The Los Angeles Kings hired Ken Holland as general manager this summer. Holland is tasked with taking this team to the Stanley Cup. He knows firsthand the issues plaguing this team. As a matter of fact, Holland has been the bane of many Kings fans over the last few seasons.
Holland’s Edmonton Oilers eliminated Los Angeles three years running from 2022 to 2024. Even when the Hall of Fame general manager left Edmonton last summer, the Oilers continued beating Los Angeles. They eliminated the Kings this past postseason in six games. All of these defeats have come in the first round, as well.
Holland has brought in a few players this summer. Corey Perry, Cody Ceci, and Brian Dumoulin are some the names to join Los Angeles in NHL Free Agency. It’s a deeper team than previous teams have been.
However, there are still moves to be made. Clearly, Holland brought in players he feels he can trust. He has prior experience with both Ceci and Perry, for instance. With this trend in mind, Heavy.com is proposing the following trade between the Kings and Detroit Red Wings.
Los Angeles Kings acquire: Michael Rasmussen
Detroit Red Wings acquire: Francesco Pinelli
Kings GM Knows Michael Rasmussen Very Well
Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesMichael Rasmussen could provide some added grit and offense to the Los Angeles Kings.
Holland definitely wants his guys in Los Angeles. And there are few players in the league who may be considered a Holland guy than Rasmussen. After all, the Hall of Fame general manager was the one who made Rasmussen the ninth overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft.
Rasmussen made his NHL debut under Holland’s watch. The versatile forward played 62 games in 2018-19, scoring eight goals and 18 points. Since then, he has carved out a role as a top-nine forward with some scoring and a lot of physicality.
Rasmussen has recorded 100+ hits in each of the last four seasons. The 26-year-old has also flirted with the 30-point mark over this span. He even surpassed it in 2023-24, scoring 33 points in 75 games.
Rasmussen’s offense did decline this past season, as he only managed 21 points in 77 games. Still, he is 26 years old and could still rebound. The value here is his physicality and positional versatiliry. A center by trade, “Ras” can play on the wing as needed.
The Kings need quality players who can help them win now. While this trade won’t land them a superstar, it will give them a player who can make an impact off the puck, which opens up the game for the scorers to change the game in the ways they know how.
Red Wings Get Intriguing Prospect In Rasmussen Trade Pitch
The Kings are giving up a young forward who could have some potential in this trade pitch. Pinelli is a former second-round pick of Los Angeles from the 2021 NHL Draft. Unfortunately, it appears that he may need a change of scenery.
Pinelli had a strong finish to his junior career that made it seem like he could become a top-six forward. However, he has struggled to produce in the AHL. He recorded 20 points in 2023-24, and was only able to increase this to 29 points this past season.
Still, he is a talented player, and there may be something there. The Red Wings can afford to work with him and see if he can turn things around. It could work out well for them in the long run.
1-For-1 Kings Trade Pitch Lands Former Ken Holland Draft Pick