Bottom line. Kings aren’t a contender this year. Best case scenario for this season and the next is a flukey deep run that ends with an L. That’s the max upside we’re working with here.
If you’re BLuc, that outcome is tangibly ideal. You cement your position for the next 5-7 years and don’t have to look for a job outside LA county. So no TDL move is going to help that improve. That strategy requires one major move per season.
The Fiala trade burnt that powder. So now, the move is to improve upon last years TDL by piling max hopium into the feel good mix. The question is who is worth a little more than Stetcher and available. Given the abundance of touchable prospects, you hope Blake gets frisky and brings in 2 elite dumpster dives.
Let’s say the high end to make available is a second round pick and a prospect drafted in the second round. To make salary work, the trade partner would have to take back one of Lemieux or Walker. So, a player who can play near the top of the lineup but not carry over onto next year’s roster.
3C and 3LD are the targets to upgrade that are going to help slot the roster into an ideal lineup. From my scan of the league, Ottawa looks like the prime dumpster for Blake to wade through.
Brassard and Holden check the boxes from the Kings perspective. Cap hit is under $2M combined and they fit into the bottom of the lineup nicely. Both improve size and grit over options like Kupari and Bjornfot. Plus both complement guys like Edler and Lizotte without making ripples in the room. They are safe options for Todd to work in the lineup.
Going the other way, I think you send out 3 contracts and take back two. That’s to show you’re serious about a deal. So the package is a 2024 2nd, one of JAD or Bjornfot, and a 2023 3rd.
