(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

After returning from the hip surgery, Gaborik practically melted the ice whenever he played, scoring thirteen goals and adding ten assists for 23 points in just seventeen games this past season.

Despite the fact that it is far from certain that the hip surgery will permanently solve Gaborik’s chronic groin issues, Lombardi should have gone after him hard. Gaborik’s speed and scoring ability would have been just what the doctor ordered to fill that roster hole on left wing. More than that, adding such a talent would have helped the Kings’ current stock of young players improve and their chances to make the playoffs for the first time in seven years would have increased considerably—post-season experience is also vital for the development of young NHL players.

Such a move would show the players that management is committed to winning, and to the players. Oh...and to the fans as well.

In light of the fact that Lombardi was willing to go after Hossa and was even willing to offer a long-term deal—he was even willing to consider twelve years—it now appears that money, the salary cap and his ability to re-sign young players such as Drew Doughty, Alexander Frolov and Jack Johnson, may not be the problems Lombardi said they would be in recent interviews.

To be fair, the 2010-11 salary cap is still projected to drop significantly, raising concerns about the ability to sign up-and-coming young players and still remain below the salary cap if they sign a high-priced free agent to a multi-year contract. But if other NHL general managers were concerned about that, they certainly didn’t show it on July 1. Indeed, some of them went on an absolutely insane spending spree, throwing ridiculous amounts of money and long-term contracts at one unrestricted free agent after another and in many cases, it could be said that they paid way too much.

But who cares about the salary cap, right?

Although following in step with the insanity just because everyone else is doing it would be foolhardy, entering the fourth year of his rebuilding process and with a talented core of players already in the fold, the time was ripe for Lombardi to add a sniper up front.

To be sure, Gaborik’s injury problems remain an issue, especially given his long history of groin problems. However, given that the Kings could have afforded to at least match the contract Gaborik received from the Rangers and that the hip surgery was supposed to correct the problems that caused his groin troubles, Gaborik was worth the risk, as was Havlat, and Lombardi should have pursued them aggressively.

Of course, if Gaborik and Havlat simply did not want to play for the Kings because they are among the bottom-feeders in the NHL at present, no one could blame Lombardi. However, as stated above, he did not want to take a chance on them. That places the blame squarely on his shoulders and raises the questions:

If this was not the time to take a chance, when will that time come? Or will it ever come?

To his credit, Lombardi has drafted well and has built a scouting and development staff that is reaping benefits in terms of drafting and developing homegrown players. His commitment to building from within is definitely the way to go.

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