Now that the LA Kings have added scoring in forward Viktor Arvidsson, what’s next on the shopping list? We have some ideas.
One item has been crossed off the summer shopping list. The LA Kings added Viktor Arvidsson, acquiring the forward in exchange for two draft picks on Thursday. The move gives Los Angeles a legitimate top-six forward, who will certainly aid the team in scoring more goals.
Arvidsson, 28, comes with three more years of control, and the Kings gave up two draft picks that could have taken several more years to bear fruits. The Kings already have the best prospect in the National Hockey League. They have the cap space. They have the picks. This move was badly needed, but don’t expect this to be the last move Los Angeles makes this offseason.
We knew that general manager Rob Blake wanted to add two top-six forwards. One down, one to go. Of course, the left side of the defense could use more experience and offense, so it will be interesting to see if Blake addresses one or both items.
As far as what the Kings should do, we polled several Rink Royalty writers for their opinions.
Jack Weber
The acquisition of Viktor Arvidsson is a great start to the LA Kings’ offseason, but it can’t be the end of it. This team still needs to add another top-six forward if it’s serious about making a run at a playoff spot next season.
The good news is there are still plenty who could be available, and the Kings still have the means to acquire one of them, having not given up a ton to acquire Arvidsson, nor having taken on a
particularly onerous contract.
Following up the Arvidsson trade by bringing in someone like Sam Reinhart, Vladimir Tarasenko, Johnny Gaudreau, or perhaps Arvidsson’s old teammate Filip Forsberg would send a loud and clear message to the rest of the NHL that the Kings mean business.
Scott Kinville
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a LA Kings trade! Thursday’s trade for Viktor Arvidsson has added fuel to the expectation that the team will be a huge player for established talent this offseason. The big question now is, what’s next?
After the trade, the Kings now have $15.4 million in salary cap space per Cap Friendly. Time to go big game hunting, right? First things first, however, as the Kings still have three RFA’s of their own to re-sign: Trevor Moore, Lias Andersson, and Andreas Athanasiou. LA will have about $11 – $12 million left in cap space if all three come back.
It is common knowledge that the LA Kings need more scoring, and many expect them to pursue a legitimate LW1. The thing is, though, there aren’t a lot of those left on the market. With Alex Ovechkin, Taylor Hall, and Gabriel Landeskog expected to return to their current teams, that leaves Brandon Saad as the best left wing available. Saad is a fine player, but he isn’t exactly a lock for thirty goals each season. To get one of those , Rob Blake might be forced to trade one or two of the LA Kings’ prized prospects.
In my opinion, the best option for the Kings to pursue this offseason is Dougie Hamilton. A defenseman with the offensive tools that Hamilton has does not come available often, so when
he does – and the cap space is available – a team has to go after him.
Signing Hamilton will help manage Drew Doughty’s minutes while providing the offense from the blue line that the Kings desperately need.
The move would most likely make Sean Walker expendable, and as much as I like Walker, but when a Norris Trophy caliber defenseman like Hamilton becomes an option, a team like the Kings has to take advantage.
Ryan Sikes
Arvidsson is one of two forwards expected to be brought in this offseason. Will the Kings acquire another one via trade or sign a forward in free agency? There are pros and cons to both. A guy like Conor Garland, a restricted free agent, is just 25 years of age and coming into his own.
But he would likely require a decent haul the other way compared to signing a forward like Brandon Saad once the free agency period begins. Saad is 28, but he has a wealth of playoff experience critical on a team chock-full of youth.
Those are the two forwards that I would target, but as Jack said, I wouldn’t mind seeing Filip Forsberg brought in. The 26-year-old has one year left on his contract, so his camp would have to give some assurance of signing a long-term done in Los Angeles.
If the Kings can somehow add another top-six forward without giving up any of their big-name prospects, Blake may have to seriously consider packaging a couple of them to add more scoring from the blue line.
Wrap up: target Garland or Saad to start, Forsberg also an option, potential is there to improve the back end.