Kings face Vegas with eye on scores amid trade rumors
The Kings traveled to Vegas for a matinee showdown with the Golden Knights today, the final game for both teams prior to Monday's trade deadline.
Since the Golden Knights entered the league in 2017, they have been a powerhouse in the Pacific Division. In their inaugural season, they swept the Kings out of the first round on their way to the Stanley Cup Final. They've reached the playoffs in each of the past three campaigns, including two trips to the conference final.
But this season, it has been the Kings (34-21-8) returning to prominence and leapfrogging Vegas in the process, despite considerable turnover in their lineup as a result of injuries. Having lost significant players early in the season, the Kings were approaching full strength when half their roster went down in short order. They've stayed afloat, solidifying their position in second place in the Pacific with a shutout of the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, even without nine regulars.
“The position that we're in right now, maybe the majority of outside people didn't think that we could make it this high. But I think that the belief within our room and within the group has always been at a high level, and we've shown it on the ice,” team captain Anze Kopitar said.
“I think the team is much improved from previous years and the play on the ice speaks for itself.”
So have Kopitar and his teammates been peeking at the scoreboard as the playoffs loom?
“I mean, whoever is saying they're not checking the out-of-town scores is probably lying,” Kopitar said. “We know what kind of position we're in, and obviously we know what we've got to do.”
The Kings have received significant contributions from internal additions, call-ups from their top minor league affiliate like defensemen Sean Durzi and Jordan Spence. Of late, Gabe Vilardi has found a home on the wing and displayed confidence.
But there's always at least tacit pressure on management to make moves at the deadline, especially for competitive teams with significant injuries. General Manager Rob Blake has undoubtedly been assessing all facets of the situation — the health of his team, its performance, its salary cap position and the trade market — though some options have already narrowed.
Up front, forwards Joe Pavelski and Tomas Hertl re-signed with Dallas and San Jose, respectively. Philadelphia's Claude Giroux, who determines his own fate thanks to his no-movement clause, appears to be
headed to either Florida or Colorado.
The Kings have largely favored younger players with longer terms who can help them as they move forward. One such winger, Brandon Hagel, proved to have even greater value to the Tampa Bay Lightning, who sent two first-round picks to Chicago as part of a package for the 23-yearold on Friday.
Nashville winger Filip Forsberg remained in intensifying negotiations with the Predators, whom the Kings will face next week. Vancouver winger Conor Garland, 26, is another player like Hagel, with upside and multiple years remaining on his contract, who could be available at the deadline.
On defense, possibilities still exist. However, Colorado's acquisition of Josh Manson and Florida's splurge on Ben Chiarot removed players from the market while also establishing a high price for blue-liners. Arizona's Jakob Chychrun remains an appealing target because of age (23) and contract (signed through 2025).
Vegas (33-26-4) already
made one blockbuster deal earlier this season, landing center Jack Eichel from the Buffalo Sabres. Eichel recovered from a neck injury and joined Vegas on Feb. 16, but his addition has not offered all the oomph Vegas had expected.
They've won just five of 15 games with Eichel in the lineup, including a 5-3 victory over the Florida Panthers on Thursday. He has contributed five goals and five assists with a minusone rating. They've had the third-worst scoring output per game in the NHL since Feb. 9 and third-fewest points in the standings as well. Special teams have also flailed.
Like the Kings, Vegas has been fettered by injuries, including to winger Reilly Smith and goalie Robin Lehner. Top twoway winger Mark Stone and former Kings defenseman Alec Martinez remained on long-term injured reserve. Their status and some potential salary dumps could make the always-active Vegas front office a player on deadline day, though they have extended themselves considerably already.