Jake Bean, D
Among the more unheralded and under-the-radar defenseman still available on the unrestricted free agent market this offseason is former Calgary Flames blue-liner Jake Bean. A former lottery pick of the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, the 28-year-old defenseman Bean has floated around a couple of differen teams in the league in this past few years.
I still think the biggest roster need that Holland and the Kings must address this offseason is on the blue line on defense. The Kings did add some depth and puck movement on the blue line earlier this week when Holland signed former Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers defenseman Erik Gustafsson to a one-year contract.
But there is still work to do for the Kings on the blue line. The Kings could still benefit from bringing on another left-shot defenseman who has more offensive upside than some of their other current depth options on the blue line.
That's why I think the idea of signing a left-handed defenseman who does have some offensive upside that could still be tapped into, like the former first-round draft pick Bean, could be a smart, low-risk move for Holland and the Kings this summer in free agency.
In the right situation where he could play for a better team that could actually make a push for the postseason and give him some other veteran defenseman to develop around and play with this upcoming season, there is a world where Bean works out with this Kings' blue line.
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