Columbus winger Rick Nash could be a King if Dean Lombardi can discard his usual stinginess.

Game changers. There are not many of them in the NHL, and they’re rarely available at the trade deadline. When news of Rick Nash’s availability via trade broke earlier this week, the first thing that popped into my head was “We HAVE to do this. We NEED this guy”.

Nash is one of the NHL’s premiere wingers. He possesses an uncanny combination of size and pure skill that makes him special. He’s broken the 40 goal plane twice, and the 30 goal plane 4 times – his lowest goal scoring total since his rookie season was 27. And he’s done all this despite never playing with a legitimate playmaker type centerman.

Enter Kings center Anze Kopitar. Anze has been a 60+ point center in the NHL every season in his 5+ year career, without ever having the privilege of an elite, game-changing winger.

It’s a match made in heaven. Nash would likely break the 50 goal plateau playing on Kopitar’s wing. Kopitar would likely smash the 100 point plateau with a winger of that stature playing alongside him. It would make this Kings’ team much more than a potential contender. I believe it would put them over the top.

The Kings’ number one goaltender, Jonathan Quick, is giving up less than two goals a game (1.91 to be exact). He has given the team a chance to win in all but perhaps one of his 48 games played. The problem: His team is dead last in the league in scoring. Goal support at a withered clip of 2.10 per game makes Quick’s job the most difficult of any in the league. Even raising that average by .5 goals/game would give the Kings 12-14 more wins. That would give the Kings 89-93 points right now. They’d be the NHL’s top team by a very wide margin. Instead, scoring struggles have the Kings sitting at 65 points – good for 7th in the West, yet only 3 points out of first in the division behind a largely unimpressive San Jose team.

This year brought high expectations to the Kings. The acquisitions of Mike Richards and Simon Gagne were supposed to improve scoring and make the Kings Pacific Division favorites. Right now, if not for the play of Quick, they’d be buried in the division cellar behind surging Anaheim. Having already made a coaching change (which I believe has generally been positive), the man who’s job is most at risk going forward is general manager Dean Lombardi.

Lombardi, when he was hired in the Summer of 2006, preached of a 5 year plan that would make the Kings legitimate Cup contenders. While he’s done a lot to build a winning culture, the obstacle between the Kings and a serious run at the Cup is but one: they lack a goal scoring winger with game changing capabilities. Guess what? One just became available.

Dean failed at getting us Hossa, Kovalchuk, and Brad Richards. While Zach Parise would look good in a  Kings uniform, I don’t see them making nearly a good enough offer to land perhaps the game’s best American born winger. But they can get Nash.

The biggest gripes about a potential deal for Nash I’ve heard from fans on social media is “it would cost too much”. Columbus needs a good young goalie and help on defense, something the Kings have in spades. For some, the idea of giving up Jonathan Bernier (who likely won’t ever be a number one in Los Angeles), Jack Johnson, a top 6 forward/top prospect/1st round pick seems preposterous. I think people stuck in that frame of mind are missing the big picture.

We already have an all-world goalie in Quick. True, he is a UFA after NEXT season, but I’m not worried about him walking. He’s a humble kid who got a big break with the Kings’ organization when he was off most other teams’ radar. The Kings gave him his shot in front of the highly touted Bernier back in 08-09, he took the reins and hasn’t let go. I believe Quick will be a King for life. He’s the organization’s best goalie since Vachon, and could easily be number 1 on that list as he continues to improve. The likelihood that Bernier ends up being even as good as Quick, much less better than, is very slim. And I like Bernier, but right now, there’s perhaps two goalies in the league better than Quick. You’re talking a few parts per million that Bernier eclipses that at any point. Yes, he’s a nice insurance policy but at less than 20 games a year, a capable veteran backup would more than suffice. That’s just the reality of it. Bernier is the team’s most valuable asset, and the time to use him to make the team better is NOW.

About Johnson: I like Jack. He’s having a better year, he’s going to beat his career best mark in goals if he scores just one more; and he’s cut his minus rating at least in half at this point. Every time Doughty is out for any reason, Jack gives us a glimpse of what he was made to be: A number one defenseman. Part of me hates the idea of dealing him, he’s a great guy and made a big commitment to the club signing a 7 year extension last season. But, Johnson’s age (24), along with the length and reasonable cap hit of his current contract make him a very valuable asset. He’s never going to get a chance to fulfill his destiny as a number one guy in LA. Unless, we deal our current number one…

I’ll go on record as saying, I love Drew Doughty. He’s a fantastic kid, with a childlike love of the game you can’t help but like. I do think this season’s performance is an anomaly for him, he missed all of camp over that contract dispute (or rather, his agent held him out for a bigger payday because he has a personal grudge with Lombardi). Doughty is a rare talent that any team in the league would love to have. That said…If Columbus GM Scott Howson calls me and says “We’ll give you Rick Nash for Drew Doughty”, I make that deal without blinking. Nash is a game changer, exactly the type of player the Kings need to get to the next level. With Slava Voynov, who is better suited to a top 4 role than a 3rd pair spot, more than NHL ready; and the fact that Johnson steps up his play by orders of magnitude every time Doughty is out of the lineup, while fans might be disappointed, it would instantly make the Kings a better team.

The other name that’s been thrown around in rumors regarding Nash is Captain Dustin Brown, another fan favorite. I love Dustin and would like nothing more than to see him be the first King to touch the Cup. He’s an outstanding human being, his work ethic and willingness to do the dirty work, as well as his presence in the community make him an important cog in the machine. But, Brown has been playing with a tentativeness to his game for several weeks. I have often thought to myself  ”He looks like he knows he’s on the way out”, though I have no legitimate info that would make that more than a hunch. If we all take our fan glasses off for a minute, would you rather have a top line of Nash-Kopitar-Williams or Brown-Kopitar-Williams? We all love Brownie but Nash isn’t going to come cheap. The Jackets aren’t going to beg to take Penner or Stoll off our hands, they’re going to want a roster player with value.

Provided it isn’t gross overpayment, I don’t mind giving up a lot to get Nash. As I’ve stated many times, he’s a game changer. There are very few of those in the entire league, and they’re rarely available. If we’re talking getting a guy like Nash, I think absolutely NOBODY on the Kings’ roster except Anze Kopitar and Jonathan Quick should be untouchable.

Acquiring Nash could help boost scoring, and help the Kings reach the promised land, Lord Stanley’s Silver Cup, without Jon Quick needing to put on the greatest display of postseason goaltending in NHL history. I’d bet Quicker would appreciate it too.

Ultimately, I think either landing or not landing Nash will be what decides Dean Lombardi’s future as Kings’ GM. He’s whiffed on three game changers so far. This is his chance to silence his critics and make the Kings a team opponents fear. If he fails, the Kings could well be another first round casualty (unless Quick steals at least one series). It’s likely that AEG cleans out the front office if that happens. Lombardi knows this. My hope is that he realizes in time that lowball offers, just as with big name free agents, don’t work with big trades. This move could define the franchise.

Time to put up or shut up, Dean.

GO KINGS!

JS

Kings have announced the following player transactions:

Returned to juniors: Bryan Cameron, Geordie Wudrick, Matt Fillier.

Released from tryout agreement: Olivier Legault

SOURCE – lakings.com

Also Rich Hammond reports at Inside the Kings that Marc-Andre Cliche is out with a separated shoulder after sustaining a hit by Denis Gauthier during a scrimmage Sunday.

-JS

Despite reports earlier in the week, the Kings have yet to agree to a new contract with Patrick O’Sullivan. Camp opens for veterans tomorrow, Friday the 19th and Rich Hammond of the L.A. Daily News reported earlier today that O’Sullivan didn’t report to medical exams today with the rest of the vets and has been asked not to attend camp until a contract is worked out.

Hammond has an interesting conversation with Lombardi regarding that you can read HERE. Of concern is that, while fans have felt this may have been the case for weeks now, Lombardi admits that the two sides are “not very close…”.

Of note is that O’Sullivan is represented by agent Don Meehan, whom Lombardi has had trouble negotiating with in the past. The Kings have expressed a desire to get O’Sullivan locked into a long term contract, while Meehan may be looking to get his client a shorter deal so that he can angle a pay raise sooner if his performance merits. It’s unknown what Meehan is asking for salary-wise for O’Sullivan at this time but it seems obvious that Meehan and Lombardi are playing hardball. Meehan may be trying to milk the fact that the Kings need to sign O’Sullivan to reach the cap floor.

Despite the apparent impasse, I would expect the Kings to get O’Sullivan signed before the season begins. O’Sullivan is considered part of the team’s young core and the club will almost certainly retain his services despite the fact he’s been linked to unsubstantiated trade rumors with several teams.

More as it develops.

-JS

Just to clear up, I had stated earlier that Anaheim Defenseman Mathieu Schneider would be subject to re-entry waivers after clearing waivers this morning at 9AM Pacific time. Actually, Schneider isn’t subject to re-entry waivers unless Anaheim decides to send him to the AHL and recall him. While GM Brian Burke is desperate to get rid of Schneider’s contract, he did say today that he would not subject him to re-entry waivers, effectively putting Anaheim back at square one.

At this point I would be surprised to see the Kings make any kind of move for Schneider. There are other guys available who are better defensively for a lot less money. In order to move Schneider, Anaheim will likely have to package him with another player or a high draft pick to get a team to take on his $5.75 million dollar cap hit.

Expect the Kings to look elsewhere for the veteran, left shot defenseman they’re coveting right now.

The Phoenix Coyotes rookies beat the Kings rookies 3-0 today at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Phoenix got a pair of goals from Chad Kolarik and one by Adam Perry. Joel Gistedt made 32 saves for the Shutout.

Jeff Zatkoff stopped 12 of 14 shots and Linden Rowat stopped all 7 shots he faced as they split net duties for the Kings. The Coyotes third goal of the game (Kolarik’s second goal) was an empty netter.

Here’s the writeup from lakings.com.

The Kings veterans report to camp this Friday, September 19th and have their first exhibition games, a split squad affair facing the St. Louis Blues in Kansas City and the Phoenix Coyotes at home on Monday, September 22nd.

-JS

Andy Strickland of HockeyBuzz.com is reporting that Matheiu Schneider has cleared waivers, meaning the Kings and the remainder of the NHL declined to file a waiver claim for him. Now he becomes subject to reverse waivers, in which the Kings could get him for half of his $5.75 Million salary and the Ducks are on the hook for the other half.

Great move by the Kings and the NHL to stick it to Brian Burke, who was looking to get out of cap trouble easily.

SOURCE

-JS

Kings rookies beat the Phoenix Coyotes rookies at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, AZ tonight 2-1. Oscar Moller and Wayne Simmonds were the Kings’ goal scorers.

Moller broke the glass with a hard shot on the first shift of the game. Simmonds impressed a lot, lots of hustle.

Drew Doughty went end to end 3 times during the game by my count, drawing penalties on two of those plays. Overall I thought Doughty was the best player on the ice for either team.

Colten Teubert hammered Kyle Turris and Viktor Tikhonov of Pheonix. Looked like a physical force out there.

2008 second round pick Vyateslav Voynov also looked particularly impressive.

Richard Clune really took me by suprise with his gritty, gutsy play. This kid could end up being a fan favorite.

Jonathan Bernier looked rock solid. You get the impression that playing against rookies is just too easy for him. If tonight is any indication, the club will have a tough decision on their hands regarding Bernier and whether he should be in the AHL or in LA with the big club. He definitely looks poised to make a splash in camp again this year.

Undrafted invitee Martin Jones from Calgary of the WHL looked pretty good in net as well. If not for the organizations outstanding depth I’d call him a shoo-in for the ECHL based on what we saw tonight.

Shining Stars (Author’s opinion anyway): Doughty, Moller, Simmonds, Bernier and Doughty. Honrable mention to Teubert, Voynov, Jones, Clune and Marc-Andre Cliche. Again, I thought Doughty was the best player on the ice for either team even though he didn’t get on the scoreboard.

Guys I’d rate as invisible would be Scott Parse. Not sure if Thomas Hickey played tonight but if he did I didn’t notice him or hear his name called at all.

Here’s the article on the game from the Kings’ official site.

Teams play again in Glendale, AZ Wednesday afternoon at 2PM. Expect to see Jeff Zatkoff and Linden Rowat split the goaltending duties.

-JS

USA Today NHL beat writer Kevin Allen is reporting that the Ducks have waived Mathieu Schneider.

The Anaheim Ducks, needing to trim payroll, have placed defenseman Mathieu Schneider on waivers with the expectation that a team will claim him and his $5.75 million salary for this season.

Once they move Schneider off the books, the Ducks are expected to re-sign Teemu Selanne.

Source

With rumors circulating over the past month or so that the Kings were working on a deal with Anaheim to acquire Schneider, expect the Kings to put in a waiver claim for him sometime today.

Kings GM Dean Lombardi has stated he is looking for a veteran defenseman with a left hand shot. Schneider fits this description to a tee, although some feel his leadership ability is questionable and cite the fact that Schneider has always been a more offensive minded player who isn’t the most responsible in his own end.

If you are the Kings, you can now get Schneider without giving up any assets, but it might be worth giving up a late round pick of two to get a guy like Jay McKee who is better defensively.

-JS

The Los Angeles Kings have signed restricted free agent center Jarret Stoll to four-year contract and restricted free agent center Brad Richardson to a two-year contract, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced Monday. Per club policy, terms of the agreement were not announced.

Source: lakings.com

Rich Hammond of the LA Daily News is reporting in his Inside The Kings Blog that Richardson and Stoll’s contracts were worth the following:

Brad Richardson gets $575,000 this season, $600,000 next season. Jarret Stoll, as previously reported, gets a four-year, $14.4-million contract.

The Insider On Pittsburgh Sports

According to a league source the LA Kings and center Patrick O’Sullivan are on the verge of agreeing to a 4 year deal.The deal is believed to be worth close to $4.25 million per season. Expect an official announcement later in the week. O’Sullivan was previously seeking up to $5 million per season.

Will keep my eyes peeled for other links to this on sites that might be more respectable. Thought this might help quash some of the silly trade rumors out there.

-JS