Okay, this one stings.
When Justin Williams departed for Washington after the 2014-15 season, it was sad, but for a free agent whose family played a huge part in his decision to move back east, we understood the motives. When Tanner Pearson was traded, we appreciated his contributions in 2014 almost as much as we wondered why his dramatic breakout had never happened in the years following. And the departures of other veterans from past Los Angeles Kings championship teams almost exclusively came when they were surplus to requirements, waning in effectiveness, or ready to sail off into retirement.