January 17, 2025 | 11:53am ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

COULD KINGS PURSUE VETERAN WINGER?

Kings GM Rob Blake

The Los Angeles Kings remain in a battle for home ice to start the playoffs, and even though the post-season doesn’t begin for another three months, the team is going to remain in the thick of things the rest of the way based on how they are performing.

Kings GM Rob Blake has been exploring the market for ways to further enhance his team’s chances this season, but with very limited salary cap space, he would need to be creative with any move he attempts to make.

On Thursday, during the latest edition of “The Latest” on TFP, Dennis Bernstein reported the Kings are still combing the trade market for an affordable fourth-line centre, but also suggested the team could try to add a scoring winger by the March 7 trade deadline.

“I think in a perfect world, they would want a right-handed shot presence. I think they’re a winger short,” he said, adding injuries to the likes of Trevor Moore and Alex Laferriere have factored into the team’s offensive struggles on the powerplay.

“They also could look at maybe a 4C here down the middle. They’ve had great success playing 11-7. But the question is, how long can you play 11-7 before your forwards get tired? You could do it for half a season. Could you really go 82 games going 11-7? Or would you like to have another veteran presence?”

Drew Doughty set to take part in formal practices with the Kings next week, and once he comes off LTIR the team will be left with next to no cap space. It will take some significant financial juggling to add a piece of significance to this roster, but Bernstein believes the team could target one player from the New York Islanders later in the season.

“A guy like Kyle Palmieri will be a great target for them,” Bernstein suggested. “The Islanders powerplay hasn’t done great. So maybe he changed the scenery there.”

Palmieri, 33, is in the final year of a four-year, $20 million contract and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent July 1. He owns a 16-team no-trade list and will have a say in where he ends up, if moved.

“I think right-handed shot presence and a 4C could be on Rob Blake’s wishlist once we get to March,” Bernstein proclaimed.