LA Kings General Manager Seeks Enhanced Offensive Output from Defensemen
Los Angeles Kings General Manager Ken Holland has expressed a clear need for improved offensive production from his team’s defense corps, noting that the Kings have consistently ranked in the bottom half of the league in this category for several years. He attributes this deficiency to a combination of the current personnel on the blue line and the team’s overall playing style.
“We need to generate a bit more attack from our defense. This could involve changing our personnel and finding new players, or perhaps adopting a slightly different approach to how we play.”
Holland pointed out that the team’s defensemen’s point production has been notably low. “I was looking at this the other day, and in the last four years, our defenseman’s points have been quite low. This year and two years ago, I believe we were 30th and 23rd, respectively. In a couple of those years, we were around 16th and 17th, or 15th and 16th.”
The GM emphasized the goal of returning to the middle of the pack in this statistical category. “So, we need to get back to the middle of the pack, where we can get a little more offense from our defense. Part of that is personnel-related, and part of it, I believe, is simply the way we play.”
Could the Winnipeg Jets and St. Louis Blues Forge a Deal Involving the 8th Overall Draft Pick?
Murat Ates of The Athletic suggests that the Winnipeg Jets, who are looking to bolster their second line and acquire a right-handed defenseman, might consider leveraging their No. 8 overall draft pick. Reports of Connor Hellebuyck’s unhappiness could potentially spur the Jets into trade discussions.
A potential scenario could involve the Jets inquiring about Colton Parayko and the Colorado Avalanche’s late first-round pick in exchange for the No. 8 pick. Another possibility is trading the No. 8 pick along with former first-round prospects Brayden Yager and Brad Lambert for Robert Thomas.
Alternatively, the Jets might be open to moving down in the draft to the No. 15 selection, potentially acquiring the Avalanche’s first-round pick as well, and then addressing their roster needs elsewhere.
Jeremy Rutherford notes that if the St. Louis Blues could move Parayko, who has four years remaining on his contract with a $6.5 million annual cap hit, and move up in the draft, it’s a move they should seriously consider, despite Parayko’s no-movement clause.
