LA Kings Need a Goalie: Here’s Our Wishlist of Potential Targets
Joonas Korpisalo – Unrestricted Free Agent
Let’s start with the most available goalie and the most familiar goalie with the LA Kings organization. There will definitely be some cap gymnastics that would have to happen if he were to re-sign in LA, but it wouldn’t be impossible. For example, trading players away like Sean Walker and/or Sean Durzi, while also letting Alex Edler walk in free agency.
Ideally, you would probably want a team to offer sheet Zack MacEwan and then not match it because his salary, albeit $925,000, is not really needed on this roster. If Rob Blake were to move one of those two players, then the Kings could potentially find some cap room to sign Joonas Korpisalo, whose salary would range between $2 million dollars and $4 million dollars, most likely.
As a King, he performed very well. His production improved from his time as a Blue Jacket and ultimately earned his role as the primary starter in the Kings’ first round against the Edmonton Oilers. In 11 games with the Kings, he recorded a 2.13 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage, which was an improvement on his time in Columbus when he had a 3.17 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage in 28 games.
Also, he started in all six of LA’s playoff games. But, due to the fact that he saw Connor McDavid and primarily Leon Draisaitl in each contest, his save percentage dropped to .892 with a 3.77 goals-against average.
With the only NHL option under contract right now being Pheonix Copley, I would say re-signing Joonas Korpisalo would be worth it at this point.
Karel Vejmelka – Under Contract with the Arizona Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes seem like they will be in rebuilding mode for a while. With their slew of draft picks, their inability to get their new arena plans approved, and their pattern of taking on players’ salaries who are on LTIR just to reach the cap floor, a very capable, young goaltender like Karel Vejmelka seems like a great trade option for the Los Angeles Kings.
The LA Kings have two things that the Coyotes have sought in trades: a borderline unusable NHL player and a plethora of young prospects. Even if the Coyotes were to use all of their draft picks on actual players, the reality is that they would be unable to even sign them all to a contract. So, they could package multiple lower-round picks for one higher-round pick, or whatever their general manager decides to do.
A trade package for Vejmelka could look like Cal Petersen, a mid-round pick, and a defenseman prospect such as Jacob Moverare or Tobias Bjornfot. Or if they need more actual salary to reach the cap floor, then the Kings could trade Sean Durzi or Sean Walker. There are several options available to land a goaltender of his caliber at an AAV of $2,725,000 million dollars. Plus, he is under contract through the 2024-2025 season, so that would also be an advantage for the Kings.
Last season on one of the worst teams in the league, Vejmelka recorded a .900 save percentage with a 3.43 goals-against average. The fact that he could attain a .900 save percentage is remarkably impressive considering the players who took the ice in front of him. He could do wonders backstopping a team like the LA Kings.
Connor Hellebuyck – Under Contract with the Winnipeg Jets
Arguably one of the top goaltenders in the National Hockey League, Connor Hellebuyck is nearing the end of his six-year contract. As of now, his contract runs through the end of the 2023-2024 season. He is now 30 years old and can feel that his time to compete for a Stanley Cup is running out.
He recently spoke to the media and expressed his disinterest in being a part of a rebuild.
“My main goal is to win a Stanley Cup and I’m starting to run out of time and I can feel it,” Hellebuyck said. “You do need to be in the hunt every single year, you’ve got to make the most of your years. I’m not interested in a rebuild. I’m just looking to compete every year.”
With the way the Winnipeg Jets are structured at the moment, it seems very evident that a rebuild is exactly where the Jets are headed, or at least what they should head toward. The LA Kings could be a dark horse candidate for him to come to because they have made the playoffs the past two seasons and their rebuild has been expedited as a result of their success.
Connor Hellebuyck would solidify the crease in a way it hasn’t been since Jonathan Quick in his best years. However, the trade package for him would be more of a puzzle than it would be for Karel Vejmelka. It could look something like a package of Alex Iafallo and Sean Durzi + picks or a package of Trevor Moore, Sean Durzi, a prospect + picks.
That package would ultimately be up to Rob Blake, but it doesn’t seem completely out of the realm of possibility to bring the top-tier American goaltender back to the States.
Carter Hart – Under Contract with the Philadelphia Flyers
Two months ago, when Philadelphia parted ways with General Manager Chuck Fletcher, a report surfaced about the potential availability of their netminder Carter Hart. With the Flyers likely heading toward a full rebuild, the 24-year-old Hart would be a great trade piece to recoup some more assets.
And the Los Angeles Kings would be a great trade partner for the Alberta native. He is currently under contract through the 2023-2024 season and the following year he is an RFA, so if he did come to the Kings, Rob Blake would hold his rights for a minimum of two more years, which would be very beneficial.
Last season with the Flyers, Carter Hart ended the season with a .907 save percentage and a 2.94 goals-against average. Another goalie who did not benefit from the team in front of him on the ice, but could benefit greatly from a team like the Kings taking the ice in front of him.
His cap hit is $3,979,000 million dollars so the trade package for him could be something between the package for Karel Vejmelka and Connor Hellebuyck. But, he is certainly within reason of trading for. If Rob Blake can land Viktor Arvidsson and Kevin Fiala in back-to-back offseasons, then he could certainly land a talent like Carter Hart or Karel Vejmelka. Landing Connor Hellebuyck would certainly be a blockbuster-level trade.
At this point, all options are on the table, including the potential re-signing of Joonas Korpisalo, which also cannot be ruled out. Rob Blake and the Kings’ front office have a lot of options out there and would do well to act quickly, but not in a hurry.
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