LA Kings: A tiered approach of left wingers to trade for this offseason
The LA Kings appear intent on adding legitimate scoring in the form of a top-six winger in the offseason. These players should be trade targets.
Once the free agency period officially opens up on July 28, it will be open season for Rob Blake. The LA Kings general manager made it clear that the team will have an appropriate response to Drew Doughty’s call for the team to make some splash moves this offseason.
We recently spoke with The Fourth Period‘s David Pagnotta on the podcast, and he indicated the Kings are more likely to make a trade for scoring than sign a free agent. You can check out the full podcast below or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
So when the Free Agency Frenzy period opens, the Kings should target these left-wingers in a trade, to some aspect.
Tier 1 – Realistic
Filip Forsberg
Subject to trade rumors at the deadline, Filip Forsberg and the Predators could soon be headed for a divorce. What perfect timing for the LA Kings to swoop in and grab a perennial 20+ goal scorer in non-COVID seasons. The 26-year-old has one year left on his deal before becoming an unrestricted free agent, so there would have to be some level of certainty of a long-term extension if acquired.
With approximately $17M in cap space this offseason, the Predators have a number of free agents to address. At a $6M cap hit, Forsberg could find himself in another uniform next season, preferably in Los Angeles.
Ondrej Palat
Palat could be a cap casualty for the cash-strapped Lightning this offseason, and the LA Kings could grab themselves a player who just tallied 15 goals and 31 assists in 55 games. He’s an underrated asset on the man advantage, scoring seven goals with 13 assists this past season.
Palat has one year left on his deal before becoming a UFA, so see previous text on acquiring an impending UFA. He can score, is an asset on the powerplay, and a great puck possession forward – areas where the Kings need to improve.
Tier 2 – Might be something there
Johnny Gaudreau
Johnny Hockey. Gaudreau rebounded from a down year in 2019-20, by his standards. The 27-year-old tallied 19 goals and 49 points in 56 games while shooting the puck at an absurd 17.0% shot rate. Like Forsberg, he’ll be a UFA after the 2021-22 season, so the Kings need to proceed with caution.
Gaudreau’s camp would have to give some assurance of him sticking around in Los Angeles. He was subject to trade rumors at the deadline, but Gaudreau remained in Calgary. Will the Flames offload his $6.75M cap hit this offseason?
Viktor Arvidsson
Nashville had several players reportedly on the trade block at the deadline, including Arvidsson. The 28-year-old is three years removed from a 34-goal campaign with plenty of good hockey left in him. He shot at the puck at a career-low 6.6% in 2021 but still racked up 25 points. The Preds have also reduced his TOI over the last two seasons.
Get him on the top-six forwards in Los Angeles, where he’ll be playing 19+ minutes a night, and he’ll get back to scoring goals at will. That’s the hope anyway. He’s also approaching elite puck possession in the NHL with a career 53.1 CorsiFor percentage.
Arvidsson still has three years left on his contract, coming at a $4.25M cap hit per season, which would allow the Kings to take his contract on and then some this offseason. For the same reasons Forsberg gets dealt, I could see Nashville wanting to offload Arvidsson’s contract.
Plus, the Kings could use another Swedish forward, am I right? His versatility to play both winger positions will be an asset, given the influx of prospects on their way to Los Angeles.
Tier 3 – Thinking outside the box
Anthony Duclair
Duclair could be difficult to pry away from the Panthers, given how well he fit in with the upstart Florida squad. The 25-year-old restricted free agent posted a 10-goal, 22-assist season for the Panthers, so a significant piece would have to go the other way as Bill Zito’s group looks to take the next step. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but Duclair will be very tough to acquire this offseason.
Still, the Kings have the pieces to do it. The Panthers also have just over $8M in cap space this offseason, with key free agents in Sam Bennett, Alex Wennberg, Nikita Gusev, and Brandon Montour to potentially re-sign. Something has to give. The Kings would have to work out a sign and trade deal for The Duke.
Evander Kane
You serious, Clark? The Kings might be getting Kane at the right time. The Sharks were rumored to potentially terminate his contract amid his Chapter 7 bankruptcy after the 2021 season. Despite the off-ice distractions, the 29-year-old led San Jose with 49 points (22G, 27A). He’s consistently flirted with 50-point seasons throughout his career and would certainly improve the Kings’ scoring woes.
If the Sharks terminate his contract, the Kings can work out their own contract with Kane. If he remains with the club into the offseason, perhaps the Sharks could sweeten the pot for the Kings to take on his $7M cap hit through the 2024-25 season. Of course, San Jose may not want to sweeten a deal with a division rival.