Los Angeles Kings: 2nd Half Wish List
By Matt Pelkey
#5. Lombardi The Great
Los Angeles Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi is arguably the greatest GM when it comes to acquiring top talent at the trade deadline.
Do the names Jeff Carter, Marian Gaborik, Justin Williams and Robyn Regehr ring a bell?
Carter became a King days before the 2012 trade deadline in a trade with Columbus that saw defenseman Jack Johnson and a first-round pick go the other way. Carter made an instant impact in L.A. that season, recording 9 points in 16 games before putting up another 13 in 20 playoff games en route to the Stanley Cup. Carter has since been one of the Kings’ top scorers every season and has even took over as alternate captain this season while defender Matt Greene recovers from an injury.
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On trade deadline day in 2014, Lombardi pulled his magic and acquired one of the fastest, most skilled forward in the game today: Marian Gaborik. Gaborik finished the 2014 regular season with 16 points in 19 games with the Kings and added 22 points in 26 playoff games as the former 3rd-overall pick won his first Stanley Cup.
An injured Williams was dealt to the Kings from Carolina on trade deadline day 2009. Although he didn’t make an immediate impact, the fan favorite was key in helping lead L.A. to Stanley Cup titles in 2012 and 2014. He was so clutch that he earned the nickname “Mr. Game 7”.
Regehr was acquired by Lombardi just days before the 2013 trade deadline in a deal with Buffalo. Regehr, now retired, came to L.A. as a big-bodied seasoned veteran who helped the Kings lift the Stanley Cup – his first – in 2014.
These are some of Lombardi’s most notable acquisitions and these are just ones that occurred around the NHL’s trade deadline over the last few years. Add in the fact he struck deals to acquire Mike Richards, Dustin Penner and Andrej Sekera and it’s pretty clear “Deano” is a trade wizard.
Will he pull off another blockbuster come the 2016 trade deadline?
Next: #4. Weak Pacific Division