It has been a noted priority this regular season since this past fall for the Los Angeles Kings and new general manager Ken Holland to add a top-six scoring winger to boost the team's offensive scoring in the West in the Pacific Division. Head coach Jim Hiller and the Kings are within striking distance of just a few points of first place in the Pacific Division standings in the West this regular season.
Could Sabres winger Alex Tuch make sense for the Los Angeles Kings at the trade deadline this season?
After the Kings and Hiller strung together a couple of important and quality wins on home ice at Crypto.com Arena this past week against the Minnesota Wild in two straight games, LA is in the top wildcard spot in the standings in the West this regular season.
With how important wins are in the Pacific Division standings in the West this regular season in the next couple of months, it makes sense for the Kings to get more offensive scoring ability on the top-six forward lines core for the trade deadline on the block.
A name that has been mentioned multiple times as a potential trade target for the Kings to add a top-six scoring winger to the active forward lines core this regular season in the West is Buffalo Sabres forward Alex Tuch.
In a piece where Pierre LeBrun and Chris Johnston named potential destinations for top trade deadline targets on the block this regular season in the league in the NHL, the Kings were brought up in connection to Tuch from the Sabres.
LeBrun named the Kings as a potential landing spot for Tuch from Buffalo at the trade deadline on the block this regular season in the next couple of months.
Since the Kings have lacked scoring support for center captain Anze Kopitar, and wingers Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala this regular season in the West, Tuch could be an impactful boost to the offensive scoring efforts in the top-six forward lines for Hiller and staff in the next couple of months.
Tuch has scored double-digit goals for the Sabres in the East this regular season in the Atlantic Division. The Kings only have three forwards on the active roster lineup in the West who have scored double-digit goals this regular season for the team.
If Buffalo isn't contending for a playoff spot in the standings in the East this regular season in the next few months in the Atlantic Division, it could make sense for Jarmo Kekäläinen to look at trading Tuch on the block going into the trade deadline.