This upcoming offseason, the Los Angeles Kings and general manager Ken Holland will need to upgrade the roster lineup in more ways than just one.
While much of the attention has centered around the organization’s search for a top-six center, the Kings also still need additional secondary scoring, physicality, and middle-six depth moving forward. Not every meaningful offseason addition needs to involve a superstar name. Sometimes, the more practical roster upgrades can have just as much impact on building a more complete playoff team.
A recent article from The Athletic that broke down the biggest roster needs for all 32 teams in the NHL this offseason put forward the idea of the Kings going after Seattle Kraken forward Bobby McMann.
Pursuing a player like McMann may not generate major headlines, but he could represent the type of practical addition the Kings need to become a deeper and more complete playoff team.
I still think the top priority this offseason for Holland and the Kings in the front office must be to address the top-six center need in the roster lineup down the middle in unrestricted free agency or on the trade block this summer.
McMann may not be the flashiest name available this summer, but his combination of physicality, forechecking ability, and secondary scoring could help address several roster concerns for Los Angeles. He could realistically slot into a middle-six role while adding more size, pressure on the forecheck, and scoring depth on the wing.
The biggest question surrounding McMann would likely involve whether he can consistently produce enough offense to justify a larger role in a playoff contender’s top six.
The Kings have struggled at times to generate consistent offensive pressure in the zone in the postseason, and McMann's physical and confident style of play could help address some of those issues for the team. That said, he could also be a cheaper option in the unrestricted free agent market than if Holland and the Kings went after a big-time star on the trade block, which could allow the team to continue to prioritize improving in the middle of the lineup at the center position.
LA still needs a major addition at center, but practical complementary moves could ultimately play just as important a role in helping the organization become a more complete postseason team.
Add us as a preferred source on Google