In the past few days, I've written on the site about potential trade targets for the Los Angeles Kings from different teams in the Western Conference, from the Pacific Division, and then the Central Division.
Bryan Rust could be a really intriguing hypothetical trade target for the Los Angeles Kings from the Metro Division in the East in the upcoming 2025-26 season
Now, we're moving over to the Eastern Conference to find possible hypothetical trade partners for the Kings from the Metropolitan Division. The Kings need to add a top-six scoring forward and/or a quality defenseman who can consistently produce points and potentially double-digit goal seasons from the blue line in these possible trade scenarios with the Metro Division from the East.
Not all of these trade targets will be available in every scenario path for the Kings. But these are all potential appealing trade targets for the Kings for this upcoming season and before the trade deadline in 2026.
Anders Lee, LW (New York Islanders)
In the hypothetical world where the Kings trade for a quality top-six forward and high-level point producer for the forward lines, like New York Islanders winger Anders Lee, this would be a very impactful pickup for LA this upcoming season.
Bleacher Report recently predicted Lee to be one of the high-profile wing trade targets in the East who will be moved around the NHL in the 2026 trade deadline this upcoming season.
Despite him being 35 years old, Lee is still producing at a high level offensively and contributing to the Isles efforts on the defensive end of the ice. Lee scored 20 goals for the fourth consecutive campaign in the 2024-25 season for the Isles.
If the Isles aren't in playoff contention in the East going into the trade deadline next February in 2026, Lee could realistically be a player New York could look to move on the trade block. Lee is in the final year of his current contract, which is worth around $7 million in average annual value.
Vincent Trocheck, C (New York Rangers)
New York Rangers veteran center Vincent Trocheck is the type of proven and experienced two-way forward that the Kings would love to hypothetically add to the top-six forward group.
Like Lee with the Isles, if the Rangers aren't in playoff contention come the 2026 trade deadline, it would realistic to see New York potentially move a high-profile forward like Trocheck on the trade block.
If Trocheck is available on the trade block in this hypothetical scenario for this upcoming season, I think this would be a logical move for general manager Ken Holland and the Kings to make a deal to bring him to LA for 2026.
Bryan Rust, RW (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Multiple quality Pittsburgh Penguins forwards have been the speculation and discussion of plenty of reports this offseason that their front office is interested in taking calls for this summer. Right-winger Bryan Rust is one of the players that appears to be on the trade block among the Pens' top forward group since early this offseason.
Rust had a no-movement clause in his current contract that expired earlier this summer on June 30. With three years remaining on his current contract, with an average annual value of just over $5 million, Rust has a very movable deal for the trade deadline this upcoming season for a team like the Kings to pursue on the block.
The type of scoring boost a 30-goal scorer like Rust could provide the Kings would be a major spark for the top forward lines, and his postseason experience could help get LA over the hump in the playoffs in the West in 2026.
Dmitri Voronkov, F (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Dmitri Voronkov is coming off a breakout season where he scored a career-high 23 goals and 47 points in the Metro Division in the 2024-25 campaign.
It was reported by The Hockey News earlier this offseason that multiple teams had been in discussions for potential trade packages with the Blue Jackets that involved the forward Voronkov.
The Blue Jackets were close to dealing Voronkov to the Isles earlier this summer in a trade package for defenseman Noah Dobson. Since Columbus didn't pull the trigger on that deal and Dobson was traded to Montreal, the Jackets could theoretically consider moving Voronkov this upcoming season around the trade deadline.