After being one of the worst defense teams thus far. The kings have decide to starting building there team with Defense and a hearty picking in the 2007 Draft. The Kings will be sending Mike Johnson, Aaron Ward and 1.5 Million to the Tampa Bay in return for Brooks Orpick, Glen Wesley and Tor 6, TB 6, Tb 7, Tor 7 2007 draft. Only 1 day after new management and coach have step foot in the staple center, the Kings have boosted them self's for the 2007 season.
After being one of the worst defense teams thus far. The kings have decide to starting building there team with Defense and a hearty picking in the 2007 Draft. The Kings will be sending Mike Johnson, Aaron Ward and 1.5 Million to the Tampa Bay in return for Brooks Orpick, Glen Wesley and Tor 6, TB 6, Tb 7, Tor 7 2007 draft. Only 1 day after new management and coach have step foot in the staple center, the Kings have boosted them self's for the 2007 season.
Ward (73 ov) and Wesley (70 ov) are UFA so that just boosts TB's OV temporarily, no loss to L.A. except this season. And the money is incidental. So let's remove this in looking at it.
For L.A. it's basically:
Mike Johnson (72 ov)
for
Brooks Orpick (73 ov) + 6th and 7th round picks (four of them)
Johnson is one of the few offensive line players the offensive-starved Kings have. Offense is their biggest weakness. Their penalty kill is average, but of course could use help stopping more goals too (but does this deal help that?). Scoring is their problem and will continue to be. One would have thought Johnson a good second scoring line regular for the future.
Johnson has 6 NHL goals and 12 points, is second on his team in +/- with +10, second most penalty killing time for a forward, on the top unit, with 3:03 SH minutes per game, so his defense stat will improve, already has good speed, skating and puck control. But will dip a bit in passing. Is on a 2-year contract (many Kings aren't. Time to start trading those UFAs! eh?)
Orpick is younger, 25, but his season is as a #5/6 d-man at best and should re-rate downward. He plays 15:00 min. a game (7th most among Pens d-men), and there are 6 d-men with more time on the penalty kill (he's #7 at 29 seconds per game). He has 31 hits (two less than Gonchar; Johnson has 27, which is above average for a forward !!). Orpick is 9th on his team in blocked shots with 19. He has only one takeaway (Johnson has 15).
CONCLUSION: Tampa gets the BETTER re-rate player for next season.
But of course LA has a younger guy who could possibly get better and bounce back from a lacklustre season. And there are those 6th and 7th round picks.
TB solidifies its Cup run without giving up any significant assets for the future. It can trade Johnson after he re-rates at season's end, or keep him and use a tag or trade him midway through next season.
LA gets a live body on what indeed will be a decimated blueline with only D. Markov, McGillis, Fitzpatrick as returnees. And those draft picks also helps put some bodies on the prospect list. The deal costs LA this season (no big loss given record) and costs them next season (a concern) but they win a bit long term.
