Over this offseason, new general manager Ken Holland wanted to put his stamp on this team. As free agency grew closer, many Los Angeles Kings fans wanted a big fish. However, when that period came most of those top-tier players were gone. Holland still wanted to make an impact and he did. Defense was an issue and Holland signed defensemen Brian Dumoulin and Cody Ceci as two of their big gets. While criticized, those two signings may help the Kings.
Both signings were criticized, especially Ceci. Outrage filled the Kings social media accounts and other outlets displaying their rage at the contracts. Here is where we should give Holland a chance. The Kings would not get a Cale Makar type in free agency, and for the most part not even in trade. The team showed last season that they do not need an elite defense to grab the headlines and make the playoffs. They had a great regular season, and one of the best in team history, without a defenseman reaching 70 points. Brandt Clarke was the highest scoring defenseman with five goals and 28 assists for 33 points.
Ceci and Dumoulin are here to get the Kings to the Stanley Cup finals and not here to be an elite point-producing defenseman. The Kings got bigger on defense and more playoff experience. What Los Angeles needs is more physical play and more experience in the postseason. Their style of play is playoff-ready and that is why Holland signed them. Does Ceci’s contract stink? It is not ideal but considering what defensemen are getting paid this is not that bad.
Holland also saw a flaw on the fourth line and brought in Corey Perry and Joel Armia. He is getting this team ready for the playoffs not just the regular season.We all criticized former Kings GM Rob Blake for signing defenseman Joel Edmundson and he turned out to be a well-rounded defenseman who played well. Are Ceci and Dumoulin going to do the same? we have to wait but I am certain that both fill voids that include size, toughness, and playoff experience. Could these signings blow up in Holland’s face? Absolutely but why judge two months before the season starts? Let us see this play out and look back on it at the halfway point? Then we will have a better indication of how these signings play out.
photo: nhlpa.com; Chris Lomon
Photo: sports.yahoo.com; Derek Lee
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