LA Kings: Players who could go if team sells at trade deadline
It may be a quiet trade deadline for the LA Kings, but there could still be tough decisions to make for general manager Rob Blake.
The trade deadline is now less than a month away. As it approaches, the LA Kings are in an interesting spot.
They aren’t totally out of the playoff race and clear sellers the way they were the last two years. While the Kings missing the postseason is probably the more likely scenario, they do still have a legitimate chance as the season enters its second half, and Rob Blake will need to weigh how much he values that chance against what he’s offered for some of his players.
This was considered another rebuilding year for LA, and missing the playoffs would hardly be a disaster, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try to take advantage of a chance to get there.
We’ve already discussed a few players Blake could target if he decides to try to reach the playoffs and looks to add some pieces. Today, we’re going to look at the flip side of that and discuss a few players who could be on their way out and how likely they’re playing their final games for the Kings right now.
Young LA Kings players who could go for the right price
Alex Iafallo
Though his offensive production is more that of a middle-six forward than a top-line forward, the Kings have loved the fit of Alex Iafallo on their top line with Anze Kopitar over the last few years. He does a lot of the dirty work on that line that doesn’t always show up on the scoresheet.
Because of that, there’s a possibility the Kings could look to re-sign him. Iafallo’s in for a raise on his current $2.425 million hit on his next contract, but he’s probably not going to break the bank. But it’s also possible the Kings see Iafallo as expendable with the wave of forward prospects they have on the way.
Even if the Kings want to keep Iafallo around, they could trade him and then try to bring him back in the offseason when he becomes a free agent, especially if they fall out of the playoff race. Either way, if the Kings see Iafallo as a potential part of their future, they don’t have to move him unless a team makes them a worthwhile offer.
Adrian Kempe
With 11 goals and 19 points through 27 games, Adrian Kempe is statistically enjoying a career year so far. He’s already scored as many goals as he did in 69 games last season.
However, the same inconsistency that’s defined his career has still been there. After a nice start to his season with three goals and five points in the first six games, he scored just twice in his next 17 games. Then he exploded for six goals in a three-game stretch.
Like with Iafallo, there’s a chance all the young forwards on the way could lead LA to see Kempe as expendable. Maybe there’s another team out there who believes Kempe really has found another gear. His contract is also valuable — the 24-year-old is signed for another year at just a $2 million hit, and he’ll only be a restricted free agent when it expires.
The Kings have more leverage with Kempe than they do with Iafallo. They certainly don’t need to move him, but the right offer could get them to listen.
Andreas Athanasiou
You may be noticing a theme here. Just about anyone the Kings could trade is someone they could replace with a player from their impressive pool of forward prospects as soon as next season.
Andreas Athanasiou isn’t a perfect player, but his speed and skill are evident every time he has the puck. He’s scored six goals and 11 points in 19 games after having a hot start interrupted by COVID-19, and, like Kempe, his contractual situation could also make him valuable to teams. He signed with the Kings for just $1.2 million, and the 26-year-old will only be an RFA at season’s end.
Last year the Red Wings were able to fetch a package from the Edmonton Oilers that included two second-round picks for Athanasiou. Though his tenure in Edmonton was disappointing, he’s bounced back in LA. If someone wants to make the Kings a similar offer, they could listen. If not, they don’t need to move him.
The veterans
Dustin Brown
Ok, so let’s get this out of the way first: Kopitar and Drew Doughty aren’t going anywhere.
Everyone else in this section probably isn’t either, but a trade isn’t impossible. And if any of the other Kings veterans have increased their trade value this year, it’s Dustin Brown.23
Brown is leading the Kings with 13 goals this season, and his once toxic contract now only has one year left on it. The Kings may need to pay down some of his $5.875 million hit, but if there’s a team who’s interested in Brown, they could work something out.
Brown has a limited no-trade clause that allows him to block trades to seven teams, which still gives LA a lot of potential partners to work with. However, given Brown’s status with the organization and how long he’s been there, it seems likely that Blake would discuss a potential trade with Brown anyway and not just blindside him with a deal. Brown has deep roots in LA at this point and may not be interested in going anywhere, but if a legitimate contender has an interest in him, maybe he’d want to take a shot at a third ring.
Jeff Carter
At first, it may not seem like there would be as much interest in a 36-year-old Jeff Carter, who has just five goals and 14 points in 27 games this season. Unlike Brown, though, Carter’s ability to play center could appeal to teams, even if he’s mostly been a winger this season. Carter also leads the Kings with 79 shots on goal, and maybe there are teams out there who think his 6.3 shooting percentage is due for some positive regression — especially if he could play with some more talented linemates.
Carter is in a similar contractual position as Brown. He has one more year on a deal that carries a $5.272 million hit. He doesn’t have a no-trade clause, but like Brown, it’s possible that the Kings would still take his wishes into consideration out of respect for all he’s done for them. Carter also has deep ties to LA at this point and has maintained throughout the Kings’ rebuild that he had no interest in going anywhere, but if he’s presented with a chance at another Stanley Cup, it could be hard for him to turn it down.
Gone to whoever wants them
If the Kings aren’t going to make room for their prospects by trading any of the aforementioned players, they could do so by moving any of Wagner, Blake Lizotte, Michael Amadio, Trevor Moore, and Carl Grundstrom.
These players have had opportunities with the Kings over the last few years and haven’t done much to show they’re more than expendable depth pieces. If any other team is looking to add some cheap depth, the Kings would probably trade any of these players for whatever they’re offered for them.
I would value Moore a bit more than the rest of this group. I think he has some value as a bottom-six forward who kills penalties and even has a little bit of skill, but he’s still far from untouchable. Grundstrom flashed some potential with a couple of impressive goals early in the season but hasn’t done much since.
The rest of the group, the Kings could clearly benefit from upgrading.