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Mike Reilly A Potential Offseason Target For Los Angeles Kings

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Mike Reilly

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Last year it was Kevin Hayes, who four years after being drafted in the first round by the Chicago Blackhawks used his CBA right to become a free agent and ended up signing with the New York Rangers. This summer University of Minnesota defenseman Mike Reilly has elected to go the same route, using the “four year” rule to become an unrestricted free agent rather than sign with the Columbus Blue Jackets, who drafted the former Holy Angels star in the fourth round of the 2011 draft. Teams around the league are salivating at the notion of adding the blue liner who posted an impressive 42 points in 39 games for the Gophers.

Reilly has not ruled out signing with Columbus, as he’s being coached by current Jackets head coach Todd Richards — a fellow Minnesotan and Gophers alum — for Team USA at the World Championships. That being said, the hometown Minnesota Wild, as well as the Blackhawks appear to be the front-runners for his services. Given their holes on defense and need to infuse more youth into the organization, I really feel the Los Angeles Kings should make a strong pitch on why Reilly would fit in well with the two-time Stanley Cup champs.

While there would be growing pains with a 22-year-old rookie defenseman, I think Reilly’s upside outweighs his inexperience and by midseason he’d find his comfort zone. As a left-handed shot, Reilly could eventually slide in as Drew Doughty’s partner and be an almost perfect complementary piece to the all-world Doughty. I also love the mobility Reilly possesses and think that kind of smooth skating would be a great fit on a Kings blue line that could use it — especially with Slava Voynov’s uncertain future.

The Kings remain a longshot in the Reilly sweepstakes, but they may very well offer him the best all-around package — ability to not only play in the NHL, but compete for a championship as well as the allure of living in Southern California being the ones that come to mind. This L.A. team wants to prove it’s a perennial contender and missing the playoffs this season is a fluke. Landing Reilly would be a fantastic way to do that. If the Kings do land Reilly, I’d have to say it would be the biggest St. Paul to L.A. move since the Walsh family traded the land of 10,000 Lakes for the Golden State on Beverly Hills, 90210 in the 1990s.

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