It has been a major priority for the Los Angeles Kings front office to target top goal scorers and blue-line help via the trade and free agency markets in the last couple of offseasons. Since the start of last season, the Kings have been in the market for someone who can add a real spark to the offensive scoring and provide more depth for the top lines for the forwards and the blue line.
The Los Angeles Kings front office could be potentially active on the trade block going into the 2025-26 regular season
If the Kings do pursue a big splash trade this upcoming season in the Western Conference, a good place to look for potential trade targets to fill the roster needs for new general manager Ken Holland could be looking close to home with other teams in the Pacific Division.
Not only are the Kings familiar with playing against some of the top trade targets from other Pacific Division teams, but there are also some big names rumored to be on the trade block for the upcoming season.
Rasmus Andersson, D (Calgary Flames)
Among the hottest names on the trade block this summer in the Pacific Division teams is Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson. The Kings, Vegas Golden Knights, and Ottawa Senators have been a handful of the teams rumored to be interested in potentially trading for Andersson from the Flames in the near future.
Since early this offseason, the Kings have been involved in various rumors and trade discussions on the trade block for Andersson from the Flames.
If the Flames can't reach an agreement to terms for a new contract extension with Andersson for their blue line soon, a trade could be very realistic for Calgary before the trade deadline next year for 2026.
Andersson could provide scoring and valuable two-way production for the Kings' blue line. He's scored over 30 points in the past four seasons for the Flames in the Pacific Division.
Mason McTavish, C (Anaheim Ducks)
If the future for center Mason McTavish with the Anaheim Ducks is uncertain going into the trade deadline next year for 2026, he could be a potentially appealing trade targets for the Kings up front with the forward lines.
The reason why McTavish's name has been more often discussed recently in various trade rumors and fan circles is the veteran forward depth that head coach Joel Quenneville and the Ducks signed in free agency this offseason.
The Kings could use more young scoring punch and two-way depth with the center group for this upcoming season in 2025-26. This past season, the Kings ranked dead last among the teams that made the playoffs in the Western Conference in goal scoring and in the bottom half in shooting percentage.
McTavish would not only add another young 20-goal scorer to the Kings' top-six forward lines, but he would also take valuable scoring and depth away from another Pacific Division rival in the Ducks.
Jared McCann, LW (Seattle Kraken)
Since he is coming up on the end of his contract with the Seattle Kraken in the next couple of years in the West, left-winger Jared McCann could be one of the most appealing trade targets discussed going into this upcoming season. McCann, a four-time 20-goal scorer for the Kraken, could provide some real scoring punch and consistency for the Kings at the winger position if he were to hypothetically join the top two forward lines in a trade next season from Seattle.
It was just a couple of seasons ago that McCann was a 40-goal scorer at center for the Kraken. And while I don't think he would play center if he were to hypothetically join the Kings in a trade this upcoming season, he could still be one of the big sparks for the second line in LA.