Speculation: Trade Deadline Options

[Ziggy Stardust]

The NHL Trade Deadline is on March 1, which is three weeks from now. Between now and then, the Kings have nine games to establish themselves as either sellers or buyers.

As of today, the Kings remain one point out of a wild card spot, trailing both Calgary and St. Louis. They trail the 2nd (Anaheim) and 3rd (Edmonton) place teams within the Pacific Division by eight points.

With 18 points on the table until the trade deadline, I think we will get a clear picture in what direction this team should steer towards by how close they remain in playoff contention. Another determining factor will be whether or not Jonathan Quick will reclaim his net at some point in February.

With that said, here is a list of potential trade deadline candidates that the Kings could be looking at as playoff rentals:

FORWARDS​

Radim Vrbata, RW, 11 goals, 35 points in 51 games, $1M cap hit.

Thomas Vanek, LW, 13 goals, 33 points in 41 games, $2.6M cap hit.

Patrick Eaves, RW, 19 goals, 33 points in 53 games, $1M cap hit.

Patrik Berglund, C/LW, 13 goals, 20 points in 54 games, $3.7M cap hit.

Martin Hanzal, C, 10 goals, 19 points in 43 games, $3.1M cap hit.

Jarome Iginla, RW, 7 goals, 14 points in 50 games, $5.33M cap hit.

Brian Gionta, RW, 12 goals, 27 points in 53 games, $4.25M cap hit.

PA Parenteau, RW, 12 goals, 24 points in 52 games, $1.25M cap hit.

Brian Boyle, C, 12 goals, 19 points in 48 games, $2M cap hit.

Drew Stafford, RW, 4 goals, 12 points in 35 games, $4.35M cap hit.

DEFENSEMEN

Deryk Engelland, RD, 2 goals, 10 points in 56 games, $2.92M cap hit.

Michael Stone, RD, 1 goal, 9 points in 39 games, $4M cap hit.

Paul Postma, RD, 0 goals, 10 assists in 50 games, $887K cap hit.

Cody Franson, RD, 3 goals, 16 points in 50 games, $3.32M cap hit.

Roman Polak, RD, 3 goals, 5 points in 47 games, $2.25M cap hit.

Dmitry Kulikov, LD/RD, 1 goal, 2 points in 27 games, $4.33M cap hit.

Ron Hainsey, LD/RD, 4 goals, 14 points in 52 games, $2.83M cap hit.

Michael Del Zotto, LD/RD, 4 goals, 10 points in 30 games, $3.87M cap hit.

Johnny Oduya, LD/RD, 1 goal, 7 points in 36 games, $3.75M cap hit.

Matt Hunwick, LD/RD, 0 goals, 12 assists in 42 games, $1.2M cap hit.


For the record, I'm not suggesting these players as great options, but just names who will likely be shopped around who could be considered options. I also left out certain names like Shattenkirk, Thornton and Marleau as it is highly unlikely and improbable that the Kings acquire any of them.

Do note that cap hits are prorated so the Kings won't be absorbing the entirety of a players' salary, only whatever amount is owed to him. I also think that any big contract the Kings take on would have to either be partially retained or swapped out for another expensive contract.

As you can see, there really isn't a whole lot of great options out there in terms of rentals on expiring contracts. I'll be posting a potential list of would-be trade candidates with term who could be options for the Kings.

Click to read more...

 

[Fishhead]

if MDZ is available, I would think the Kings would inquire. I'm not sure if there is anyone in the organization that Hextall covets, however.

 

[goosh]

My guess is that DL will acquire a low-cost forward who can play with Kopitar. What about a guy like Tomas Jurco? Oozes skill, but has been somewhat misused in Detroit under Jeff Blashill and just needs a change of scenery. A fourth-rounder might do the trick...

 

[deaderhead28]

I think some rumors/speculation stated Dean isn't looking for a rental,he doesn't want to give up more assets without term on a contact.I hope he doesn't waste another future or pick on a rental,might as well just hold on til after the season.

 

[Trolfoli]

A thread on picking up a rental was the absolute last thing I expected.

Just call someone up from the minors.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

A thread on picking up a rental was the absolute last thing I expected.

Just call someone up from the minors.

Given Dean's track record the past couple of seasons...

 

[Ubik]

I'd put Alex Burrows and Jannik Hansen in the Forward list. Both should be available and would be great additions to any club with ambitions for a long playoff run.

Burrows has had a bounce back season and can play LW, RW, and even has manned C for the Canucks on occasion. He also can play the PP and is a PK specialist. Great two-way game that can play in the top 6 or bottom 6 effectively. One year left on his deal. A ton of playoff experience and a knack for scoring clutch goals. Also, adds some much needed grit and pesty play.

Hansen provides a similar skillset to Burr with a little more offensive upside.

 

[bob77]

The Kings should not rent. A good old fashioned hockey trade? That's different. They could stand to trade D for F to even out our depth chart a bit. Our D corps tend to be better NHL players than our F corps.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Given Dean's track record the past couple of seasons...

The last couple seasons are different from this season, or the seasons before the last couple. If they had made the playoffs in 2015 after getting Sekera, Carolina gets the 2015 pick instead of the 2016 pick, and Lombardi may not have even gotten Lucic.

 

[HowDareYou]

People already hate the Kings enough but if we add Burrows ..

 

[Reaper45]

My guess is that DL will acquire a low-cost forward who can play with Kopitar. What about a guy like Tomas Jurco? Oozes skill, but has been somewhat misused in Detroit under Jeff Blashill and just needs a change of scenery. A fourth-rounder might do the trick...

Been advocating Jurco for awhile as a low cost option. Though the same thing is likely to happen to him here under Sutter.

 

[Scottkmlps]

People already hate the Kings enough but if we add Burrows ..

If they add Burrows, I'll hate the Kings.

 

[Reaper45]

The NHL Trade Deadline is on March 1, which is three weeks from now. Between now and then, the Kings have nine games to establish themselves as either sellers or buyers.

As of today, the Kings remain one point out of a wild card spot, trailing both Calgary and St. Louis. They trail the 2nd (Anaheim) and 3rd (Edmonton) place teams within the Pacific Division by eight points.

With 18 points on the table until the trade deadline, I think we will get a clear picture in what direction this team should steer towards by how close they remain in playoff contention. Another determining factor will be whether or not Jonathan Quick will reclaim his net at some point in February.

With that said, here is a list of potential trade deadline candidates that the Kings could be looking at as playoff rentals:

FORWARDS​

Radim Vrbata, RW, 11 goals, 35 points in 51 games, $1M cap hit.

Thomas Vanek, LW, 13 goals, 33 points in 41 games, $2.6M cap hit.

Patrick Eaves, RW, 19 goals, 33 points in 53 games, $1M cap hit.

Patrik Berglund, C/LW, 13 goals, 20 points in 54 games, $3.7M cap hit.

Martin Hanzal, C, 10 goals, 19 points in 43 games, $3.1M cap hit.

Jarome Iginla, RW, 7 goals, 14 points in 50 games, $5.33M cap hit.

Brian Gionta, RW, 12 goals, 27 points in 53 games, $4.25M cap hit.

PA Parenteau, RW, 12 goals, 24 points in 52 games, $1.25M cap hit.

Brian Boyle, C, 12 goals, 19 points in 48 games, $2M cap hit.

Drew Stafford, RW, 4 goals, 12 points in 35 games, $4.35M cap hit.

DEFENSEMEN

Deryk Engelland, RD, 2 goals, 10 points in 56 games, $2.92M cap hit.

Michael Stone, RD, 1 goal, 9 points in 39 games, $4M cap hit.

Paul Postma, RD, 0 goals, 10 assists in 50 games, $887K cap hit.

Cody Franson, RD, 3 goals, 16 points in 50 games, $3.32M cap hit.

Roman Polak, RD, 3 goals, 5 points in 47 games, $2.25M cap hit.

Dmitry Kulikov, LD/RD, 1 goal, 2 points in 27 games, $4.33M cap hit.

Ron Hainsey, LD/RD, 4 goals, 14 points in 52 games, $2.83M cap hit.

Michael Del Zotto, LD/RD, 4 goals, 10 points in 30 games, $3.87M cap hit.

Johnny Oduya, LD/RD, 1 goal, 7 points in 36 games, $3.75M cap hit.

Matt Hunwick, LD/RD, 0 goals, 12 assists in 42 games, $1.2M cap hit.


For the record, I'm not suggesting these players as great options, but just names who will likely be shopped around who could be considered options. I also left out certain names like Shattenkirk, Thornton and Marleau as it is highly unlikely and improbable that the Kings acquire any of them.

Do note that cap hits are prorated so the Kings won't be absorbing the entirety of a players' salary, only whatever amount is owed to him. I also think that any big contract the Kings take on would have to either be partially retained or swapped out for another expensive contract.

As you can see, there really isn't a whole lot of great options out there in terms of rentals on expiring contracts. I'll be posting a potential list of would-be trade candidates with term who could be options for the Kings.

Personally want nothing to do with any of these guys. Some might make sense for the cost to acquire them, but not the cost to resign them, like Boyle.

 

[USE Fi]

Been advocating Jurco for awhile as a low cost option. Though the same thing is likely to happen to him here under Sutter.

Agree about Jurco or his type of player, wrong place/misused for a player.

Another type that could work is type of trade we did 2008 to get Greene&Stoll for Visnovsky but Kings being Oiler. Mayby smaller in term of McNabb and one of the bottom six forward for a "better" player.

 

[Trolfoli]

 

[Johnny Utah]

Rangers need NHL calibre d and some toughness or a gritty forward not sure who they would want in Ontario.

 

[BallPointHammer]

Please Dean no rentals regardless of the standings. Last I checked we have all our draft choices, which we should keep. The time to make a significant trade (and maybe a buy-out or two) is during the off-season (expansion and entry drafts and maybe free agency).

For now live or die with Brown and Gaborik, trade a couple bottom 6 forwards (King and ???) for draft choices (I know, won't get much) and give Kempe or Brodzinski or Mersch again (when he's healthy) a chance to get experience and maybe make a notable difference.

Play Ladue (now is the time since he's 24 already). Having McNabb or Gravel as the 7th d-man (forget about Greene and Gilbert) is OK.

The rebuild has already started (Dowd, Shore, Forbort, Gravel, Ladue, others ???) so keep it going because a reload will be disasterous. If the plan becomes to bottom out for the top 5 draft choices, do it right and get rid of just about everybody.

 

[Little Psycho]

We should start taking big signs that say "NO MORE RENTALS, DEAN"

 

[goosh]

We should start taking big signs that say "NO MORE RENTALS, DEAN"

It's funny how the narrative has changed. Five years ago or so people were hammering DL for not having the courage to trade future assets for "win-now" players, and now it's the opposite

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

I will lose my mind if we give-up anything decent for yet another rental

 

[AlphaBravo]

Right now, getting any of those players is pointless. The Kings don't need a depth guy on their roster, they need a game changing forward, like a Lucic, Carter etc... Unfortunately, I don't see a deal like that happening at the trade deadline. I think after the expansion draft, when teams are less concerned about losing players, we might be able to deal Martinez+ for a top 6 forward, preferably on an entry level contract.

I would rather rely on the bottom 6 forwards we currently have for the post-season run, because they play Sutter's system pretty flawlessly. If we get a guy like Vrbata or whoever, their potential contribution will be minimal, while the chances of them making defensive mistakes or not playing in our well-oiled machine high.

BTW, Rosen noted today on his blog that the Kings and Colorado are not even in trade talks. All of the rumors we heard were probably bogus. Frankly, I didn't see DL trading Muzzin or Martinez this year, considering the number of rookie defensemen we have in the lineup.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

It's gotta be so hard for a mad scientist like Dean to have to sit on his hands, but it truly is the path that makes the most sense this year. If it weren't for the expansion draft we might see some action imo, but that just makes everything too risky and overly complicated for marginal returns. I bet the staff is stoked to have our picks for the draft this year!

 

[KINGS17]

We are starting to get an idea regarding the depth of the organization on the blue line.

This team is not a cup contender now, or probably for the next few seasons. Too many bad contracts Lombardi will be unable to move.

At a minimum it is time to move a more expensive defenseman (Muzzin or Martinez) in favor of a young forward not requiring protection from the expansion draft and a 1st or 2nd round pick.

I would do more selling at the deadline or in the off season as well.

It should be obvious by now the contracts of Brown, Gaborik, and Kopitar are crippling to any significant rebuild or reloading. Dean has created a mess only time may fix.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I completely agree with the sentiment that Dean should not give up any more future assets for rentals, especially given the current state of the team.

If they do end up moving say Martinez and other parts for a signed forward, that'll leave the Kings with a blueline of Doughty, Muzzin, Forbort, LaDue, Gravel and McNabb. Very short on experience after that top pairing. I still do think Dean is in the market for a defenseman as well.

I'll be providing a list of potential names with term who could be other options Dean may consider.

 

[Steve Zissou]

I'd put Alex Burrows and Jannik Hansen in the Forward list.