LA Kings: Three way-too-early defensemen to target in 2021 offseason
Given the prospect pool is top-heavy with offensive talent, the LA Kings may be interested in acquiring an established defenseman in 2021.
A quick look at the LA Kings prospect pool reveals immense offensive talent. With names like Quinton Byfield, Alex Turcotte, Arthur Kaliyev, Samuel Fagemo — to name a few — the future looks bright in Los Angeles. In just a couple of seasons, the Kings could go from one of the lowest to the NHL’s highest-scoring team.
Conversely, the organization is not as deep defensively. Sure, Tobias Bjornfot, Kale Clague, and Mikey Anderson headline the blueline prospects, but there’s no denying the defensive side could use another established player.
The Kings acquired Olli Maatta from the Chicago Blackhawks to replace Ben Hutton on the team’s first pairing this offseason. Maatta has two years remaining on his deal, and most believe he could be left unprotected for Seattle’s expansion draft.
Matt Roy was analytically was one of the best defensemen last year, and it will be interesting to see how teams attack him in year two. Sean Walker was recently inked to a four-year contract extension at a very reasonable $2.7M AAV.
Much of the 2021 campaign will consist of evaluating the talent in the prospect pool, but there is a sense the organization will add a big-name defender in the near future.
Next significant trade made by the LA Kings will involve acquiring a defenseman. #MayorRuling https://t.co/9f7olpQbs4
— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) December 5, 2020
Russell Morgan and I teamed up to look at three players the Kings should target next offseason, listed in order of preference.
1. Jaccob Slavin, LD (Ryan)
The Carolina Hurricanes have less than $1M in cap space entering the upcoming season. Without any significant moves to clear up cap space, Hurricanes’ general manager Don Waddell has four unrestricted and two restricted free agents on the offensive side to re-sign after the conclusion of the 2021 campaign. That could leave the door open for the Hurricanes to move a big contract, like Jaccob Slavin.
Drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 NHL Draft, Slavin has consistently produced 30+ point seasons. Most recently, the 26-year-old tallied six goals with 30 assists, tying Dougie Hamilton for a team-high +30 rating.
1. Matt Dumba, RD (Russell)
Although General Manager Bill Guerin has tempered down some of the trade rumors circulating Matt Dumba, another disappointing season from the Wild could start the dreaded rebuild. With three years left on his deal at an AAV of $6M, Dumba not only brings a solid offensive game from the backside but winning the King Clancy Memorial Trophy shows the amount of leadership he brings on and off the ice as well. It will be interesting to track the Wild as they go through the shortened season to see whether they could be headed toward some roster reconstruction.
2. Matt Dumba, RD (Ryan)
It appears to be a matter of time before the Minnesota Wild trade Matt Dumba. He was rumored to be on the trade block earlier in the offseason, and that was before the organization re-signed Jonas Brodin to a seven-year contract extension. The former seventh overall pick in 2012 tallied a career-high 50 points (14 goals, 36 assists) during the 2017-2018 campaign. The following year, he suffered a pectoral injury, only playing in 32 games.
He returned in the COVID-shortened season, scoring six goals with 18 assists with a 47.9 expected-goals-for percentage. Still 26 years of age, there’s reason to believe Dumba can return to a 50-point producer. The Wild have $2.7M in cap space entering this year. Once the 2021 offseason hits, they have a number of free agents to address. Matt Dumba and his $6M AAV could be moved to clear up space.
Trending. Who will lead team in secondary scoring this year?. light
2. Ryan Graves, LD (Russell)
Ryan Graves had an impressive sophomore season for the Avalanche. It could be asking a lot from the Avs to pry away the NHL leader in plus-minus for last year. But with the recent addition and signing of Devon Toews from the New York Islanders and highly touted prospect Bowen Byram waiting in the wings, there could be a logjam on the left side on defense for Colorado in the near future. Graves just signed a relatively team-friendly contract with an AAV of only $3.1M over the next three years, so the price to acquire the 24-year-old could be high.
3. Colton Parayko, RD (Ryan)
The Blues let free agent defenseman Alex Pietrangelo walk, but they replaced him with Torey Krug. Along with Justin Faulk‘s extension, the St. Louis Blues are approximately $1.5M over the salary cap entering the 2021 season. General manager Doug Armstrong will figure out a short-term measure to be compliant with the $81.5M salary cap this year. Next offseason could be more challenging with Jaden Schwartz and Tyler Bozak hitting unrestricted free agency.
A similar situation to Dumba — Colton Parayko could be among those moved to clear cap space. At 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, the 27-year-old is a big, physical presence who can also put some points up. He’s regularly flirted with 30-point seasons even in the shortened 2019-2020 campaign. Parayko logged a marvelous 55.2 expected goals-for-percentage last season while having an integral part in the Blues’ first power play unit.
3. Esa Lindell, LD (Russell)
The Dallas Stars were the surprise team in the return to play. The Stars’ defense was a key reason why Dallas advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, losing out to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. While they look to return that solid defensive corps for next season, the long term future is still very much up in the air.
After signing a six-year deal with an AAV of $5.8M last year, Esa Lindell is the only defenseman locked up long term for the Stars. But will that leave enough space to lock up the likes of John Klingberg, Jamie Oleksiak, and the eventual big-time deal that will be owed to Miro Heiskanen? Esa Lindell could find himself to be the odd man out.
Next. All signs point toward a December 28 training camp. dark