The Los Angeles Kings give up fewer shots per game than any team in the NHL (26.2), playing good defense along the way.
But the Kings are below .500 and well out of the playoffs if they started today, and goaltending is a key part of that discrepancy — there may not be a lot of shots but too many are still hitting the back of the net. The Kings have a save percentage below the 90% Mendoza line and have been forced to turn to the borderline talents of just promoted from the ECHL Jason Quick (who has looked solid the last couple of games).
So what about a trade for a goalie? Well, don’t hold your breath.
The NHL's holiday trade freeze ends at midnight local time tonight, but General Manager Dean Lombardi said Friday he's not planning to look for a goaltender -- for now....
There isn't much out there, anyway, Lombardi said. "You hear of any goalies available that I'm not hearing of?" he asked, joking.
The problem is that goaltenders in the NHL are like quarterbacks in the NFL or starting pitchers in the MLB — there aren’t enough good ones to go around. The teams that have them are not giving them up, either.
So the Kings wait. And fans suffer. Same as it ever was, it seems.
