Imagine a hockey team hemorrhaging players to injuries, their playoff dreams hanging by a thread. That's the grim reality for the Los Angeles Kings right now. But here's where it gets interesting: they're reportedly circling back on a player once considered a risky gamble – Patrik Laine. Could this be the Hail Mary pass they desperately need?
Last month, rumors swirled about the Kings' interest in the Canadiens' winger Patrik Laine, following the devastating season-ending injury to Kevin Fiala at the Olympics. While those talks initially fizzled, recent reports from David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period suggest a renewed interest from the Kings, especially after a fresh wave of injuries has decimated their roster.
The Kings' injury list reads like a who's who of their offensive firepower. Andrei Kuzmenko, one of their top scorers, underwent surgery for a torn meniscus and is out for the regular season. Joel Armia is on injured reserve, and Quinton Byfield is sidelined with an upper-body injury. Factor in Trevor Moore's illness, and you're looking at a third of their regular forwards unavailable. It's no wonder they've struggled since the break, managing only a 1-3-0 record and averaging a measly 2.25 goals per game.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. The Kings fired head coach Jim Hiller and appointed D.J. Smith as interim coach, but a 4-2 loss to the Avalanche in his debut didn't exactly inspire confidence. Despite being only four points out of a playoff spot with a game in hand, the Kings face an uphill battle. They need to leapfrog three teams – the Predators, Sharks, and Oilers – and MoneyPuck gives them a mere 27.7% chance of making the playoffs at this stage.
And this is the part most people miss: the Kings' scoring woes aren't just a recent phenomenon. Their offense has been anemic all season, averaging a league-worst 2.52 goals per game. Their power play is equally dismal, ranking 26th out of 32 teams with a 16.8% success rate. Even Artemi Panarin, acquired in a trade last month, hasn't found the back of the net yet, managing only three assists in four games.
With Fiala and Kuzmenko out long-term, the situation is dire. This is where Laine enters the picture. A former 40-goal scorer, Laine's exorbitant $8.7MM cap hit has made him a trade liability for the Canadiens, who are desperate for cap flexibility. He hasn't played since October due to core muscle surgery but has been practicing since January, suggesting he's close to a return.
Laine's start to the season was underwhelming, with just one assist and a -3 rating in five games. However, he showed promise as a secondary scorer in a limited role for the Canadiens last season, netting 20 goals and 33 points in 52 games. That translates to a 0.38 goals per game average, which would currently lead the Kings.
Here's the controversial part: Is Laine the answer to the Kings' scoring woes, or is he a risky gamble on a player who hasn't lived up to his potential? If healthy, the pending free agent could be given a prominent role in the Kings' top nine and on their power play unit. But will it be enough to spark a late-season surge and propel them into playoff contention? Only time will tell. What do you think? Is Laine worth the risk for the Kings, or should they look elsewhere for offensive help? Let us know in the comments below!
