Two seasons ago, the Hurricanes traded Jack Johnson to the Kings for Tim Gleason and Erik Belanger.
Granted neither team has done much playoff-wise since the trade, but I truly believe the Kings came out on top.
Along with their top-pick from this year Drew Doughty, Johnson will provide the Kings with a top-of-the-line defenseman for years to come. He’ll hit whenever the idea strikes him, and he plays the game in his end of the ice exceptionally well (which isn’t really shown playing in a growing system like L.A.).
Perhaps the length of his development was what had the Hurricanes shying away, but as most defensive defensemen have proven before, to do what they do well, it takes patience to watch them develop.
Although his offensive flash seems stunted, Johnson can leave that to Doughty once they’re paired together hopefully. In Doughty and Johnson, the Kings now have two of the quicker minds in the game that just lack NHL years, while Doughty will hopefully see his offensive game transition from the junior to the NHL level fairly quickly and evenly.
Then you’ve got Thomas Hickey, the small, quick, and gifted defenseman out of Calgary who could benefit from a little more size, but still provides a good two-way defensive presence.
The only problem with all of this, is that the oldest member of this core is Johnson at age 21, while Doughty and Hickey are teenagers. How do you say growing pains?
The hard-hitting Denis Gauthier (provided he sees NHL ice-time this season) would be the old man on the defense, at 31. If he can be effective enough and healthy enough to stay in the NHL this season, then perhaps Gauthier could pair up well with Tom Preissing, who brings a strong offensive game along with him to Tinsel Town.
Matt Greene (who seems old for this team at 25) will be able to provide minimal scoring, but a big, strong body in front of whomever the goalie is, while Drew Bagnall could look to bang his way into the NHL, with the swift-skating Peter Harrold looking to try and hold on to a spot in L.A. as well.
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