The Los Angeles Kings experienced essentially a mirror-image campaign in Rok 5 to the one they posted in Rok 4: leading their division most of the season en route to a first-place finish, a high seed (3rd) but ultimately another disappointing seven game first-round loss, this time to the eventual champion Anaheim Mighty Ducks. Despite featuring the firepower of Jaromir Jagr, Keith Tkachuk, Steve Sullivan, Petr Sykora, Adam Deadmarsh, Andrew Brunette, Mike Sillinger and stud blueliner Derian Hatcher, the Kings managed just 15 goals in the seven game series. The dynamic duo of Tkachuk and Jagr, who combined for 69 goals in the regular season, notched just one apiece in the playoffs. �We felt we needed another major offensive threat after our loss to the Panthers in Rok 4 to take the pressure off of Keith Tkachuk,� said GM Walter McLaughlin, �but the combination of forces and factors we faced in the playoffs, including a terrific Ducks defense, shut us down completely. After the season was over and we had time to digest things, we realized that, once again, changes needed to be made.�
Big changes were soon in store for the club as the new Collective Bargaining Agreement was released. A hard salary cap of $46 million was announced, which meant that the Kings were in excess of $5 million above the new cap figure. The club had no choice but to place several high-salaried teams on the trading block. After discussions with several clubs and a deal that fell through due to a technicality, a three-team swap was engineered between Los Angeles, Colorado and the New York Rangers: Los Angeles sent Jagr and Hatcher to Colorado, New York sent centerman Olli Jokinen and Scott Stevens to Los Angeles, and Colorado shipped Nick Schultz and Joni Pitkanen to New York. �This deal helped us tremendously,� said McLaughlin. �We were able to shave over $8 million in salary and pick up an exciting, young center in Jokinen who had a breakout season last year with 36 goals in the NHL, along with steady, tough-as-nails defenseman Scott Stevens. We went from cap-challenged to players in free agency, all in one fell swoop.�
Shortly after the trade was completed, the 2003 entry draft was held in Nashville, Tennessee. The Kings, with nine picks, had an excellent opportunity to replenish their depleted farm system while addressing needs the big club would have for the upcoming season. As a result, the club made QMJHL stud Steve Bernier their first round selection. �We were surprised he dropped down to us,� said McLaughlin, �and thus we nabbed him quickly with the #21 pick.� With their supplemental first round pick, the Kings chose Kitchener Rangers star Mike Richards. �Again, a guy who dropped further than we would have thought,� said McLaughlin. �In another league, he went with the #24 pick instead of the #35 pick here. We�ll develop both of these guys and fully expect them to contribute to the big club in a few years.�
With the team�s third and fourth-round picks, the team addressed needs by selecting real-life Chicago Black Hawks backup netminder Mike Leighton (2.82, .913, one shutout in eight games) and real-life Kings defenseman Tomas Zizka (10 games, 3 assists). �Leighton will likely assume the backup role to Felix Potvin this season, and Zizka will battle with Patrick Traverse and Joel Kwiatkowski for the role of 6th defenseman, barring any acquisitions via trade or free agency.� The club�s remaining five picks will be made this coming Sunday and will likely be prospects to add to the farm team.
The Kings have a few significant moves yet to make. �We need a top-four defenseman to replace the departing Bret Hedican, another defenseman in the 5-6 range and a solid third liner. Depending on RFA contracts, we should have roughly $6.5 million to spend to fill these needs, either via trades or free agency. We�re in good shape.�
The Kings sport the following proposed lines for 2004, prior to any further off-season acquisitions:
Tkachuk � Sullivan � Sykora
Brunette � Jokinen � Deadmarsh
Hrkac � Sillinger � Marshall
Samuelsson � DiMaio � Donovan
Dykhuis � Stevens
Salei � Gill
Traverse � Zizka/Kwiatkowski
Potvin
Leighton |
