The Los Angeles Kings face a pivotal offseason following the appointment of Peter Laviolette as their new head coach. General Manager Ken Holland has a significant task ahead, including the critical need for at least one more top-six center and addressing the uncertainty at the third-line center position. While Scott Laughlin could return, a void still needs to be filled.
Questions also loom regarding potential reconfigurations of the defense corps and the goaltending situation. However, as “The Mayor” Jon Hoven highlighted on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio’s TFP Hotstove, the team’s defensive backend, particularly the future of Drew Doughty, is a major concern with far-reaching implications.
Dave Pagnotta inquired about roster priorities, asking if securing a first or second-line center was paramount. Hoven emphasized that the situation with Drew Doughty is a primary issue, currently flying under the national radar, yet it profoundly impacts all other upcoming decisions.
Doughty’s presence in Los Angeles or his potential departure significantly affects the salary cap. With a $11 million cap hit next season, his future directly influences how that salary cap space can be utilized. This decision also ties into the team’s captaincy for the upcoming year, especially following Anze Kopitar’s retirement.
Furthermore, the distribution of ice time is a crucial factor. With Brandt Clarke’s emergence, Hoven suggested that conversations between Holland and Laviolette should ideally address increased ice time for Clarke. The question then becomes how this impacts Doughty’s role.
Doughty desires an extension and wishes to continue his career with the Kings for another three to four years. This would necessitate a reduced role and a lower salary. If this prospect isn’t appealing to Doughty, entering training camp without a contract extension would be an untenable situation for the Kings. The franchise is actively looking to transition beyond the Cup-winning era and the Anze Kopitar years, evidenced by the hiring of Peter Laviolette. This coaching change signifies a move away from the team’s traditional defensive-first identity, signaling a different team identity moving forward. The exact form this new identity will take remains to be seen over the next month.
The decision regarding Doughty is foundational, influencing their ability to pursue a center due to the cap implications. Following closely behind this, at 1b, is the need to address the center position. The Kings possess limited assets – a couple of first-round picks and a young goaltending prospect – making it challenging to execute significant trades.
Consequently, Ken Holland will need to exhibit considerable creativity to fill all roster needs and implement desired team changes.
NHLRumors.com Note: Given Laviolette’s desired style of play, could this open the door for the Kings to pursue a player like Vincent Trocheck? Might they explore re-acquiring Vladislav Gavrikov? The team’s asset pool is shallow for such moves. It’s noteworthy that players who were instrumental during championship runs could be on the move. Hockey is a business, and Drew Doughty is no longer the player he once was. Therefore, the decision made about him will significantly shape the team’s future actions.
