(atmospheric music)
- [Luc Robitaille] I think as a fan, you key in on
on the trade deadline because it's fun.
It's interesting. There's movement.
There's gonna be action.
It's gonna change your organization.
(atmospheric music)
- [Jim Fox] Fans love it because they feel that's
the next step to their team winning the Stanley Cup.
(atmospheric music)
- [Jim] Everyone right now that is watching the LA Kings
franchise is trying to put their finger on
when is Rob going to use the multiple assets he has,
that he's built up. And that was a plan.
The plan has come together
but when is he gonna pull the trigger?
(atmospheric music)
- [Luc] You want to know what you got before you make move.
We're not changing the plan, we're not changing
the direction that we're going as an organization
until we know exactly what needs to be added
and hopefully, you know, every player
that we have in our system fills up every hole
and then we don't need to make any big splash.
- [Announcer] The Kings got their big, quote/unquote, move
out of the way over the weekend
when they acquired Troy Stecher for a seventh round pick.
- [Luc] Troy, I mean, our guys knew him pretty well.
They've been following him for a few years.
They went way back when, when it was in Vancouver.
- [Announcer] Back it goes, side door, a shot scored!
What a beauty! Tick, tack, goal! Troy Stecher!
(crowd cheers)
- [Luc] We like his speed, we like the character he brings
in and the way we play, if our [defensemen] can go get
the puck and get it out and it'll help us.
- [Jim] There's a big difference between making a trade
to solidify your chances to get into the playoffs
as opposed to making a trade
to solidify your chance to win a Stanley Cup.
I think that's where the Kings were this year because
of the specifics with the Kings
the injuries at the time.
- [Announcer] Big collision Anderson and Marchand
Anderson got the worst of it and he's still down.
Spence cranks it up! Loose puck still available!
I think it hit Dustin Brown. Dustin's going off slowly.
- [Commentator] Dustin Brown is now gonna be
out with an extended period of time.
Matt Roy also not available tonight.
Drew Doughty is not gonna play,
and the injury update, you know, is not great at all.
It's shocking, but this is what it is.
(atmospheric music)
- [Jim] Within five games, six regulars go down.
Then you find yourself with six defensemen who
are not in opening night lineup.
- [Luc] Never seen that many injuries during one season
but we've seen our kids come up and make a difference
and they deserve to get a chance to play
and to move forward.
- [Announcer] Danault, and they're moving
into the middle, Durzi there, the pass, and they score!
- [Jim] No one uses the word structure more
than the Kings' coaching staff, the Kings' players,
everyone surrounding this group.
If they do get in with what's happened
to the roster with injuries? That means structure
has helped get them there. - [Announcer] ...zone to zone,
except for Kupari. Kupari working in, there's Byfield
and he scores!
(crowd cheers)
- [Luc] We've established a way we play.
Every night, we play a certain way
and we're hard to play against. We bring a lot of speed,
a lot of tempo to our game.
We just gotta keep doing this.
We gotta play like this every night.
- [Announcer] ...gets it back to Moore in on goal,
shoots, and he scores!
(crowd cheers)
- [Luc] We put ourself in a situation where we don't need
to watch the scoreboard, see who's winning.
We just gotta win our game.
- [Announcer] ...there's a quick shot, and he scores!
(crowd cheers)
Adrian Kempe with the goal!
- [Jim] The margin for error is zero right now
with this group because every player is gonna have
to be on top of his game.
- [Announcer] ...it's Kaliyev, scores!
(crowd cheers)
- [Luc] Once you get in, in the NHL, the top 16 teams is
who's not hurt, who's got a couple guys that are hot,
who knows what can happen?
- [Announcer] ...finishes the hit, puck comes free
Byfield shields, turns, fires, scores! Quinton Byfield!
- [Luc] For us, the goal is to get in the tournament.
Let's see what happens.