Kevin Hoffman-USA Today Sports
With Slava Voynov’s legal situation still in doubt and his cap space now available, the Los Angeles Kings should try to acquire another defenseman to bolster their blue line.
The team did sign former Wisconsin Badger Jamie McBain last week, but I really feel there is another move to be made for this squad in order to compete in the gauntlet that is the Western Conference. With the Washington Capitals playing subpar hockey and Mike Green a pending free agent, could the former Norris Finalist be a fit in LA?
Green has struggled with health — he was just put on the injured reserve list — and consistency since he wowed the league with 31 goals from the back end in 2008-09. Having said that, the Kings need a shot in the arm and Green could be just that.
While him and Drew Doughty may appear too similar on paper to work together, I think they could complement each other perfectly. Having them on different pairings would allow Green to eat some of Doughty’s ice time, keeping him fresh for the playoffs. Meanwhile, Green would be free of the yolk of playing in all situations and be free to roam and play the offensive game he loves to play.
In a way, it’s sort of like the way Ryan Callahan has fit in with the Tampa Bay Lightning with the opposite styles of play. With players such as Steven Stamkos shouldering the offensive load, Callahan has been allowed to play his simple style and be rewarded with the best start to his career. Green on the Kings wouldn’t have to worry about playing prominent defensive minutes and could go back to being the Green of years past before he hits the free agent market in July.
While I can see Green and Darryl Sutter butting heads, it’s not like Sutter would be the first hardline coach Green’s played for. When Dale Hunter coached the Caps in 2011-12, they played a trap that rivaled the New Jersey Devils of the 1990’s and sapped most offensive creativity. Sutter surely looks like a walk in the park after playing for Hunter.
While I admit it’s an absolute long-shot, and the Capitals would have to retain some of Green’s salary, it’s a call worth making for the Kings. While it’s tough to justify giving up assets for a rental player like Green, it may be a move worth making. Whether it’s Green or someone else, the Kings need to make a move to stay competitive in the murder’s row that is the Western Conference.
