LA Kings: Three ‘dynamic’ young, left-shot defensemen to target

LA Kings general manager Rob Blake is reportedly looking for young, dynamic left-shot defensemen. Here are three to target in a trade.

Despite have a wealth of young defensemen on the LA Kings roster, TSN’s Darren Dreger dropped a bombshell last week, indicating the Kings’ front office may be looking to upgrade the roster sooner rather than later.

“Rob Blake of the Los Angeles Kings is another one looking for a defenseman in the category 25 and under,” Dreger explained. “He specifically wants a dynamic, left-shot defenseman. When you look at the Los Angeles Kings, they do have an abundance of forwards, particularly at center ice.

“I’m reminded of the big trade that involved the Columbus Blue Jackets a few years back and the Nashville Predators, Ryan Johansen for Seth Jones. If something like that could be worked out for Rob Blake and the Kings, he’d do that in a heartbeat.”

I think it’s safe to say the Kings would target a top-tier defenseman in the 2021 NHL Draft, as the team has plucked the likes of Quinton Byfield, Arthur Kaliyev, Alex Turcotte, Samuel Fagemo, and Rasmus Kupari, among other offensive players, in the first and second rounds of recent drafts.

The addition of an established defenseman could complicate the trajectory of several prospects on the LA Kings roster. Players like Mikey Anderson, Kale Clague, and Tobias Bjornfot, to some extent, have become regulars along the left side in the 2021 season.

Any trade likely sees Olli Maatta included as part of the deal to free up a roster space. However, a deal before Seattle’s expansion draft could potentially leave a newly-acquired asset exposed. At any rate, if Rob Blake is hellbent on acquiring an established left-shot defenseman, here are the three he should target.

1. LA Kings Trade Target: Vince Dunn

At 24 years of age, Vince Dunn is a great trade target for the LA Kings. He was re-signed to a one-year contract in December and will become a restricted free agent at the end of the 2021 season. During his rookie campaign in 17-18, Dunn tallied five goals and 24 points in 75 games.

The following year, he more than doubled his rookie goal total, 12 goals and 23 assists while shooting the puck at an eight percent clip. In 19-20, Dunn played in all 71 games for the Blues, racking up 23 points, including four goals and six assists on the man advantage.

Through 19 games in the 2021 season, Dunn has an elite 56.2 CorsiFor percentage and is on track to put up similar numbers as last season. He has three goals and six points while tallying a career-high 10.3 shooting percentage and 19:02 on-ice time.

He’s also not afraid to get into a few scraps.

2. LA Kings Trade Target: Ryan Graves

With Bowen Byram graduating to the NHL, it feels like it’s a matter of time before the Avalanche make a move to clear up a crowded left side. With Ryan Graves, Devon Toews, and Samuel Girardi fighting for two spots, Graves makes a lot of sense to move.

A fourth-round pick of the Rangers in 2013, Graves tallied a league-best +40 rating while accumulating nine goals and 17 assists in 69 games last year. At 25 and with two years left on his contract after this season, the Yarmouth, Nova Scotia native is a terrific defenseman to target.

He’s spent the majority of his time playing on the second and third pairings with limited time on the top pairing as well. Graves is off to a slow start this year, averaging 0.13 points-per-game, but his role is far from defined with a crowded left side.