The Kings re-signed Quinton Byfield last week as a bright spot in an off-season of significant changes. Who else could be trade bait if Los Angeles doesn't bounce back?
Arthur KaliyevIt's been an off-season of significant changes for the Los Angeles Kings following their disappointing 2023-24 campaign.
Gone are Pierre-Luc Dubois, Viktor Arvidsson, Cam Talbot, Matt Roy and Carl Grundstrom. Their replacements include Darcy Kuemper, Warren Foegele, Joel Edmundson and Kyle Burroughs.
Most observers ranked the Kings among this off-season's losers for letting Roy and Arvidsson depart as free agents. The new players aren't considered significant additions capable of helping this club move the needle.
It hasn't been all bad news for the Kings. They re-signed rising star Quinton Byfield to a five-year deal worth $6.25 million annually. That contract could become one of the NHL's best-value deals if the 21-year-old continues to develop as a top-line forward.
Nevertheless, the Kings head into 2024-25 facing questions whether they can regain their promising 104-point performance two seasons ago.
The Athletic's Eric Stephens was asked if the Kings might break down this roster by next year's trade deadline if they're floundering in the standings and build around young players like Byfield and promising Brandt Clarke.
Stephens anticipates players slated for UFA status, such as Jeannot and Vladislav Gavrikov, could become deadline trade bait. He expects captain Anze Kopitar will finish his career as a King but wondered if Drew Doughty and Phillip Danault might be open to going to a bigger contender.
A more immediate concern is Arthur Kaliyev's future with the Kings. The 23-year-old RFA winger remains without a new contract amid speculation he could be traded this summer.
Sportsnet's Ryan Dixon believes Kaliyev's future with the Kings is nearing its end. Meanwhile, The Hockey News' Spencer Lazary and Austin Stanovich have looked at several possible destinations for the young winger, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders and Colorado Avalanche.
Lazary also proposed the rebuilding San Jose Sharks, suggesting they could flip some draft picks to the Kings. Earlier this month, Stanovich proposed the New York Rangers as a trade partner in exchange for Kaapo Kakko.
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