Kings acquire Robyn Regehr from Buffalo for two draft picks [Updated]

The Kings acquired defenseman Robyn Regehr from the Buffalo Sabres on Monday for two second-round draft picks, hoping the brawny 32-year-old will fill the void created by injuries to defensemen Matt Greene and Willie Mitchell.

The trade was first reported by Darren Drager of TSN.

Regehr, who can become an unrestricted free agent after this season, played in Calgary for current Kings Coach Darryl Sutter. He was traded from the Flames to Buffalo in June 2011.

The Kings have missed the physical presence of Mitchell, who has yet to play this season after experiencing post-surgical knee problems, and of Greene, who played only one game before undergoing back surgery. Greene is expected to return within a month, but it would be unrealistic to think he could easily make the jump to the intensity and grind of playoff hockey.

Regehr, 6 feet 3 and 226 pounds, is a left-handed shooter. In his NHL career he has 30 goals, 170 points and 879 penalty minutes in 931 games. With Buffalo this season he had two assists and 21 penalty minutes in 29 games and a -4 defensive rating.

The Kings next face the Phoenix Coyotes on Tuesday in Glendale, Ariz. It’s not yet clear whether Regehr will join them in time for that game.

[Update, 7:25 p.m.: The Kings formally announced the trade shortly after 7 p.m. PDT, saying it was contingent on Regehr passing a medical exam. The two second-round draft picks they agreed to give up are in the 2014 and 2015 draft.

“We will withhold comment on the trade until after the medical exam is completed,” Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi said in a statement.

In addition, the Kings announced that forward Dustin Penner had been placed on injured reserve retroactive to Sunday, due to a lower-body injury.]

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