Kent Johnson, C
The Kings spent much of this offseason signing aging veteran players that will fill key roles on the team going into the upcoming season. Getting younger and more skilled in the forward group would be a welcome move for the Kings in the next few months for the upcoming season.
In an episode of the Blue Line Blast podcast earlier this summer, The Athletic's Aaron Portzline discussed potential trade rumors surrounding the Blue Jackets. Goalie Elvis Merzlikins and center Kent Johnson were specifically discussed as two players to watch on the trade block for the Blue Jackets this summer.
Now, I want to say that there haven't been any official rumors or reports publicly linking the Kings to Johnson. This idea is purely based on speculation and roster need for Holland and the Kings late this summer in the middle of the lineup.
Johnson could be the type of young center with top-six upside that the Kings could get long-term value out of in the middle of the lineup.
A move to hypothetically acquire Johnson would signify a different type of approach from Holland and the Kings from what they did during most of free agency. Instead of adding another veteran for immediate contributions, the Kings would be acquiring a player who could potentially grow alongside other core piecs of the franchise's foundation, such as Quinton Byfield and Clarke, for years to come.
Even though Johnson is probably the least likely of the three players on this list to actually get moved late this summer, he's also the exact type of offensive talent that the Kings would be hypothetically looking for if Columbus were ever willing to listen.
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