After a third consecutive first-round loss, limited impact from the once-great prospect pool and moving on from advertised missing piece Pierre-Luc Dubois, many fans are left questioning, what is the plan for the Los Angeles Kings?
Rob Blake and company sent picks to the Tampa Bay Lightning to acquire Tanner Jeannot. Jeannot has some good pop to his game but comes at a pricier acquisition to revive a player they believe can find the form of his Nashville playing days. During free agency's opening day, they signed versatile and speedy winger Warren Foegele and Joel Edmundson was signed for a four-year contract, which at appears to be an expensive attempt at upgrading Andreas Englund.
The aforementioned Dubois trade netted Darcy Kuemper to "answer" the goaltending question too.
Blake took ownership of the Dubois situation, but it's clear there was never a clear plan to effectively utilize the him in LA. Dubois will rightfully get the opportunity for that fresh start and to be 'the guy' for the Caps, but all signs point back to LA's front office again. This was a move to get the Kings past the Edmonton Oilers, which dispatched the Kings yet again.
The corrective action move brought a goaltender in return. Kuemper been on the downturn for three seasons, losing his starter's job in Washington last season. There is likely a bounce-back to his game, but that remains to be seen. The Kings' defensive system is goalie-friendly and can help revitalize a career, as we saw with Cam Talbot.
The Kings walked away from Matt Roy, Viktor Arvidsson, and Blake Lizotte and they traded Carl Grundstrom. Roy will join Dubois in Washington, and Arvidsson will play for what looks to be a possibly better Oilers team on paper. Their replacements cannot be equalized in the form of the recent pickups. It just doesn't add up that way. With these departures, they can finally deploy their 'youth'.
Their youth has not been implemented how many envisioned and their stock has undoubtedly plummeted because of that. That would be you, Alex Turcotte. That would also be you, Akil Thomas. Hey, throw in Samuel Fagemo, to boot. These are guys that have been either injured, blocked, or suffocated for years now. It's been time.
If the plan is to play Alex Laferriere at LW1, Jeannot, and Foegele in the top nine while having the 'youth' play on the fourth line, then this team could be heading towards a regression.
The plan that has worked? Playing your best prospects in the top six. See Kempe; see Byfield. If it isn't broken, don't fix it, but do not continue to attempt to see growth from your prospects by plugging them into situations to fail.
Ambiguity, confusion, and frustration.
What is the plan in LA, yet again?