LA Kings: Three options after missing out on Vinnie Hinostroza
What options remain for the LA Kings after missing out on a fourth-line forward in Vinnie Hinostroza?
Despite a busy first day of the NHL’s free agency period, the LA Kings did nothing at the NHL level. I had to turn on a select few accounts’ Twitter notifications to keep up with the madness, but it looks like many teams made moves to improve their respective clubs. The move that, for lack of a better phrase, bothered me, was Bobby Ryan signing with the Red Wings on a one-year, $1M deal.
That is nothing for a guy who could have helped the Kings score more goals this season while allowing more time for the kids to develop. LA has approximately $13.6M in cap space after acquiring Olli Maatta, but they were reportedly in the mix for the services of former Blackhawks’ and Coyotes’ forward Vinnie Hinostroza.
He could have been a solid addition to the team’s fourth line, but Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito indicated that they had signed Hinostroza. Which now raises the question. What’s next for the LA Kings?
Here are three options that I see.
1. Continue to pursue players like Hinostroza
Players like Hinostroza? What the heck does that mean? It means guys who would likely slot in along the Kings’ third or fourth line without committing a bunch of money or years to prevent blocking one of the prospects.
A guy like Derick Brassard could be the preferred target. The 33-year-old spent last season with the Islanders, scoring 10 goals with 22 assists in 66 games. He brings an element of physicality to his game with 115 recorded hits last season, replacing what was lost in both Kyle Clifford and Trevor Lewis.
He can play where ever needed as well, slotting in at LW, C, RW along every line in New York last season. I’d feel comfortable giving him a one-year bridge deal and nothing more. If you noticed on Friday, there were a lot of two-year deals being passed out, which could be the COVID impact on the flat salary cap.
Former 21st overall pick, Riley Sheahan, could be another option. While he didn’t score as much as Brassard, he’ll be 29 when next year’s season begins. In 66 games last season, Sheahan scored 8 goals with 7 assists for the Oilers. He also only had a $900,000 cap hit, making him a relatively inexpensive signing.
2. Trade for Tyler Johnson
We knew the Lightning were going to have to get crafty with their salary cap. I mentioned Tyler Johnson as one guy who general manager Julien BriseBois may have to approach him about lifting his no-movement clause. He was placed on waivers and went unclaimed.
Now the Lightning have the difficult task of trying to find a home for him. The 30-year-old still has four years left on his deal at a $5M cap hit each year. And while he’s listed as a center, he spent the majority of last season on the right-wing with a few games sprinkled in at center and left-wing.
I suppose two questions that stem from this. What would it take to acquire Johnson, and what is the ripple effect for the prospect pool? Four years is a lot to commit to a team that doesn’t figure to be competitive, or at the very least, may sniff a Wild Card spot next year.
Pierre LeBrun also makes a great point that Johnson’s cash salary next year is $3.75M, and he could be left unprotected for Seattle to take him on.
One thing to consider for teams regarding Tyler Johnson: his cap hit is $5M but his actual cash salary next season is $3.75M.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 10, 2020
Leave him unprotected in the expansion draft next summer. Would Ron Francis be enticed in the Spokane native? If so, a team rents out TJ for one year?
Johnson scored 14 goals with 17 assists during the regular season to go along with 4 goals and 3 assists in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Lightning are expected to re-sign both Pat Maroon and Luke Schenn. They also have restricted free agent Mikhail Sergachev to protect from teams that could sign him to an offer sheet deal that Tampa can’t match.
Tyler Johnson could be a solid addition along the team’s third line, potentially shifting Jeff Carter to the fourth line as his play continues to decline…although injuries and age are likely playing a huge factor.
3. Let the kids plays
The last option is to simply do nothing. Let the kids battle it out in training camp and see where the chips fall. The Kings’ bottom-six lines aren’t scaring anyone, and they need scoring to come from there to take the next step this season.
Guys like Arthur Kaliyev, Samuel Fagemo, Akil Thomas, and perhaps down the road, Quinton Byfield could all see time in the NHL with one of Kaliyev or Fagemo potentially making the roster out of camp. And while it would seem unlikely, I wouldn’t put it past Alex Turcotte to make a case to see the NHL this year either.
The Kings also need to see what they have in Carl Grundstrom and Jaret Anderson-Dolan and if they’re worth retaining for the foreseeable future.
We knew the 2020-2021 season would be an evaluation season, but the Kings also scored the second-lowest goal total in the league last year. If they can find someone or a couple of someones who can chip in 15 goals each, that would put them in the middle of the pack in terms of scoring.
Is that good enough for a playoff spot? Does it matter? Probably not, but it would make the upcoming season more exciting beyond just watching the prospect play. Whenever they do get the call, that is.