The Los Angeles Kings were once again frustrated by the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, dropping their series in the Western Conference Quarterfinal for what was the fourth consecutive season.
Thanks to the recently implemented seeding structure of the postseason, the Kings and Oilers have now been matched up with one another in the opening round four straight times, with the Oilers winning them all.
Their most recent series victory was in April, despite Los Angeles having earned home ice advantage for the first time in its postseason meetings against Edmonton.
The Kings, who are now overseen by general manager Ken Holland after the removal of Rob Blake, could be preparing to part ways with defenseman Jordan Spence as evidenced by the latest report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Will the Kings Trade Defenseman Jordan Spence?
Spence is one player on the Kings who may not last very long under Holland, who was soon appointed as the successor to Blake after the Kings decided not to bring him back in his role as GM in the wake of their latest failure to make a lengthy run in the postseason.
While discussing a range of topics on his “32 Thoughts” podcast, Friedman said that Spence was a name that could be made available for an offseason trade, as he doesn’t exactly fit the mold of what Holland looks for in a defenseman.
“I think that’s a name to keep an eye on. Ken Holland, you know how he feels about his blueline. He likes a big, mobile blueline. I just don’t think the Kings feel Spence and Brandt Clarke on the right side together works,” Friedman said. “They’re both right-hand shots, they both need to play. I just don’t think they feel there’s room for two of them. Clarke I don’t believe is available. Spence, I think, is, so that’s a name to keep an eye out for.”
Spence is under contract for another season and has a modest $1.5 million cap hit. He’s played with the Kings since they selected him in the 2019 NHL Draft; this season, he reached a new career high in games played with 79 and averaged 16:47 of ice time per outing.
This season, he scored four goals while adding 24 assists, and he also amassed an impressive +23 rating.
If Friedman’s prediction ultimately holds true, don’t be surprised to see the Kings try and receive the kind of “big, mobile” defenseman that Holland has an affinity for.
