Kings Could Make Strong Push For Blue Jackets' Center

The LA Kings are still looking to upgrade and a center is at the top of their needs. Ideally, a center with term would fit nicely in the plans, but even just someone to help with a playoff push and deeper run this season would be of great help as well.

According to David Pagnotta, "Charlie Coyle, that's a player that I believe (LA) has some interest in." Coyle is a strong third line center and is able to play as the second line center. He has been doing both his entire career and this season. With a mostly healthy team, the Columbus Blue Jackets have him as the third line center.

Coyle is currently the third most productive offensive player on the Blue Jackets this season with 15 goals and 42 points in 56 games. He is capable of handling bigger minutes as he has the third most ice time amongst forwards on Columbus this season as well.

The Blue Jackets won seven games in a row heading into the Olympic break and are four points back with one game in hand from the last wildcard spot. They are right in the race, so it is an interesting decision between keeping the pending UFA for a playoff push or trading him and getting some value, hoping to replace him from within.

Columbus does have options. Boone Jenner is currently slotted into the fourth line center role and Kirill Marchenko will return soon. Jenner can move up to the third line and still outmatch opponents and Luca Del Bel Belluz is more than ready to come up to the NHL with 37 points in 33 AHL games. So are a few others who have been productive as well.

The Blue Jackets are on the cusp of growing into a regular playoff contender and an older Coyle might not be in the plans moving forward. Whereas for LA, they need center help this season so they can shift Alex Laferriere over to the wing for the time being, and for next season when Anze Kopitar is retired. The hope for the Kings is that they can not only acquire someone like Coyle, but if they do, re-sign him for a few years.