The Dubois trade, one of the biggest thefts in recent years in Jason Demers’s eyes

The Los Angeles Kings are a good NHL team, but they’re not exactly a powerhouse. With 47 points in 37 games, 11 clubs are ahead of them in the standings.

You’d expect them to be higher… and certainly not, as of January 11, 2024, behind the Flyers. Flyers.

Inevitably, you’d think the club would want to improve in the run-up to the trade deadline. On paper, the improvements could involve an addition in front of the net or up front.

The blue line isn’t the problem: the club gave up just 90 goals this season, placing it first in the NHL in that regard.

On the goaltending front, David Pagnotta tells us that the club is no longer interested in looking for a goaltender to replace Phoenix Copley, whose season is over.

He also mentions in passing that Jake Allen no longer seems to be an option for them. Marc Bergevin works for the Kings.

We can certainly assume that the Canadiens’ goaltender’s performance – as well as his contract – have dampened the Kings’ ardor, but we can also assume that the projected space under the $1,941 cap is a hindrance to the addition of any goaltender. Not just Allen.

According to Pagnotta, the Kings’ “addition” this season should be Viktor Arvidsson, who will return from injury. He doesn’t expect, because of the club’s monetary package, the Kings to be big players on the rental market by March 8.

And for that, we can probably point the finger at Pierre-Luc Dubois.

After all, if the problem isn’t defensively (fewer goals allowed in the league, mind you), we can see that the problem is offensively. With 123 goals, the club ranks 18th in the league.

Let’s just say that, with his meagre output, Dubois isn’t doing his part in an attack that needs to give more. We agree.

It’s precisely to compensate for his lack of attack that the Kings would have to make a move if they wanted to win, but his $8.5 M per season contract is necessarily blocking them at the moment.

If only they had a Gabriel Vilardi for less…

When you look at the Kings’ top earners, you realize that offensively, they’re all giving their team a lot of bang for their buck. Pierre-Luc Dubois and defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov are the exceptions.

Let’s just say that Dubois, who sees Kings fans not being satisfied customers at the moment, must be finding the time a little long.

In gusto

– When will Mikhail Sergachev return to action? Not just yet.

– Tough season for the Quebecer.

– Makes sense.

– Jeff Skinner still injured for a while.

– He’ll be even higher in 2025.