LOS ANGELES -- The next seven days will be frantic in the NHL with the trade deadline just one week away. Teams will be frantically hitting the phones trying to find the missing piece that puts them over the top, or cashing in on their most valuable asset.
The Los Angeles Kings will fall into the former, a team looking to add the missing piece that finally sees them through the first round of the postseason. Is that piece actually available? Who knows, but Rob Blake is going to try and find it regardless.
Before diving into their options, let's take a quick look at what is on the table for LA. Despite some loose rumors, I don't believe Brandt Clarke or Quinton Byfield would be available in a trade. Obviously, if something too good to pass on came across Blake's table those two could be in play, but barring a bonafide superstar under 30 coming available, I don't see it happening.
So what is available from LA? We've heard reports they'd be willing to move on from a roster player to improve the team and while a lot of eyes went to Trevor Moore, I'd be a bit surprised to see him moved. If you move Moore for a forward you might upgrade on him but are still short a top-nine forward. Jordan Spence could also make sense as a trade piece but only if you're confident you can re-sign Vladislav Gavrikov this summer.
The Kings' 2025 first-round pick could also be in play. Trading a third first-round pick in four years isn't ideal, but with a draft most in the industry consider weak coming up, and the Kings hoping to pick in the mid-late 20s, I can see it being an option.
LA hosting the draft might make them hesitant to deal the pick, but they won't let that stop a move they think gets them over the hump either.
So let's assume any of Moore, Spence and the 2025 first are available.
Best Player Available:
Rickard Rakell:
By far the best fit for the Kings would be Rickard Rakell, the 31-year-old winger is having a bounce-back season after a rough 2023-24 campaign and is currently on pace for 34 goals and 66 points, totals that would make him one of LA's highest scoring players.
He's also a right-shot and is posting solid defensive numbers, something we know Jim Hiller places a premium on.
It's no secret that this Kings team needs help offensively. They are currently 17th in goals per game, and Rakell would help with that. He's a versatile forward with good puck skills and an excellent shot, which should fit perfectly for the Kings' top nine.
He's not the fastest player so is maybe a better linemate for Quinton Byfield and Kevin Fiala than for Anze Kopitar, but could complete a new "first line" for LA with Byfield and Fiala.
The fit is clear, the cost is the stumbling block. The Athletic's Josh Yohe suggested a first-round pick and blue-chip prospect could be the asking price. Could a 2025 first-rounder and Spence get a deal done? Maybe, but is that worth it for LA?
Rakell is cost-controlled for three more seasons but is also 31. Rakell would be a great add, but the price might be too high for LA.
Brock Boeser:
This one will be quick. Yes, Brock Boeser would be an incredible add for the Kings. No, the Vancouver Canucks aren't going to trade him to a division rival during a playoff race without a colossal overpay.
Kyle Palmieri:
Kyle Palmieri is here because his name has been connected with LA and his pace for 25 goals and 55 points does make him one of the best players available. However, unless the Kings get him for very cheap, I'd steer clear of this one.
He's 34, would be a pure rental for the Kings and I question how much he'd move the needle for this Kings team.
Probably not but maybe:
Jared McCann:
In a category of his own, there have been rumblings that the Seattle Kraken could move their franchise-leading scorer at this deadline and Blake should at least make a call on McCann.
The price will probably be set too high, but McCann is a very good player at a reasonable cap hit of $5 million. He'll score 20+ goals and around 60+ points and is a versatile forward who can play both center and wing. If the Kings explore trading Phil Danault over the summer his ability to play center could be huge, but he'd be brought in primarily as a top-six wing.
Not a "perfect" fit as a lefty, sometimes it's enough to add a good player in his prime and that's what McCann is. Again, the price will likely be too high but worth a call.
Worth kicking tires:
Ryan Donato:
A hot name on the market right now is Chicago Blackhawks forward Ryan Donato, who's on pace for a career-high 27-goal, 56-point season at just $2 million. It's easy to see why teams are interested, but I'm not convinced he's a fit for LA.
He's undersized, not very fast and suspect defensively, all things that run opposite to LA's current philosophy. The goal-scoring this season makes him worth a look, but unless he's coming very cheap I wouldn't buy.
Morgan Geekie:
Like Donato, Geekie is experiencing a career year on pace for 27 goals and 44 points. Unlike Donato, Geekie is a big, right-shot forward posting solid defensive numbers.
There are the usual caveats you get with a career year like this. He's go an unsustainably high shooting percentage, above-average PDO and playing on a line with David Pastrnak. But, you could also argue this is the first time Geekie's gotten a look in a team's top six.
With good hands in tight for a big man and a rocket of a shot, he'd also be a great fit for the Kings' top power play.
Lawson Crouse:
The opposite of Donato and Geekie, Lawson Crouse is having a terrible time in Utah HC's first season and you'd be buying low hoping you can revitalize him in LA.
He's not a superstar but he did have three straight 20-goal seasons in Arizona prior to this one and fits into Blake's mission of making the Kings a bigger, meaner team.
Maybe a move into LA's top-six gets him back to being a consistent 20-goal scorer? This is probably one worth steering clear of but I've liked the player for a while and think he's worth a look if he's cheap and comes with some salary retention.