Los Angeles Kings Need Goaltending Help
Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period joined Adan Virk on NHL Now on the NHL Network last week and discussed the Los Angeles Kings. He emphasized that the Kings are not making a change of coach, focusing on getting help to score goals.
Writing for NHLRumors.com
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Adnan Virk: “One last quick thought here, Dave. The Kings, right now, are winless at home. They’ve lost (four) straight, (7-10-7). Is a coaching change imminent, regarding Jim Hiller?”
Dave Pagnotta: “Anyway. Anyway, the opinion from Los Angeles. And the word there is that they are not considering a coaching change at this time. LA concentration and GM Ken Holland will find a specific case. Look at that. They are looking to score goals. It has been a great struggle for them all year. This year, they’re 29th, 30th, whatever right now in the NHL in goals per game.
They are trying to get more of you. Now, it was nice to get a point (Wednesday and Friday) night against Vegas and tie that game late before losing in OT. But this is a team that still wants to improve its place at the top. As it turns out, it’s tied with San Jose (Seattle and Anaheim). A few points back on the (Utah) Mammoth.
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They still feel like legitimate playoff contenders, but Ken Holland is more focused on getting more points on this roster than making a coaching change right now. They went into a big dip, and they started losing 10 in a row, we’re talking about something different.
But right now, the focus is adding some offense to this team, not making a coaching change. That’s the focus for Ken Holland now. “
During an appearance on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio with Steve Kouleas and Dennis Bernstein, Dave Pagnotta discussed the idea of the Los Angeles Kings pursuing Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabers and Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers via trade or free agency.
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Pagnotta on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio: “I think if (Artemi) Panarin and (Alex) Tuch are available. I think LA is one of the teams looking at both, whatever, one of those guys to try to bring them in. They hit the open market as a free agent. I also think LA is going to go after those guys to try to bring in one of them to get that, and try that. Other options will be available, they’re going to jump on that.”
Could the Kings be in the market for a moving defenseman?
During the same segment, Bernstein tells Pagnotta and Kouleas on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio that the Los Angeles Kings need a dynamic defenseman to help spark the offense.
Dennis Bernstein on Sirius XM NHL Network: “But here’s the challenge with that.
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They have one defensive player who moves on this team, Brandt Clarke. Drew Doughty throws a big stretch pass. He is no longer a producer. (Mikey) Anderson isn’t here. (Cody) Ceci is not, (Brian) Dumoulin is not, and Joel Edmundson is not. So that’s why they can’t get traction offensively. And you’re not going to move any of these players.”
NHLRumors.com Note: The Los Angeles Kings are looking for the fourth time since the offseason. They are trying to find Mitch Marner and Brock Boeser. In addition, the Kings will need depth in the middle, with Anze Kopitar retiring at the end of the season. So GM Ken Holland has a lot of work to do.
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