LA Kings: Three players on the outs when the prospects arrive
By Ryan Sikes
1. Michael Amadio
I really like Michael Amadio, but the LA Kings have an abundance of centers. The former third-round pick scored six goals with ten assists in 68 games last year to go along with a 54.6 CorsiFor percentage and 1.6 CorsiRel value. So the Kings controlled the puck when Amadio is on the ice, but forcing offensive opportunities on his own remains a challenge.
He was good for a 2.4 oGAR and 1.5 dGAR last year, which are respectable numbers. He’s responsible with the puck, but, as noted, his individual offensive abilities are league-average. That’s not to say Amadio is a bad player by any means. But the Kings are going to be forced to make some difficult decisions.
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According to Natural Stat Trick, Amadio the Kings scored 42.9 percent of their goals when Amadio was on the ice, compared to 46.7 percent when he was off-ice. The 24-year-old will be a restricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2020-2021 season, and with Alex Turcotte at least a year off, it’s entirely plausible that Amadio survives the year on the roster.
Yet with guys like Jaret Anderson-Dolan, who is expected to get a look next year, Amadio could also be a trade deadline target for teams needing to bolster their bottom lines.