stalled. In his next 30 games, his ice time dipped to 14:16, and his production fell to nine points (1 goal, 8 assists).
Now, with Clarke watching from the press box more often, trade rumors are swirling around the young defenseman. I’m not buying into the chatter, though. Clarke’s potential is too bright to ship him out. Yes, Drew Doughty’s presence complicates the blue line, especially with Vladislav Gavrikov excelling on the right and Jordan Spence rounding into form. But trading Clarke would be a short-sighted move when the Kings should be thinking big-picture.
Positional Needs
Scoring winger
The Kings’ need for a top-six winger who can put the puck in the net is glaring. Coach Jim Hiller’s constant line juggling has reached a breaking point. It’s not just the fourth line getting shuffled in his 11/7 setup— the spot beside Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe has turned into a carousel.
Per Evolving Hockey, six different players have logged over 40 minutes of 5v5 ice time with Kopitar and Kempe. That’s unsustainable. Championship teams don’t play musical chairs with their top line. If this persists into the playoffs, it’s hard to imagine fans feeling confident—or the Kings hoisting the Cup.
Depth center
The LA Kings’ loyalty to Trevor Lewis is starting to backfire. Lewis has been a warrior for the franchise, but his current role isn’t working. Among players with 300+ minutes, he ranks dead last on the team in 5v5 relative expected goals percentage (-9.4%), per Money Puck. The Kings boast a 57.5% expected goals share with him off the ice, but that drops to 48.1% when he’s on. Tanner Jeannot, acquired for a 2nd and 4th-round pick last draft, hasn’t fared much better in the depth role either.
A new depth center isn’t a make-or-break need—fourth-liners don’t typically win playoff series—but it’d be a boost. Especially in the faceoff dot, where Lewis, the lone right-shot center, sits below 50% on draws.
Backup goalie
Just watch the highlights of Saturday’s game against St. Louis. That tells the story. For a team that should be striving for home-ice advantage in round one of the playoffs, there needs to be a reliable back up option. And right now it’s not Rittich.
Over his last eight starts, Rittich is 2-4-2 with a 3.06 goals against average and .886 save percentage. Darcy Kuemper has been steady as the starter, but overworking him risks injury or fatigue by April. A dependable No. 2 is a must.
Top Targets
Alex Tuch
Alex Tuch, a right-shot forward from Buffalo, screams “LA Kings player.” Big, versatile, and productive, Tuch has 46 points (22 goals, 24 assists) in 58 games this season. With one year left at $4.75 million, he’d slot perfectly next to Kopitar and Kempe. Word is the Kings have interest, but the Sabres aren’t eager to part with their hometown star. It’d take a steep price to pry him loose.
Rickard Rakell
The Pittsburgh Penguins are quickly approaching rebuild territory. And one of the names to watch out for is another scoring winger in Rickard Rakell. I was impressed with his play at the 4 Nations tournament for Sweden. He was strong along the boards, created multiple scoring chances, and didn’t seem to shy away from the big moment.
Rakell would be a more long-term option for LA. With three more years left on his deal at a cap hit of $5 million, he could fill a void in the top six at a lower cost than other big names available with Pittsburgh looking to rebuild soon.
Brock Boeser
I’m wary of rentals for the Kings, but Brock Boeser might be an exception. The 28-year-old has 18 goals in 53 games this year after a 40-goal season in 2023-24. If LA goes this route, I’d want an extension in place—otherwise, it’s a dicey bet on a pending UFA.
Jake Evans
Among the names I previously mentioned, Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans tops my list of targets. While I consider trade targets like Boeser and Tuch as luxuries, Evans to me is a necessity. First of all, he’s relatively cheap with Montreal reportedly asking for a second round pick in return. And he fits a desperate need for the Kings.
The only two centers on the Kings with a plus 50% faceoff win rate are both lefties in Kopitar and Danault. Evans is 52.4% in the circle with 422 of those draws coming in the defensive zone, more than any Kings player.
Having a reliable right-handed center who can kill penalties alleviating Kopitar of such duties is of vital importance for LA.
With the clock ticking, the LA Kings need to act decisively. The pieces are there for a contender, but the gaps—on the wing, down the middle, and in net—could derail their postseason dreams if left unaddressed.
Featured Image Credit: Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images
get quick from the rangers and trade byfield to buffalo
Wrong on both counts…
Negative playoffless in the Buf
I won’t even watch the Kings play if Rittich is in goal! He has very poor judgement (jump in front of the net to grab the puck just not quite far enough…go behind the net and throw the puck in front. Thank God that Kopi was there too. And so many others. In only two games. He seems lazy. He doesn’t move with any speed like a guy trying to get fired so he can collect unemployment.
I won’t even watch the Kings play if Rittich is in goal! He has very poor judgement (jump in front of the net to grab the puck just not quite far enough…go behind the net and throws the puck in front. Thank God that Kopi was there too. And so many others. In only two games. He seems lazy. He doesn’t move with any speed like a guy trying to get fired so he can collect unemployment.
Why not Smith from the Blackhawks, and McCarron and Sissions from Nash? It will give us two right handed scorers and one new tuff guy to go with Jennot.
Can’t even watch this heartless, leaderless group. Hiller must go. Dress Spence, Movarre, Edmundson but scratch the most talented defenseman Clarke. Trevor Lewis is USELESS. Another 1st round elimination coming. Boring heartless hockey. Getting schooled NY a horrible Blackhawk team. #fireblake
Thank you for our loyalty to our franchise Ron! We internally at the Kings value what our die-hard fans believe and think. We currently have a survey up on our website for fans to take, so we can get their opinion for how we operate on the deadline. Ron, you seem like you know Hockey! Who should we trade for?
Jordan Spence makes a lot of turnovers in crucial moments. Trevor moor is not playing to his potential. The Kings need to trade more and Spence.
Hiller as a coach is like watching paint dry. The Kings are going to screw up Clarke and make him have absolutely no confidence in himself. Time to blow it up and trade Byfield, Moore, Spence, and possibly Fiala to get guys like Boeser, Pettersson, and/or Tuch. If housecleaning is not attempted the Kings will yet again lose to the Oilers in the first round.
Trading Vilardi, Kupari, Durzi, and Iafallo for effectively Darcy Kuemper is enough to get a GM fired, similar to not signing Saquon to save 2 million dollars and to be re-upped with Mara.
I like Hiller. The Kings need a good second goalie. Retire Lewis. Put a good sized scoring line mate for Kopi and Kempe. The Kings need confidence, good changes will help this problem.
Thank you for our loyalty to our franchise Ron! We internally at the Kings value what our die-hard fans believe and think. We currently have a survey up on our website for fans to take, so we can get their opinion for how we operate on the deadline. Ron, you seem like you know Hockey! Who should we trade for?
I’d trade Spence, Moore and possibly a second or third round pick. Jannot is great. Trever Lewis is done. Why are we still loyal to Lewis but weren’t with Quick? Foegele was the best move Blake made in years after the debacle trade to get PLD. I’d like tuch or Boeser or Byrum