Part two: the defense and goaltending
The defense pairs and goaltending are a bit more clear than the forwards.
Anderson – Doughty
Bjornfot – open
Maatta – Walker
MacDermid
RFA’s: Matt Roy, Kale Clague, Austin Strand, Jacob Moverare
UFA: Daniel Brickley
Wildcards: Sean Durzi and Cole Hults (both are waiver exempt).
Let’s be clear, the open spot on the right side of the second pair is not really open. The LA Kings will re-sign Matt Roy, and he will go back to his spot on the second pair.
Outside of losing Olli Maatta or Kurtis MacDermid to the expansion draft, trade, or waivers, there will not be any other spots open, as all of the rest of the current defense corps outside of Roy is under contract for next season.
Kings general manager Rob Blake has made it clear that he wants a young, dynamic left defenseman. If he makes a deal to get one this offseason, of course, these pairings will end up looking different – and it will be for the better.
The goaltenders are the simplest category to predict of the three. If Jonathan Quick is not traded at the deadline or claimed by Seattle, next season’s goaltending tandem will consist of him and Cal Petersen. If Quick is traded or claimed, it will be Matt Villalta, Jacob Ingham, or (most likely) a free agent backing up Cal Petersen – who will end up with the lion’s share of the starts.