There is still some trade speculation and rumors surrounding the Los Angeles Kings and general manager Ken Holland going into the upcoming 2026-27 season.
The Hockey News recently suggested that the Kings could consider trading two key veterans, goalie Darcy Kuemper and speedy winger Trevor Moore, if they explore moves on the trade block entering the upcoming season this fall.
This suggestion from The Hockey News said that Kuemper and Moore could potentially wind up on the trade block in the next few months, but it also made it explicitly clear that there aren't any public indications that either player is actively being shopped by the Kings' front office.
Could Darcy Kuemper or Trevor Moore actually be moved?
There is a world where the Kings could realistically consider trading Kuemper this upcoming season for a few reasons. First, Kuemper is in a position battle for the starting goalie job with Anton Forsberg entering training camp and the preseason this fall.
Kuemper also carries a $5.25 million annual cap hit, and he has one year remaining on his current contract that expires at the end of the 2026-27 season. If Forsberg wins the starting goalie job coming out of training camp this fall, that could make Kuemper a pretty expensive backup goalie contract for the Kings to carry for the whole season.
He could also still have some value remaining for teams looking for help in net, despite his inconsistencies in this past regular season. Kuemper is only a year removed from a season where he was a Vezina Trophy finalist with the Kings. And his expiring contract could limit the long-term risk for a team that wants to spend for an upgrade in the crease.
That said, Moore could be in a much different situation than Kuemper. Even though the Kings could generate some interest on the trade block for the veteran winger, moving him really only makes sense if Holland and the front office could use the trade to address a more pressing need on the roster elsewhere.
Moore has a pretty team-friendly contract that is valuable for the Kings. He has two years remaining on his current contract, which pays him roughly $4 million annually through the end of the 2027-28 season.
Moore also continues to give the Kings speed and versatility in the forward group. He contributes on both ends of the ice, including on special teams on the penalty kill, making him the type of player who still has value to a team trying to contend for the postseason.
There is also the lack of trade protection on Moore's current contract. The Kings wouldn't have much motivation to trade Moore for a variety of reasons this upcoming season.
Just because both Kuemper and Moore are mentioned on this list of possible trade candidates for the Kings entering the 2026-27 season, that doesn't mean it's likely to actually happen anytime soon. Both Kings' veterans are movable, but with Los Angeles still trying to contend in the Western Conference, it wouldn't make much sense to shop either of them seriously unless it's for the right return on the trade block.
If the Kings could get a trade done with Kuemper and/or Moore to help solve the salary cap situation or acquire something like a puck-moving defenseman or contribute to getting a deal done for a No. 1 center after the retirement of Anze Kopitar this offseason, there's not much of a reason to trade either player to just simply make the move.
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