NHL Los Angeles Kings

5 Best Los Angeles Kings Players Dean Lombardi Has Traded For

5 Best Los Angeles Kings Players Dean Lombardi Has Traded For

JeffCarter
Dennis Wierzbicki- USA Today Sports

The Los Angeles Kings didn’t become one of the best franchises in hockey by accident, as they have one of the best front office staffs in the entire league. General manager Dean Lombardi is one of, if not the best in the league and has built this team through free agency, the draft and most notably trades. Lombardi isn’t shy to pull the trigger on a big deal, with these five being among the biggest deals he’s made since taking the job in 2006.

5. Jarret Stoll

Jarret Stoll
Robert Mackson-USA Today Sports

5. Jarret Stoll

MacksonStoll
Robert Mackson-USA Today Sports

The gritty center arrived in L.A. from Edmonton alongside Matt Greene for star Lubomir Visnovsky and played an integral two-way role in both of the team’s Stanley Cups. In retrospect it looks like Stoll was rescued, as Edmonton has been a trainwreck and the Kings are one of the best teams in the NHL since the trade in 2008.

4. Justin Williams

Chicago Blackhawks v Los Angeles Kings - Game Six
Getty Images

4. Justin Williams

Chicago Blackhawks v Los Angeles Kings - Game Six
Getty Images

Williams won a Stanley Cup in Carolina and brought his winning ways to Hollywood when Lombardi acquired the winger in 2009. All Williams has done since then is come up aces in the postseason and add to his already impressive resume, with two more Stanley Cups and a Conn Smythe for postseason MVP.

3. Mike Richards

Mike Richards
Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

3. Mike Richards

Mike Richards
Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

As bad as Richards has been this season, his winning-ways and amazing resume helped turn this Kings team into a winner when Lombardi made the deal with Philadelphia to bring the center westward in 2011. Regardless of what Richards’ future in L.A. holds, the team in all likelihood wouldn’t be where it’s at without the gritty center.

2. Marian Gaborik

Los Angeles Kings Victory Parade And Rally
Getty Images

2. Marian Gaborik

Los Angeles Kings Victory Parade And Rally
Getty Images

The “Slovakian Sniper” was the team’s missing element last season as he torched the rest of the league en route to the 2014 Stanley Cup. Lombardi shrewdly made the deal to bring him in from Columbus and more shrewdly convinced Gaborik to stay with the Kings for less than free agent market value.

1. Jeff Carter

JeffCarterVsHawks
Robert Mackson- USA Today Sports

1. Jeff Carter

JeffCarterVsHawks
Robert Mackson- USA Today Sports

Carter was irked while playing half a season in Columbus before Lombardi not only got him out of Ohio, but reunited him with longtime running-mate Mike Richards. All the former Flyers duo has done since Carter’s 2012 trade is win two Stanley Cups and show fans in Philly what they’re missing.

Share Tweet