The trade deadline is approaching and Dean Lombardi has a new feeling this time around. He's not in sell mode.
"The one thing that's very different from the last two years obviously is that we were clearly sellers and in the mode of acquiring picks and futures," the Los Angeles Kings GM told ESPN.com on Friday. "Now we're one of the youngest teams in the league. We don't have players we're trying to move for futures. The few veterans we have, they're important to this team in terms of their character and the way they play hard and the example they set. We're certainly in a different mode than we were the previous years."
They're clearly not sellers because they've still got a shot at the postseason, albeit in a race for two playoff spots with six other teams in the Western Conference. But are they really buyers? That depends.
"I think there might be a possibility of doing a deal that helps us now with a player and helps us in the future also," said Lombardi. "But where everything is right now, my calls today are very similar; it's still a lot of kicking tires. I know we say every year, 'Why does everybody wait until the end.' But that's just the way it seems to always happen.
"Maybe the [Ryan] Whitney deal [to Anaheim on Thursday] will kick it off sooner, but as far as my own situation, I'm not seeing anything that fits that M.O. at this point."
The Kings have lots of cap room, which makes them unique among the buyers. Most of the buyers have limited cap space left.
"I'm not against looking for a rental and I'm certainly not against looking at the longer-term thing either," said Lombardi.
This year's deadline is a refreshing change for Lombardi, who has done a nice job of rebuilding the Kings. They may not make the playoffs this season, but they're a good-looking outfit moving forward.
"I was kind of looking for everything the last two years. It was almost asset acquisition," said Lombardi. "Now I'm out there looking for more of a specific thing, which is another indicator when you're building that you're getting better. Because I'm not just looking for anything or any type of asset, I'm looking more towards an M.O. that fits within what I have.
"It cuts off your market place a little bit, but on the other hand, it's a subtle indicator that you're heading in the right direction."
Lombardi would not discuss specific players, of course, but we're guessing he's hoping to land a big-name player up front. Let's see if he pulls it off.
Pierre LeBrun
