The NHL Trade Deadline is less than two months away and the Los Angeles Kings are going to have to make some moves before that. They have been near the top of the Pacific Division for most of the season but have hit a rough spell in January with four losses out of the last five games.
General manager Rob Blake was not active last season with any trades but made a number of moves in 2023. There were two trades in particular that season that shaped the LA Kings roster this season but should also impact the future ahead.
Vladislav Gavrikov from Columbus Blue Jackets as part of Jonathan Quick trade
The big trade for the Los Angeles Kings was in 2023 when they would trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets for Vladislav Gavrikov and Joonas Korpisalo. In return, the Kings sent Jonathan Quick and a first round pick in 2023 NHL Draft and a third round pick in 2024 NHL Draft.
When considering trading a franchise great like Quick, it is a move that can drastically shift the direction a team takes. For the most part, the trade has worked out as the Kings continue to make the playoffs and Gavrikov has become one of the Kings' best defensemen.
While the Kings would probably still like to have Jonathan Quick in net as a backup, having Gavrikov brings more value to the team currently.
Erik Portillo from Buffalo Sabres
The other notable trade from that season was the Kings trading with the Buffalo Sabres for goaltender Erik Portillo. The Sabres had drafted Portillo in the third round of the 2019 NHL Draft but had yet to play professional hockey to that point and was set to be a free agent at the end of the season.
After trading Quick, the Kings needed someone like Portillo who could eventually take over as the starter. They would trade a third round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft to the Sabres and has been pretty good to this point.
Over the past two seasons in the AHL, Portillo has gone 35-15-5 with a goals against average of 2.56 and a save percentage of .912. He also made his first NHL debut this season with a win over the Anaheim Ducks where he saved 28 of 29 shots.
It wouldn't be surprising to see Portillo competing for a spot on the Kings as early as next season and being a long-term answer at the position.