Entering his first offseason as general manager for the Los Angeles Kings, Ken Holland might want to make a big splash. The Kings are desperate to get past the first round of the playoffs and they might need to be bold to achieve that.
These are three players that could be available this offseason that would be difference makers for the Kings but are unlikely to happen.
3 LA Kings dream trades that probably won't happen but would be game-changers
Evan Bouchard
The first trade is almost certainly not going to happen but if the Edmonton Oilers are not able to sign Evan Bouchard to a new contract, they may look to move the restricted free agent.
Bouchard is only 25 years old and has now had 40 or more points in four straight seasons with a career-high of 82 in the 2023-24 season. He has continued to be productive in the playoffs while averaging over a point per game with 17 in 16 games after 32 points during the Oilers playoff run last season.
According to Frank Seravalli of The Daily Faceoff, he believes the next contract could be closer, if not over, an AAV of $10 million. If the Oilers don't believe they can get there, then trading the restricted free agent makes sense. There is no question the Kings would be interested, and Holland knows Bouchard from his time with the Oilers, but it is highly unlikely they would trade within the division.
However, when considering the Oilers and Kings made one of the biggest trades in NHL history involving Wayne Gretzky, we can never say definitively it wouldn't happen.