Jan 21, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Dwight King (74) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the first period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

I think it is safe to say the Los Angeles Kings are in a bit of a slump. In their last 15 games the Kings have put together a measly 5-8-2 record and have grabbed only 12 of a possible 30 points.

Over the course of this stretch of hockey the Kings have fallen victim to a five-game losing streak and are currently in the midst of a three-game losing streak. This current streak could get a little ugly with the Kings’ next two game matching them up against the Anaheim Ducks. The first in Anaheim where the Ducks have been virtually unbeatable this season, and the second the Stadium Series game on Saturday.

The Kings have been anything but what we have become accustom too lately. They have been sloppy and at times easy to play against. We have gotten used to the Kings not scoring, but usually they have a brick wall on defense to negate some of that pressure. That has not been the case recently. There have been uncharacteristic lapses on defense that just does not seem like Kings hockey.

I feel that the Kings are going into a very important stretch of hockey over the next several weeks. They have five games left in January and ten games left before the Winter Olympics break. The Kings need to turn this team around before a roster shaking move is made in order to wake this team up.

What would that move be? Would we try and grab an elite offensive talent? Is a shutdown defenseman the answer? What would we have to give up in order to get a new piece to the puzzle? These are all questions that won’t be answered until Dean Lombardi makes a move, if he does.

There is only one way to quiet all of this talk and that is to start winning some games with the roster that the Kings currently have. They have some elite competition coming in the next ten games, the play Ducks, the San Jose Sharks, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Chicago Blackhawks. If they can show that they can pull out wins against some of the NHL’s best with the guys they currently have in the locker room they might be able to convince the front office a trade isn’t needed.

The ball is in the player’s court right now and they need to do something that shows a move is not the answer. If not, we could be saying good bye to a familiar face and hello to some new ones in the near future.