LA Kings trade for defenseman Andrej Sekera, sign Clifford to extension

After winning eight games in a row, the defending champion Los Angeles Kings have turned around their season and now can envision a repeat title run.

As evidence of that new hope, Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi on Wednesday made a significant move that could propel Los Angeles back to another Stanley Cup, as the team acquired defenseman Andrej Sekera from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for prospect Roland McKeown and a conditional first round selection.

The 6-0, 201-pound Sekera, 28, has played in 57 games with the Hurricanes this year, tallying 19 points (2-17=19) and eight penalty minutes.  He will be a free agent at the end of the season.

Although the Kings gave up a first round pick in the deal, the absence and legal troubles of defenseman Slava Voynov created a strong need for another player to help shore up the defense and provide depth.

Sekera has played for the Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres during his nine-year NHL career. In 470 career regular season games he has 155 points (30-25=155), a plus-3 rating and 130 penalty minutes. In eight NHL playoff games he has one point (1-0=1), a plus-1 rating and 11 penalty minutes.

McKeown, 19, was originally selected by the Kings (50th overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft. The pick was acquired from Vancouver in exchange for Linden Vey.

The Kings play the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night at STAPLES Center on FS West and TalkRadio 790 KABC at 7:30 p.m.

Kings sign Clifford to 5-year extension

The Los Angeles Kings signed another player to an extension this week, inking forward Kyle Clifford, 24, to a five-year contract extension which other outlets have reported is worth $1.6 million per year.

The 6-2, 208-pound Clifford, is a tough player who has appeared in 333 career NHL regular season games, all with the Kings, totaling 58 points (25-33=58) and 462 penalty minutes.

This season, Clifford has tallied 10 points (3-7=10) a plus-1 rating and a team-leading 66 penalty minutes.

A second round (35th overall) selection of the Kings at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Clifford has been a part of both Stanley Cup runs with Los Angeles in 2012 and 2014. He has played in 47 career postseason games, registering 14 points (4-10=14) and 56 penalty minutes, including assisting on the Stanley Cup clinching goal scored by Alec Martinez in Game 5 against the New York Rangers.

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services