The ability of the Los Angeles Kings and head coach Jim Hiller to score the puck offensively in the zone has been a struggle consistently this regular season in the West in the Pacific Division. The struggles for Hiller and the Kings offensively in the zone has cost the team valuable points in the standings in the West in the Pacific Division this regular season.
Writers pitches the Los Angeles Kings trading for Steven Stamkos to form a dynamic offensive zone pairing with Artemi Panarin this regular season
New general manager Ken Holland and the Kings front office have made it a priority in this past couple of months on the trade block this regular season in the West to add a top-six scoring forward offensively to the active roster lineup. Holland and the Kings already got in the active roster lineup offensively Artemi Panarin on the trade block earlier this month in early February a few weeks ago.
The Kings signed Panarin to a two-year contract extension deal worth around $11.5 million in average annual value (through the end of the 2026-27 season).
It's known that Holland and the Kings' front office want to win now with the team in the West in the Pacific Division this regular season. But the Kings lost a step offensively on the active roster lineup this regular season in the West when star forward Kevin Fiala suffered a devastating lower leg injury in the Olympics this past week that ended his regular season for LA and Hiller this month.
Fiala's injury hasn't stopped Holland and the Kings' front office from being active on the trade block and before the trade deadline next month in early March. Adam Proteau of The Hockey News suggested the Kings kick the tires on making a trade with the Nashville Predators this regular season in the West for forward Steven Stamkos on the trade block before the deadline next month in early March.
Since the Kings have just north of $7 million in average annual value on the salary cap roster sheet available with Fiala going down with a lower left leg injury this past week for the team, Stamkos's contract that carries a cap hit of roughly $8 million in AAV works out for LA and Holland this regular season.
This potential trade pitch from The Hockey News this past week comes as it's being reported that the Kings and Holland are looking to add a middle six forward winger on the trade block and before the trade deadline in a few weeks next month in early March (per David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period).
The trade suggestion from Proteau of The Hockey News this past week in the West only matters if the Predators are willing to part ways with Stamkos on the trade block in the Pacific Division. Stamkos has another two years remaining on his current contract in Nashville with the Predators, and he has a no-trade clause to control where he goes next on the block this regular season.