Not the final piece, but the first big one — The Fourth Period

The Olympic break comes at the right time for Los Angeles as they once again failed to fashion a run of games that could have put them comfortably in the top eight of the Westen Conference. A 3-1-1 stretch that got them into a wild card spot was undone by two bad losses to Seattle and Vegas which exemplified why Panarin is needed. Three goals in two games, one at even strength is math that shows how much a play driver needs to be augmented to the forward wall.

Whether he plays alongside Anze Kopitar or Quinton Byfield (the potential of being the play driver with Byfield is where the biggest opportunity is), he creates matchup problems for opposing coaches have to game plan for. The updated depth chart is expected to reduce the pressure on Adrian Kempe, who has often taken on extra responsibility to boost a struggling offense.

But as the headline reads, Panarin is a first step, not the last step to contention – and second tier contention, his addition does not place Los Angeles on the level of the group of teams that can get to a Stanley Cup Final. The center position must be addressed, if not by the March 6 deadline, then before the puck drops for real next Fall.

The injury to Kopitar exposed the lack of depth organizationally in the middle as good solider Alex Laferriere was pressed into service despite not having any pro experience. Alex Turcotte, even when healthy, does not move the needle offensively though his proficiency at faceoffs may develop him into a quality third line center.

Byfield is still an X factor when he should be an impact player. He’s in his fifth full season, on his second contract with a generous salary as he enters the prime of his NHL career. He’s subpar in the faceoff circle and though he possesses the physical tools to be elite, it’s fair to question if he possesses the vision that elite centers must see where the play will go not where the play is. It’s a reminder that his best season was on left wing though he has consistently stated he is a center. His stretch run, hopefully enhanced by Panarin’s presence will determine the off-season plans.

Regardless of Byfield’s status, there is a need for, at minimum, a second line center and if the offense still stagnates, a first line center.

The names are out there; Vancouver’s Elias Pettersen (a gamble that may be lessened if he performs well for Team Sweden in the Olympics), St. Louis’ Robert Thomas (his GM Doug Armstrong will be aggressive this offseason), Utah’s Nick Schmaltz (a pending UFA, a perennial underrated creative player). TFP first reported Seattle’s Shane Wright is dissatisfied with his usage and, while a tier below those mentioned, his potential and age does make sense in a middle-six role.

But cutting through the list, the path to elevate Los Angeles to legitimate contender status is to acquire a first line center. Pettersson is too big of a risk, Schmaltz is a talented player but not a true No.1 and could command $ 9 million in a shallow free agent center pool this summer.

Thomas is the player Ken Holland should target. For starters, there’s no contract negotiations to deal with. He turns 27 in July and is locked into an $8.125M AAV deal through 2030-31, an under-market contract for his talent. Like Panarin, he’s a play driver, a facilitator but also can handle the difficult matchups and the potential partnership with Panarin would give Los Angeles favorable matchups most nights.

His presence will take the heat off Byfield (which will increase without Kopitar) and would leave enough cap space to acquire a more experienced third line center if the organization feels Turcotte is not suited for the role.

The fit is the easy part. The acquisition is the hard part. The cap hit isn’t the issue. The commitment is.

This would be the trade which leverages your future. Based on the trade chatter around Thomas, the cost would be two first round picks (2026 and 2027) and a third asset (either now-top prospect Vojtech Cihar or a second-round pick – Kings have two in this draft, their own and Columbus).

But that’s the price you pay for a center you can be comfortable with when facing the elite centers in the Western Conference. It gives you a first line of Panarin-Thomas-Kempe Game 1 of next season and even more importantly it signals that there are no more half measures, no incremental steps to get to contender status.