3 Offseason Targets For LA Kings
The LA Kings put together a nice team this season that put in work in the regular season and the playoffs so far. There might be some changes if they can't bring back a few free agents though. Assuming that they can't and there are some holes to be filled, these following three players are the team's best bet at coming back even stronger.
Nikolaj Ehlers
LA's five forward power play really changed things for them and I don't think it's something that is going to be going away next season for them. Andrei Kuzmenko is part of that unit and he is a free agent who is going to want a big raise from his sub-$3 million AAV cap hit. If the Kings want to go bigger, Ehlers is the man they should target. He would be slotted in on the top line, which is something he wants, and fill in on that top power play. He has been effective this season on the man advantage and has had a great season.
Ryan Lindgren
The same what if applies to Vladislav Gavrikov as he is a free agent and may leave in the offseason. The Kings will have to get a top-4 LD if that is the case. Though I like Matt Grzelcyk as well, Ryan Lindgren is a sneaky pick to be a piece that will hang around a while and contribute. He may not have had a great season with the New York Rangers this season, but not many did. He fits right in on many teams as a second pairing d-man and is only 27 years old.
Dan Vladar
The Kings may very well choose to move on from David Rittich in the summer as he put up a .887 SV% and is a free agent. He was a nice surprise and fill-in for the last two seasons, but Erik Portillo is on the way and should be given more than one game next season to see what he has. All their chips for the backup role can't be placed in a 23-year-old goalie though. The Kings are going to need to pick up a backup and I think Dan Vladar is a solid target. He won't be expensive, has more potential than Rittich, especially on a better defensive team, and can be signed short-term.
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