The biggest splash move around the league earlier this past week on Wednesday afternoon a few days ago was the Los Angeles Kings and Ken Holland making the move to trade for star forward Artemi Panarin from the Rangers in New York in the East. Holland and the Kings' front office traded forward prospect Liam Greentree and a couple of conditional entry draft picks to the Rangers in New York for Panarin in exchange this past week.
Los Angeles Kings staying aggressive on the trade block this month with rumors linked to Patrik Laine from the Montreal Canadiens
That move to get Panarin from the Rangers in the West this past week on Wednesday before the roster freeze in the NHL was a smart move by Holland and Co. to beef up the Kings' roster offensively before the Winter Olympics break this week for three weeks.
Holland and the Kings' front office appear to still be ready to make aggressive moves on the trade block and before the upcoming trade deadline this upcoming spring in the West this regular season. The Kings appear to be kicking the tires on additional cap space for a top-six scoring forward offensively this regular season and before the trade deadline next month in early March.
Marco D'Amico of ratings.org named the Kings as one of a handful of teams in the league in the NHL this regular season in the West that have at least kicked the tires on the possibility of trading for Laine from the Habs in Montreal on the block next month for the trade deadline in early March. The other teams that have reportedly expressed interest in trading for Laine in Montreal are the Carolina Hurricanes, Seattle Kraken, and Calgary Flames.
Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos included Laine on the list of his latest trade board in the league in the NHL on the block and going into the upcoming trade deadline next month.
"Laine hasn't played since October, when he was shut down to have surgery to repair a core muscle. That return timeline was initially three to four months, and he passed the three-month mark last week. Laine has practiced with the Canadiens, but a return to the lineup isn't imminent, though he's ready to play again."Nick Kypreos on Patrik Laine
One thing to watch here is that the Kings are probably better off looking to fill a need on the trade block for a top-six center for the active roster lineup offensively this regular season in the Pacific Division.