Tanguay leaves L.A.

Despite scoffs from unrestricted free agents saying that they doubted that Alex Tanguay would ever be traded, the Kings management traded away their most valuable asset in Tanguay. The Kings sent Tanguay along with defenseman Christian Backman and their 6th round pick in 2006 for Scott Hannan, Jonathan Cheechoo, Pierre Turgeon, and Alex Auld. "I have been trying to trade Tanguay since I got the team, when I saw that L.A. had little in the way of defense. I knew Tanguay had to go for help there." [Evans] Unable to pick up Hill or Blake in the UFA, they began searching teams for decent replacements, Scott Hannan is a tough defenseman that's going to stay for three years. Cheechoo and Turgeon will take over Tanguay's role up front for scoring. Cheechoo is expected to be on the first line while Turgeon playing on the King's second line. Auld will be expected to gain experience on the farm team and is thought to be the Kings goalie of the future along side Dan Blackburn.