It’s deadline week. And with only a few days left until the NHL Trade Deadline on Friday, general managers are scrambling to put the finishing touches on their respective clubs. For the LA Kings, many questions are left unanswered. Mostly due to Rob Blake‘s absence from answering such questions, but also from the play on the ice.

What gaps in the lineup must the Kings fill to emerge as true contenders? Where does Brandt Clarke fit into the equation, now and in the years ahead? And who might LA pursue before the deadline buzzer sounds? With Blake offering little clarity, I’ll dive into these pressing questions myself.

Brandt Clarke

Brandt Clarke, the Kings’ highly touted prospect, has fans scratching their heads after yet another healthy scratch in St. Louis. The 2021 eighth overall pick burst onto the scene this season, stepping up admirably when Drew Doughty was sidelined.

Over his first 25 games, Clarke logged an average of 18:44 per night, racking up 16 points (3 goals, 13 assists) and a +6 rating. But the momentum has since stalled. In his next 30 games, his ice time dipped to 14:16, and his production fell to nine points (1 goal, 8 assists).

Now, with Clarke watching from the press box more often, trade rumors are swirling around the young defenseman. I’m not buying into the chatter, though. Clarke’s potential is too bright to ship him out. Yes, Drew Doughty’s presence complicates the blue line, especially with Vladislav Gavrikov excelling on the right and Jordan Spence rounding into form. But trading Clarke would be a short-sighted move when the Kings should be thinking big-picture.

Positional Needs
Scoring winger

The Kings’ need for a top-six winger who can put the puck in the net is glaring. Coach Jim Hiller’s constant line juggling has reached a breaking point. It’s not just the fourth line getting shuffled in his 11/7 setup— the spot beside Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe has turned into a carousel.

Per Evolving Hockey, six different players have logged over 40 minutes of 5v5 ice time with Kopitar and Kempe. That’s unsustainable. Championship teams don’t play musical chairs with their top line. If this persists into the playoffs, it’s hard to imagine fans feeling confident—or the Kings hoisting the Cup.

Depth center

The LA Kings’ loyalty to Trevor Lewis is starting to backfire. Lewis has been a warrior for the franchise, but his current role isn’t working. Among players with 300+ minutes, he ranks dead last on the team in 5v5 relative expected goals percentage (-9.4%), per Money Puck. The Kings boast a 57.5% expected goals share with him off the ice, but that drops to 48.1% when he’s on. Tanner Jeannot, acquired for a 2nd and 4th-round pick last draft, hasn’t fared much better in the depth role either.

A new depth center isn’t a make-or-break need—fourth-liners don’t typically win playoff series—but it’d be a boost. Especially in the faceoff dot, where Lewis, the lone right-shot center, sits below 50% on draws.

Backup goalie

Just watch the highlights of Saturday’s game against St. Louis. That tells the story. For a team that should be striving for home-ice advantage in round one of the playoffs, there needs to be a reliable back up option. And right now it’s not Rittich.

Over his last eight starts, Rittich is 2-4-2 with a 3.06 goals against average and .886 save percentage. Darcy Kuemper has been steady as the starter, but overworking him risks injury or fatigue by April. A dependable No. 2 is a must.

Top Targets
Alex Tuch

Alex Tuch, a right-shot forward from Buffalo, screams “LA Kings player.” Big, versatile, and productive, Tuch has 46 points (22 goals, 24 assists) in 58 games this season. With one year left at $4.75 million, he’d slot perfectly next to Kopitar and Kempe. Word is the Kings have interest, but the Sabres aren’t eager to part with their hometown star. It’d take a steep price to pry him loose.

Rickard Rakell

The Pittsburgh Penguins are quickly approaching rebuild territory. And one of the names to watch out for is another scoring winger in Rickard Rakell. I was impressed with his play at the 4 Nations tournament for Sweden. He was strong along the boards, created multiple scoring chances, and didn’t seem to shy away from the big moment.

Rakell would be a more long-term option for LA. With three more years left on his deal at a cap hit of $5 million, he could fill a void in the top six at a lower cost than other big names available with Pittsburgh looking to rebuild soon.

Brock Boeser

I’m wary of rentals for the Kings, but Brock Boeser might be an exception. The 28-year-old has 18 goals in 53 games this year after a 40-goal season in 2023-24. If LA goes this route, I’d want an extension in place—otherwise, it’s a dicey bet on a pending UFA.

Jake Evans

Among the names I previously mentioned, Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans tops my list of targets. While I consider trade targets like Boeser and Tuch as luxuries, Evans to me is a necessity. First of all, he’s relatively cheap with Montreal reportedly asking for a second round pick in return. And he fits a desperate need for the Kings.

The only two centers on the Kings with a plus 50% faceoff win rate are both lefties in Kopitar and Danault. Evans is 52.4% in the circle with 422 of those draws coming in the defensive zone, more than any Kings player.

Having a reliable right-handed center who can kill penalties alleviating Kopitar of such duties is of vital importance for LA.

With the clock ticking, the LA Kings need to act decisively. The pieces are there for a contender, but the gaps—on the wing, down the middle, and in net—could derail their postseason dreams if left unaddressed.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images

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