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LA Kings Mid Season Change Up Check In

Los Angeles Reporters Finally Find GM Wolf

2/17/2022 • JL Wolf

Now that we're a little past the midway point of the season, and GM Wolf has had some time to reflect on the changes to the roster, let's check in with the additions, subtractions, and most unfortunate of all, the injuries.

Since the Kings playoff run was cut short by the Sharks last season, the team has made some sweeping changes throughout the lineup. Only the defensive corps remains (largely) intact. Let's see what happened.

In Out Via

Max Pacioretty, Johnathon Bernier, Garnet Hathaway, SEA 4th	Zion Nybeck, 21 4th, 22 1st, 22 2nd, Mike Smith, Cody Eakins, Matt Robson	Trade(SEA)	When it became clear that Seattle would be selecting Mike Smith, we opted to leverage the loss to pick up a suitable back up goalie and a top flight scoring winger in Patches, as well as a strong depth player in Hathaway to replace Eakins (and his 3.95m x4 deal)
Nikolaj Ehlers, Alex Newhook	Ryan Nugent Hopkins, Oliver Wahlstrom	Trade(COL)	Talent for talent, a pure hockey trade. As much as we hate to say goodbye to one of our favourite young wingers, you can't expect to bring in a brilliant skater like Nik Ehlers without giving up some serious value
Pierre-Luc Dubois	John Marino	Trade(BOS)	Another hockey trade, the Kings send away one of the true diamond-in-the-rough dmen developped over the last few years to bring in a big bodied centre to back up Sid. PLD is having a fantastic NHL season, which bodes well for our future.
Brayden Schenn, Connor Ingram	Justin Braun, Ryan Merkley	Trade(DET)	We'd planned on bringing Brayden back after he stepped into free agency, but on the open market, it looked like we'd said our last goodbyes. Luckily, the Wings GM was willing to make a move for the future in picking up young stud puck mover Ryan Merkley to retain half of Schenn's contract.
Haydn Fleury	Trevor Moore	Trade(PIT)	The first of a few trades brought on by untimely injuries to key defensemen, the Kings had to scramble when Dougie Hamilton went down for ~30 games. Lucky for PIT GM Larin, it looks like Moore will turn out to be a solid middle 6 winger, while Haydn Fleury is struggling to stay in the Seattle lineup.
Nick Jensen	John Leonard, BOS 4, LAK 4, Cash	Trade(NYR)	Wouldn't you know it, now Martinez is hurt. At least Jensen is signed through two seasons. This could turn out to be a fantastic depth pick up as the season goes on. We stan for Nick Jensen
Kevin Fiala, Linus Ullmark, Chris Dreidger, NYI 1st	Alex Wennberg, Mackenzie Blackwood	Trade(BOS)	Boston's GM certainly works hard to keep his reputation as the leagues most prominent trader. What started out as talks surrounding Fiala and Blackwood, this trade was weeks in the works. It didn't look like it would come together until GM Bon-Bernard made an offer that we could not pass up. We love Fiala, and we hope that Ullmark can thrive in Boston.
Nazem Kadri	N/A	Free Agency	Last but not least, one of the NHL's most surprising superstars landed in Tinseltown out of free agency. Signing a 2 year deal, the only thing we can say is we should have signed him longer. Kadri could wind up as the teams top line center next year.
Dimitri Kulikov	N/A	Free Agency	Almost forgot about our Russian Dman Dimitri. He's fine.

So there you have it. We've lost about 100 man games between Hamilton, Armia, and Martinez, but hopefully the depth we've brought in can help weather the storm while our guys are on the nurses table.

As of today, only Martinez (15 days) remains out of the lineup.

That's all for now folks.