The Los Angeles Kings are coming off of a poor run of play, highlighted by a shootout loss to the lowly Sharks, which has undermined an excellent start to the season.
Cracks in their foundation are visible, and with a team so tight to the cap, what are the available options?
The team is reportedly looking for a goaltender at the deadline, but it is the offense that has dried up.
McLellan has mixed lines to churn some offense and get some players going. Notably, Kevin Fiala's earlier move up the lineup to play again with Phillip Danault and Trevor. Moore has been a sparkplug of consistent offense.
"When they didn't have it, they were working really hard as a group of three to get it back and they took a lot of passing lanes away, they reloaded well. When they did have it, they held on to it and did a good job in the offensive zone, wearing the other team down when they needed to and attacked when they had to. They had a real good night and it's really good to see." Todd McLellan, on the trio of Moore-Danault-Fiala.
Conversely, Pierre Luc Dubois has been moved to the top-line wing, with empty results thus far. He has floated up and down the lineup without any significant offensive results.
The team attempts to regain its footing with the Pacific Division and Western Conference as they have floundered into a Wildcard position, but their cap situation limits their options for external improvements.
Their big deadline move won't be a trade, but rather the return of Viktor Arvidsson.
While the return of Arvidsson will be a massive boost, it will come at the cost of someone on the current roster.
The options are limited to waiver speculation. For example, Jared Anderson-Dolan looks like a lock as an extra and utility forward for this team, but he has to pass through waivers.
Arthur Kaliyev has been linked to trade speculation in recent days but would also have to pass through waivers.
It will be essential to make a move that benefits not only the player being sent down but also the organization.
For Alex Laferriere, he looks to be the one sent down
The rookie winger cracked the lineup out of training camp with much surprise. The injury and suspension played a role in that decision, but he has looked comfortable in the NHL.
He is slick with the puck and not afraid to make plays, and while he does get burned sometimes, it is expected to happen with a young rookie player.
He has seen some time on the second unit powerplay but has yet to collect a powerplay point. Laferriere would be the first choice to get sent down to make room.
It is nothing against the run of play in which Laferriere has amply provided an extensive, quality body of work that he can further home in the AHL. It simply comes down to being waivers exempt.
The demotion would benefit both teams, as Laferriere has a bright future of being an impact player in the NHL, and spending time working on his game would only benefit him.
The Kings would be adding a savvy two-way winger and a volume shooter to the possible wing, flanking possibly Pierre Luc Dubois in what could be a last-ditch option to see which winger clicks with him. Laferriere remains prone to error, being such a young and inexperienced player in the league.
Arvidsson, who is coming off another significant injury and surgery, will still be an excellent "deadline" acquisition for the Kings this year. He is coming off an excellent season in which he posted numbers reflective of his peak years in Nashville, totaling 26 goals, 33 assists, and 59 points.
Of note, 25 of the 59 points came from the powerplay. Which while the Penalty Kill has reached new heights, the Powerplay has regressed considerably from the season prior.
While his future with the Kings is unclear after this season, it is clear that they will be getting an underrated two-way winger with poise, shot volume, and a monster primary assist powerplay individual who is right-handed.
Not many players have the ability or the purpose of being the "straw that stirs the drink," but Arvidsson returning solidifies the forward corps and adds a veteran right-handed shot threat to the first powerplay unit.
Laferriere would join a solid Ontario Reign roster poised to do significantly more damage with him in their lineup. All Laferriere can do is continue to play well and make the decision to send him down that much more difficult.
He could end up being the next black ace that turns into a Bonafide impact player for the Kings, such as Tyler Toffoli.