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Every article, I try to include a poll question for readers to vote on, then review the results from the week’s polls every weekend. In each of my last four articles, which focused on which contracts in each division the Kings could take on for assets, I asked readers which player they think is the most likely option for the Kings to acquire in a package with assets.
Here was the answer for each division:
ATLANTIC DIVISION
(Votes: 245)
None of the players listed: 50%
Karl Alzner: 18%
John Moore: 18%
Braydon Coburn: 15%
Alzner or Moore would certainly bring back the largest return in a deal given their respective term/AAV. As mentioned in the article though, Montreal would be unlikely to move assets for Alzner, based on their cap space so personally, I’d say both Moore and Coburn would be a more likely deal than Alzner. Either would be a pretty easy deal for the Kings to make, however, neither deal would be a home run and wouldn’t bring a massive return, unlike some players in other divisions.
METROPOLITAN DIVISION
(Votes: 201)
None of the players listed: 42%
Johnny Boychuk: 21%
Cal Clutterbuck: 15%
Brendan Smith: 10%
Thomas Hickey: 4%
Marc Staal: 4%
Leo Komarov: 3%
Well, we know Staal is no longer an option, based on Detroit getting there first. As a result, the New York Rangers would likely be less desperate to move Smith’s contract as well. This means we’re probably down to a member of the New York Islanders and while Johnny Boychuk’s contract would bring back the largest return, the Islanders likely don’t have then assets to move it. I’d imagine they’d look to attach Nick Leddy as an asset to either Cal Clutterbuck, Thomas Hickey or Leo Komarov.
CENTRAL DIVISION
(Votes: 191)
None of the players listed: 43%
Alexander Steen: 27%
Zack Smith: 18%
Mathieu Perreault: 10%
We know that taking on Steen’s contract would be worth a second-round pick, based on the Staal trade. That said, as mentioned in the article, Steen has a no-trade clause so he’d have to approve of any deal, which he’d really have no incentive to do. Considering either Chicago or Winnipeg would probably love to clear some cap space, perhaps either team would be willing to give a mid-round pick to get Perreault or Smith off their payroll.
PACIFIC DIVISION
(Votes: 520)
Sven Baertschi: 26%
None of the players listed: 24%
Kris Russell: 22%
Loui Eriksson: 21%
Jay Beagle: 7%
You have to imagine the Canucks would want to at least try to move one of their bad contracts, though it could mean starting to sell off 2021 draft picks, based on their lack of draft capital in this year’s draft. If I were Rob Blake, I’d certainly be making some calls to Jim Benning, as there’s certainly a potential deal that could be worked out here.
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