Following the opening day of free agency, general manager Ken Holland and the Los Angeles Kings have retooled and added more proven experience to the roster this offseason.
The Kings still have a handful of roster needs to address for new head coach Peter Laviolette and staff before this upcoming season faces off this fall, including solidifying the top-six forward group at the center position and getting a left-shot defenseman to pair with Brandt Clarke on the blue line.
The Los Angeles Kings still have work to do this offseason, and these trade targets could help complete the roster
Before training camp and the preseason begin this fall, Holland and the Kings still need to strengthen the roster in key areas. And with the limited cap space that the Kings have remaining this summer, the trade block probably gives the front office more options to continue improving the roster.
After free agency, the Kings only have roughly $2 million left in cap space for this offseason.
Here are three possible trade targets for the Kings to prioritize after free agency this summer.
Mathew Barzal, C (New York Islanders)
The one name on this list that is more speculation based from the reporting and rumors we've heard early this offseason on the trade block is New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal.
Reports have indicated that teams have been "poking around" to see if the Isles have any interest in a trade to move Barzal this summer. I think this is more of a rumor right now than the Isles being legitimately interested in trading Barzal.
But the fact that there are some teams out there looking into Barzal on the trade block and what it would take to get him from New York is potentially a sign that Holland and the Kings should also at least kick the tires on this possibility this offseason.
It would take pretty much a blockbuster trade this summer and creative manuvering with cap space for the Kings to get Barzal. But there aren't many other centers in the league who would bring the short and long-term impact in the middle of the lineup and raise the ceiling offensively for the Kings more than Barzal hypothetically.
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