• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • Atlantic Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Metropolitan Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Pacific Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • NHL Rumors
  • THW Podcast
  • NHL Prospects
  • Columns
  • NWHL
  • More…
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • Long Read
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
    • Fantasy Hockey
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Resources
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • Atlantic Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Metropolitan Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Pacific Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • NHL Rumors
  • THW Podcast
  • NHL Prospects
  • Columns
  • NWHL
  • More…
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • Long Read
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
    • Fantasy Hockey
Home
Trades Contracts and Transactions

Pre-Deadline Deal Makes Both Kings, Sekera Winners

By Walter McLaughlin February 28th, 2015

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

There is no question that when the sun sets on the 2015 trade deadline at 3PM Eastern Standard Time on March 2nd, there will have been a number trades completed with a higher order of magnitude than the one between the Los Angeles Kings and Carolina Hurricanes that netted the Kings puck-moving defenseman Andrej Sekera. With that said, there are few that will equal it with respect to the fit between player and team.

Report: Hurricanes trade Sekera to Kings for 1st-round pick, prospect http://t.co/sMxYv1kDrx pic.twitter.com/ZWEdhEPRGU

— theScore NHL (@theScoreNHL) February 25, 2015

With the Kings still struggling to overcome the indefinite loss of defenseman Slava Voynov, general manager Dean Lombardi showed his aggressive nature by sending a conditional first round pick (either in 2015 or 2016, depending on whether Los Angeles makes the playoffs) and prospect Roland McKeown (#50 overall pick, 2014) for the smooth-skating left-handed defenseman. Per L.A. Kings Insider:

When it comes down to it, it comes down to your players,” explained Lombardi. “If this was a team that maybe had gone out in the first round the last couple years or whatever, you back off. I don’t know if it’s the right word, but what they’ve accomplished and the way they keep fighting through, it’s almost like you owe it to ‘em.”

The Kings got exactly what they needed

With Voynov still in legal limbo and facing the possibility that the 25-year old defenseman may have played his last game for the Kings, Lombardi chose to act decisively. Enter Sekera, widely considered one of the top players available at the trade deadline. He was the closest comparison to Voynov in terms of skill sets on the market, possessing excellent speed and offensive instincts, both in passing as well as putting the puck on net. Just two seasons ago, Sekera scored 11 goals and 33 assists, both career highs.

“I think it’s the one area of the team that we felt was the one area that could be targeted in terms of an upgrade,” said Lombardi. “I think the thing about him, number one, he’s a competitive guy. We have no issues as far as him fitting in here with this group. No question he’s going to be hungry. I think whenever you look at your back end, it’s a mix-type thing, and things he can bring to us. He’s very mobile, and even though he’s not big, he certainly competes. He’s a smart player” (L.A. Kings Insider).

Many saw it coming

The architect of two Stanley Cup winning teams, Dean Lombardi landed Andrej Sekera in a deal with Carolina. (credit:  NHL Network).

The architect of two Stanley Cup winning teams, Dean Lombardi landed Andrej Sekera in a deal with Carolina. (credit: NHL Network).

The Kings recent eight-game winning streak pushed the team out of the potential sellers camp and firmly into the buyers category. Rumors were flying about Sekera and the Kings, including this CBS Sports report . Heck, even I listed Sekera as a high-value target less than ten days before the deal went down.

It wasn’t exactly a trade secret. Sekera, a pending unrestricted free agent, was heading out of town on or before the trade deadline, one way or the other. Although Los Angeles paid a high price, they had the need and the assets to make it happen.

Sekera is finally with a winner

For Sekera, the upside of the deal is enormous. In the blink of an eye, he was whisked away from a franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs in five straight years to join the Kings, a club that has won two of the past three Stanley Cups. He is reported to be close to a number of Kings players, including former teammate Robyn Regehr and fellow countryman Marian Gaborik. On that point, he was asked if he had talked to both players about the environment in Los Angeles. Once again, per L.A. Kings Insider:

Yeah, it’s a high-end club and losing isn’t an option here. It’s great to be in an environment like that. I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be fun and it’s going to be a challenge.

Southern California has the beach, fantastic weather and plenty of opportunities to shine both on and off the ice. Although there are no guarantees Sekera will re-sign with the Kings, it is unlikely Lombardi would have traded for him unless he felt confident something could be worked out.

Sekera and the Kings — a marriage Lombardi hopes lasts at least as long as it takes to win a third Cup in four seasons. If weather, Hollywood and organizational heft mean anything to the 28-year old Slovakian, maybe even four or five years longer than that.

  • Tags
  • Andrej Sekera
  • Dean Lombardi
  • Trade Deadline
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Facebook Comments

Our Hockey Podcast
hockey podcast
Bruce’s Picks
Blues' Top Line is Red Hot

Blues' Top Line is Red Hot

353
2019 NHL Trade Deadline: Deal Tracker

2019 NHL Trade Deadline: Deal Tracker

1884
Recent Posts
Feb 19th 10:35 AM
Carolina Hurricanes

Hurricanes Let ‘Jerk’ Fans Wear Cherry’s Words

Feb 19th 10:20 AM
Trade Deadline

Golden Knights Should Raid the Senators

Feb 19th 10:05 AM
Vancouver Canucks

Canucks’ Reid Boucher: Untapped Potential

Feb 19th 9:50 AM
Women's Hockey

Gigi Marvin Leads the Way as Boston Routs Riveters 8-1

Feb 19th 9:35 AM
St Louis Blues

Binnington Beautifully Backstopping Berubes’ Blues

Feb 19th 9:20 AM
Anaheim Ducks

Anaheim Ducks’ 50-Goal Scorers

Feb 19th 9:05 AM
Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings’ Nyquist: Top 4 Trade Destinations

Feb 19th 8:50 AM
Boston Bruins

‘Beat LA’ Has Become a Bruins’ Benchmark

Feb 19th 8:35 AM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Mentor – Ron Hainsey

Feb 19th 6:37 AM
Boston Bruins

Bruins Beat Sharks on McAvoy’s OT Winner

Stay in Touch
Contact Us

Via our Newsletters
RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Our Partners
HFBoards

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

Join over 18 000 Subscribers of our free bi-weekly Newsletter.

© The Hockey Writers 2018. All rights reserved.
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • Search THW
  • NHL Rumors
  • The Goalie Page
  • Atlantic Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
  • Metropolitan Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Dallas Stars
    • Minnesota Wild
    • Nashville Predators
    • St Louis Blues
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • Pacific Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Vegas Golden Knights
    • Vancouver Canucks
  • Selections From Our Archives
  • Podcast
  • Prospects
  • NHL Salary Cap Information
  • Join Our Team