The Los Angeles Kings have traded forward Brendan Lemieux and a 2023 fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for forward Zack MacEwen.
The trades continue to trickle in on deadline day.
The Los Angeles Kings continued to fortify their roster ahead of what they hope to be a deep playoff run, sending forward Brendan Lemieux and a 2023 fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for forward Zack MacEwen.
The 26-year-old MacEwen is in the final year of his current contract which carries a cap hit of $925,000 and will become an RFA at season's end. Lemiuex, on the other hand, is the same age as MacEwen and is also in the final year of his contract at a cap hit of $1.35 million. He will become a UFA this summer.
This trade amounts to a swap of fourth-line players between two clubs going in opposite directions. MacEwen and Lemiuex have been depth contributors for their respective teams this season to varying degrees of success.
In 27 games for the Kings thus far, Lemieux has gone goal-less on the year while chipping in three assists in a little under nine minutes in average ice time per night. MacEwen has undoubtedly brought more to the table for the struggling Flyers this season than his contemporary, racking up four goals and five assists for nine points in 46 games while averaging over 12 minutes in ice time and beginning just 44.7 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, compared to Lemieux's rate of 60.2 percent.
Based on role, production, and salary, MacEwen projects as an upgrade on Lemieux on the Kings' fourth line, adding an extra capable body to their ranks while affording Lemieux the change of scenery he seemingly desperately needs.
Stay tuned. More trades are on the horizon.