LA Kings: Three defenders on Carolina Hurricanes to target in trades
1. Jaccob Slavin
Slavin is signed through the 2024-2025 season and would be the biggest ask for the LA Kings to upgrade the left side of their defense. At 26 years of age, he’s right in the wheelhouse of what Rob Blake is looking for, scoring a career-high 36 points in 68 games last season.
More of a facilitator than a pure shooter, Slavin racked up 30 assists last season and already has seven in 23 games this season. While he’s not involved as much on the powerplay unit as he was in the 18-19 season when he tallied five goals on the man advantage, he’s consistently in the conversation for the Norris Trophy.
Slavin isn’t the most physical defenseman in the NHL, but he’s a terrific shot-blocker, getting in the way of on average 135 shots over the previous five seasons. He comes at a $5.3M cap hit for four more years after this season, which is great value considering how much Drew Doughty is paid.
2. Jake Bean
Bean was drafted 13th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and saw two NHL games last season. Transitioning into a regular along the blue line in 2021, the 22-year-old has one goal and nine points in 16 games. The Calgary, Alberta native put up some big numbers with Carolina’s AHL affiliate over the last two seasons.
Bean posted a combined 23 goals with 69 assists in 129 games while tallying one goal and five points in the playoffs at the end of the 18-19 season. Here’s his scouting report, courtesy of Elite Prospects.
An excellent skater who is a good puck-carrier up the ice. Makes very good decisions with and without the puck, and plays strong positionally. Works hard and doesn’t give the opposition much to work with, but could stand to be a bit more assertive during high pressure situations.
Bean is already seeing time on the second power play unit, which is a testament to how much Rod Brind’Amour trusts in the 22-year-old while Jake Gardiner deals with lingering back issues. Bean is in the final year of his entry-level contract and will be a restricted free agent at season’s end.
3. Brady Skjei
Big and physical is the best way to describe Brady Skjei. The almost 27-year-old was selected by the New York Rangers with the 28th overall pick in 2012 but was sent to Carolina in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. Skjei signed a six-year contract extension in July 2018, and Carolina is responsible for his $5.3M cap hit for the next three seasons beyond 2021.
He has a modified no-trade clause beginning next season and could be that dynamic defenseman that Blake has been targeting. Skjei tallied eight goals and 16 assists in 67 games split between the Rangers and Hurricanes last season. I mentioned physical, right? He’s not afraid to put his body on the line to stop a shot, nor is he afraid to put a big check on the opposition.
In the 18-19 campaign, Skjei tallied career-bests with 119 blocked shots and 178 hits. He’d bring a much-needed element of physicality to the LA Kings blueline while also having the body of work in offensive categories. Like Slavin, Skjei is an excellent facilitator averaging around five goals and 23 assists in the previous four seasons.
His defensive metrics haven’t been great since changing uniforms. Perhaps the Hurricanes are willing to admit it’s not a fit for both parties and move on?
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Conclusion
Carolina has just under $1.5M in salary cap space, with several offensive players and defenseman Dougie Hamilton becoming unrestricted free agents at the end of the 2021 season. With four players for three spots on the left side, Carolina can free up salary cap space and acquire assets while the Kings can get their defenseman.