If the LA Kings wish to acquire a younger forward, they will need to target a restricted free agent. Here are three players to consider.
A young, unrestricted free agent forward would be the ideal player to target this offseason, but the fact of the matter is that players don’t hit UFA status until their late 20s. If the LA Kings are targeting players in the mid or early 20s, they’ll have to pursue a restricted free agent.
With the team reportedly in the market for two top-six forwards, here are three RFA forwards to target in trades.
1. Conor Garland
Garland should be atop the Kings wishlist this offseason. With the Coyotes hurting for draft picks and their reported “desire for different,” leave no stone unturned with that team. And don’t forget that Garland was on the trade block at the deadline, but he was never dealt.
Trevor Moore and Conor Garland just spent an entire tournament playing on the same line for Team USA in the World Championships. The duo accounted for 11 goals and 11 assists in ten games. Garland, 25, aligns with the age bracket that general manager Rob Blake is targeting.
He matched his point total (39) from last season in 19 fewer games during the 2021 campaign. Garland is a competent two-way forward, but his defensive metrics dropped considerably in the shortened 2021 season. Still, he has accounted for an impressive 57.3 CorsiFor percentage through his first three seasons.
