If you've spoken to any die hard Kings fans within the last couple of months, they'll tell you how the team is doing well but is in desperate need of a right-shot, scoring Winger.
It's a narrative that has likely found its way between the ears of General Manager Rob Blake who heard the same outpouring of negative responses before flipping Forward Pierre-Luc Dubois for Goaltender Darcy Kuemper.
Forwards like Jonathan Marchessault, Alex Tuch, and Brock Boeser have been thrown out there as names to keep an eye on. I don't see the Kings getting Marchessault because, even though Nashville Predators General Manager Barry Trotz has alluded to tearing things down and starting over, Marchessault likely won't be shown the door that quickly. Tuch would fit the Kings' brand of hockey but I believe the upstate New York native is happy playing in Buffalo. As for Boeser, the Canucks may be willing to trade him to the Kings — even with both being Pacific Division rivals competing for a playoff position — but, the asking price may be too high for a guy on the last year of his current contract.
What if the answer is a combination of all-three? A smaller Forward like Marchessault... a guy who has hometown roots to a certain extent... a guy who isn't on the last year of his deal but isn't on a lengthy, expensive contract either.
What if the answer has been right there in front of us this whole time?
What if the answer is bringing back Forward Viktor Arvidsson?
With nineteen points (7G, 12A) in forty-three games, this season, Edmonton may be willing to part with Arvidsson and it may not be a deal that breaks the bank for LA. Arvidsson signed a two-year, $4M/AAV deal with the Oilers in the offseason. Presently, the Kings have a little less than $4M to spend and, since we're past the halfway point of the season, Arvidsson would be owed less than $2M. Because Arvidsson's point production is low, and he got hit with the injury bug earlier this season, the price tag could be a mid-round draft pick if the Kings are willing to eat Arvidsson's contract.
For fans clamoring that the Kings need a right-shot, scoring Winger on the power play, Arvidsson may be the perfect fit. He knows the players and has built in chemistry. The system has changed but he’s familiar with Head Coach Jim Hiller and how he'd be utilized on special teams.
It's not an option that doesn't present challenges, mind you. For one, if Arvidsson were to return, he'd likely be paired with his former linemates Phillip Danault and Trevor Moore.
Danault and Moore have played well with Warren Foegele and have become one of Hiller's personal favorite lines to lean on. Maybe Arvidsson slides up and plays on his off-wing with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe. But then, Alex Turcotte gets moved into obscurity which would be unfair as, in my opinion, he hasn't played himself out of a job.
Ultimately, combinations wouldn't matter beyond setting the initial lineup as Hiller is bound to make adjustments throughout the game.
But, just for fun, here's how the Forward group may look if Arvidsson returns to LA.
Foegele - Kopitar - Kempe
Fiala - Byfield - Laferriere
Moore - Danault - Arvidsson
Jeannot - Turcotte - Lewis