The Kings are on their way to Buffalo — no practice today — but there seems to be quite a bit of strong opinion about what they should do in goal. The growing consensus is that Jason LaBarbera isn’t the answer, and with Erik Ersberg a) injured for two weeks and b) still unable to prove that he can hold up as a No. 1 over an extended period, what should the Kings do?

There are several options:

A) Hold the fort with what they have, and let LaBarbera try to turn it around.
B) Give Jonathan Quick an extended look.
C) Call up Jonathan Bernier and give him a look.
D) Make a trade for an established, veteran goalie.

I’m pretty sure I know what the popular answer will be — get someone now! — but is that the correct answer? Are you willing to lose a prospect or a draft pick just for the possibility that the Kings might sneak into the No. 8 playoff spot? Remember, this is exactly how Dave Taylor dug a hole for himself. On the other hand, simply making the playoffs, under any circumstances, might be a huge mental boost for this young team. How much is that worth?

It’s not a simple question. If I’m Dean Lombardi, I probably make a trade, as long as it doesn’t cost me anything I deem crucial to the future — such as a highly-valued prospect or a first- or second-round draft pick — and it brings me a stable, consistent No. 1 goalie. Is it possible to make a deal like that? I’m really not certain. Goalies are sort of like quarterbacks. In the eyes of a lot of fans, the starter is a bum and anyone else would be better. Then when the replacement becomes the starter…he becomes the bum. What do you think?