With the Olympic break just around the corner, the Los Angeles Kings find themselves hanging onto the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. It’s a precarious position - and one that demands urgency.
Anze Kopitar’s return from injury is a timely boost, but with the franchise legend likely in the final stretch of his Hall of Fame career, the Kings are staring down a now-or-never moment. If they’re serious about giving Kopitar a proper sendoff, a major move needs to happen.
And there may be no better target on the trade market than St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas.
Let’s start with the fit. Thomas is a legitimate top-six center, a playmaker with vision, speed, and the kind of two-way responsibility that would slot in perfectly behind or even alongside Kopitar during a playoff push.
He’s under contract through 2031 at $8.125 million per year - a hefty number, but one the Kings can absorb without moving a roster player. With Kopitar’s deal expiring this summer and the salary cap projected to rise significantly, LA has the flexibility to make a move without mortgaging their future.
The Blues, meanwhile, are slipping out of playoff contention and look like a team preparing for a reset. Thomas has a full no-trade clause, so he’d have to sign off on any move - but if he’s open to joining a contender with a clear role and cap stability, the Kings check a lot of boxes. And LA has the assets to make a compelling offer.
They’re sitting on a stash of picks, including extra selections in the second, third, and sixth rounds of the 2026 NHL Draft, plus their own first-rounder. Add in a solid forward prospect like Francesco Pinelli - a 22-year-old with 20 points in 37 AHL games this season - and the framework for a deal starts to take shape. A package of the 2026 first-round pick, Dallas' third-rounder, and Pinelli could be enough to get the Blues to listen.
This wouldn’t just be about making the playoffs. The Kings have made the postseason four years in a row, but each time, they’ve run into the same brick wall - the Edmonton Oilers - and failed to get out of the first round.
That’s led to changes behind the bench and in the front office. New lead executive Ken Holland took over in the 2025 offseason, bringing with him a reputation built in Detroit and some baggage from his time in Edmonton.
His first moves in LA - long-term deals for veteran blueliners Cody Ceci, Brian Dumoulin, and Joel Edmundson - haven’t panned out. The defense has underperformed, and Holland’s been catching heat for it.
A trade for Thomas could flip the narrative. It would signal a shift from patchwork fixes to a long-term vision.
Thomas isn’t a rental - he’s a foundational piece. And with the 2026 free agent class already thinned out after a wave of fall extensions, there won’t be many chances to add a player of his caliber on the open market.
The Kings don’t have the deepest roster in the West, but they’ve got enough talent to make noise - especially if they can avoid the final Wild Card spot. That team is likely headed for a first-round date with the Colorado Avalanche, who have been steamrolling opponents all season.
The top Wild Card slot, on the other hand, would match up with the Pacific Division winner - a more manageable path. Adding Thomas could tilt that positioning in their favor, giving them a better shot at advancing - and maybe even finally getting past Edmonton.
And let’s not forget the emotional angle. Kopitar has been the face of the Kings for nearly two decades.
He’s led by example, lifted two Stanley Cups, and never stopped being the heartbeat of the franchise. If this is indeed his last ride, the Kings owe it to him - and to their fans - to go all in.
A deep playoff run, powered by a bold move for a player like Thomas, would be the kind of sendoff a legend deserves.
The clock’s ticking. The Kings have the cap space, the assets, and the motivation. Now it’s just a matter of pulling the trigger.