Los Angeles, California, has lots of glamour, tons of celebrities, huge houses, and an expensive way of living. To some, most of this sounds amazing, living life. However, for the Los Angeles Kings, this way of life could be a factor in why they do not attract free agents. Could the tax be an issue for free agents to sign with Los Angeles, or is it a problem with the organization?
When one thinks about the Kings, one has to think about star power on the ice. Two elite players that come to mind who have worn a Kings sweater are Wayne Gretzky and Marcel Dionne. This is also a small example of players who played for Los Angeles via trade and not free agency.When it comes to free agency, the Kings have not had the best of luck drawing free agents to the team. This has gone on for awhile now and players this season would not re-sign with the team.
Promising defenseman Jordan Spence was quite the young player over the past two seasons, showing the Kings why he deserved playing time and was the best defenseman with a right-handed shot. Drew Doughty is starting to show his age and Brandt Clarke has yet to show his full potential.
Some time over the season, Spence felt like he was not given a fair opportunity when Doughty returned from an injury, He fell out of favor with management and he was traded to the Ottawa Senators for draft picks. Promising defenseman with a right-handed shot who plays important minutes shipped off for two random draft picks? interesting.
Fast forward to free agency. The best defenseman for Los Angeles during the 2024-25 season was Vladislav Gavrikov. He was set to be a free agent but the thought was that Los Angeles might re-sign him with a raise for his play during the season. He was rumored to get about $9 million with his next contract, which the Kings could afford. However, Gavrikov went to the New York Rangers for a 7-year/ $49 million deal. The Kings could not afford to keep him?
Goaltender David Rittich and forward Tanner Jeannot also left for different opportunities. Rittich played a big backup role over the past two seasons but decided to sign elsewhere. Jeannot played a key role in the bottom-six and could have re-signed with a minor raise in a new deal but chose to sign with the Boston Bruins.
Why do free agents not want to sign or re-sign with the Kings? They are a playoff team year after year and are in the fight for a division title season after season.
Let us go to players not affiliated with the Kings. Goaltender Linus Ullmark had a trade to go to Los Angeles but used his no-trade clause. This season, Mitch Marner, Rasmus Andersson, Ivan Provorov, Brent Burns, and Nick Perbix all chose new destinations that were not Los Angeles. Ullmark would have been the number one goaltender for the Kings, a playoff-contending team, but chose to go to the Ottawa Senators. Something does not seem right,
These players would have been massive upgrades with a shot at winning a Stanley Cup. They chose elsewhere, Is it the cost of living in Los Angeles? Is it management? Coach Jim Hiller? What is it about free agents, or possible trades, that they refuse to play for the Kings? This is not a new problem and the only way to change this roster is via trade. The Kings may have a problem winning another Stanley Cup if they cannot attract players of significance. If the players do not want to sign here and the only way is trade, the Kings will have a hard time getting past the Edmonton Oilers in the second round. Although anything is possible, Los Angeles has to find a way to attract free agents, elite players or not,
photo: lakingsinsider.com; Zach Dooley
photo: NHL.com; Sydney D’Amico
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