Trade deadline outlook: Los Angeles Kings
Buyers or sellers?
If we've learned anything about Los Angeles Kings general manager Dean Lombardi, it's that we know he is highly aggressive at the trade deadline. Over the last few seasons, Lombardi has acquired Jeff Carter and Marian Gaborik, two highly-touted acquisitions, and the Kings promptly won the Stanley Cup. Even last year, Los Angeles went out and grabbed Andrej Sekera, and they weren't even sure if they'd make the playoffs (spoiler alert: they didn't).
This year is no different. Lombardi will once again work his craft, calling up each general manager as he tries to fish for the best possibility for the Kings, because his team is definitely a buyer at the trade deadline.
Team needs
With so many departures from Los Angeles' blue line over the last year, the Kings should certainly look for a top-four defenseman at this year's deadline.
But what makes things interesting is a recent development with Gaborik. The 33-year-old forward was placed on the Kings' injured reserve list the day before Valentine's Day with a knee injury. That's $4.875 million off of the books.
Why is that significant? Because if Gaborik is on the injured reserve list for the remainder of the season, that allows the Kings to add a relatively significant player for the remainder of the regular season at the deadline, and then bring back Gaborik for the start of the playoff, as the salary cap vanishes once the regular season ends and the playoffs begin.
We saw this just last year with the Chicago Blackhawks. When Patrick Kane was added to the injured reserve list with a collarbone injury, his $6.3 million cap hit was taken off of the books, and Chicago had room to trade for Antoine Vermette, Kimmo Timonen and Andrew Desjardins. Kane then came back during the playoffs, and the Blackhawks forward unit was suddenly loaded with talent, and Chicago won yet another Stanley Cup.
Could the Kings do the exact same thing?
One thing is for certain: The Kings are not only a buyer, but they are likely a big buyer. And while they definitely won't get everyone on this list, it seems pretty likely that they will be able to land at least one of them.
Key players
Andrew Ladd
It seems pretty likely that the Winnipeg Jets will part ways with Andrew Ladd. The Jets simply don't have enough space for their 30-year-old captain after they opted to sign defenseman Dustin Byfuglien to a five-year, $38 million contract earlier this month. And Ladd carries far too much value on a non-playoff-bound team, and Winnipeg certainly needs to get whatever they can for him.
Unfortunately for the Kings, the Jets would likely demand a first-round pick and a prospect for Ladd (they've reportedly already had a similar offer on the table). The Kings don't have a 2016 first-round pick, but if they manage to convince Winnipeg to settle for a 2017 first-round pick (that is, if Los Angeles is even willing to part with that pick), they could possibly land Ladd.
Ladd is a consistent 20-goal scorer that can quite easily be inserted into Los Angeles' top six, and he will certainly make the Kings even stronger.
Jiri Hudler
Last season, Jiri Hudler finished with 31 goals and 45 assists in 76 games as he, Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau powered the Calgary Flames to a surprising playoff bid. Hudler doesn't have that same gusto this year, as he's on pace for 53 points this year, but that is still a respectable amount of production, and a player you want to add on your team.
Hudler likely won't command the same return as Ladd, but much like Ladd, Hudler could fill in as a left wing on Los Angeles' second line. And Hudler has proven in the past that he can be a reliable playoff forward. He won a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008, and in Calgary's 11 playoff games last year, Hudler chipped in eight points.
Loui Eriksson
The Boston Bruins are at a cross road with Loui Eriksson. The Bruins, who currently sit in a playoff spot, can't seem to come to terms with the 30-year-old forward, and they run the risk of keeping him for the remainder of the season, only to lose him for nothing come free agency. And considering Eriksson was the primary return for Boston in the Tyler Seguin trade, losing him for nothing is simply not an option.
That's where the Kings come into play. Lombardi has proven by example that he has a working relationship with Bruins' general manager Don Sweeney, as Sweeney sent Milan Lucic to the Kings in exchange for a 2015 first-round pick, Martin Jones and Colin Miller. But Eriksson is going to cost a lot, and the question is whether or not the Kings have something the Bruins are looking for.
Dan Hamhuis
Dan Hamhuis may perhaps be the best defenseman available at the trade deadline. The 33-year-old left-handed blue liner missed a large chunk of the season after he took a puck to the face, resulting in facial fractures. Hamhuis returned earlier this February, and he can certainly play as a top-four defenseman on a contending team.
Hamhuis, who has a no trade clause in his contract, has expressed his interest in staying in Vancouver. But if he's willing to waive his clause for one go at a Stanley Cup, Los Angeles seems like a logical choice.
Kris Russell
The Flames would love to keep Kris Russell, who has been one of the top shot blockers over the last few seasons. But the upcoming 28-year-old free agent is due for a big pay raise from his $2.6 million he's making this season. And with $25,317,066 in cap space among five defensemen already set up next year, giving Russell a contract extension to his liking seems almost impossible for Calgary.
Russell could potentially be that top-four defenseman the Kings are looking for. And if there's any concern over the Flames potentially sending Russell or Hudler to a divisional foe, think again; Calgary has made two trades over the last two years with the archrival Canucks.
Tommy Chalk writes about the NHL for FOX Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @Tommy_Chalk