Matt Roy's journey is a testament to the potential of late-draft picks. He defied the odds to play meaningful games at the NHL level, establishing himself as a bonafide top-four defenseman. His right shot and aggressive play style further set him apart, making him a standout player on the blue line.
Roy was the reliable backup option when the first defensive pair was not on the ice. He held his own against higher-tier matchups, and early underlying analytics of his pairing with Vladislav Gavrikov were at the top of the league. While not a Powerplay guy, he has an excellent slap shot, highlighted by his 10 goals in 2022-23 goals.
Roy is now gone, a figure that will not be easily replaced. However you picture it, it's a great story for the Michigan Tech alumni. Any time a late draft pick like his can make a payday, it's a huge win for the person and the player.
The Los Angeles Kings whiffed on moving Roy at last season's trade deadline. That fact is not changing; it's old news. It has, left a gaping hole in the Kings' D core.
Enough of damages caused. What are the next steps?
Enter three players. Two should inspire hope for the franchise, while one represents a possible boat anchor.
Brandt Clarke will be one of the most hyped players to watch on the Kings and possibly the league next year. Clarke got 16 NHL games under his belt last year and collected two goals and four assists for six points in his limited action. While in Ontario, Clarke was one of the top offensive defensemen in the AHL. He torched the league for 10 goals, 36 assists, and 46 points in 50 games.
Clarke, combined with an expanded role from Jordan Spence, should insulate more offense from a less offensively inclined Kings forward group from the year prior.
The Kings chose to go with a grittier facelift during the offseason. Two young defensemen who have excellent offensive acumen can give the backend viable outlets for scoring opportunities.
While Spence quarterbacked the second power play last year, Clarke is a desirable option for this season. It will come down to how Hiller deploys the two and how the unit operates under each. Spence is likely to retain his role and rights, but he will have to produce with a potential burgeoning offensive star in Clarke breathing down his neck.
Both players should garner hope for offensive improvement from the backend next season. While the offense may pick up from the season prior, the defense is set to suffer.
Roy was a dependable, all-situational player. Joel Edmundson is not. Roy stayed remarkably healthy; Edmundson has not. The player Blake brought in to force Englund out of the lineup is marginally better when healthy.
As mentioned before, the team is grittier than the previous season. Make no mistake; that will be an element for the Kings next season. But to think the defensive core is better off than it was the year prior is a fool's hope. Clarke will be much-watch hockey, even if there will be many hiccups next year. Spence will have the opportunity to take the next step. Edmundson represents a massive question mark.
The Roy loss represents uncharted waters for the D corps. Clarke and Spence will have to lead the way.