The Los Angeles Kings Need Goal Scoring
The Los Angeles Kings traded Phillip Danault to the Montreal Canadiens for a second-round pick. From the Los Angeles side of things, they will look to use this pick to get some offensive help, which they have been looking for since the summer.
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As Dave Pagnotta of the Fourth Period explained on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio with Dennis Bernstein and Steve Kouleas, when asked about the Kings and their offensive struggles.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
Dennis Bernstein: “Dave, you were with me to see four Kings games over the last two weeks, and they did score six goals in one of those games. But we know what the issue is in Los Angeles which is offense. How long can Kenny Holland afford to be patient, because it looks like the core of this team isn’t going to be able to produce offensively? How much longer can he be patient before he makes a move externally to prop up the offense?”
Dave Pagnotta: “Yeah, that’s obviously what he’s looking for. He’s looking at offense. I know there have been all kinds of reports about other stuff that don’t seem fully accurate. I see Ken Holland looking around, still looking around and trying to see where he can add some offense and an offensive driver.
This team is going to be going through it changes. Now I understand where they’re at, because a lot of it is circumstantial. Based on what the talent that they have on this roster, there are good pieces, but you don’t have offensive weapons left, right and center, so you have to adjust your game plan accordingly and try to succeed as best you can with what you have.
And I think some of the moves that Kenny made over the summer were specific, to just maintain a sound, defensive type of team that can still collect points and still be in the playoff picture and then after that, who knows.
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But realistically, Anze Kopitar‘s last season. Quinton Byfield hasn’t exploded the way a lot of people still believe he will. Yet offensively, you really have Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala, and Kempe more so than Fiala in terms of offensive weapons.
You need more, and they have been disappointed in (Warren) Foegele’s production offensively, Trevor Moore‘s production offensively. They want more from these guys, and they’re hoping for it. But I’ve got to imagine, I think now might be a little premature. I think you’re probably looking at something closer to Olympic break for the Kings and other teams, looking in terms of trying to add some extra firepower to the lineup.”
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