Both teams could benefit from swapping their young promising prospects
The Los Angeles Kings and Nashville Predators find themselves back in the rumour mill. This time, for the Predators' stud goalie prospect Yaroslav Askarkov.
Now that Nashville has signed Juuse Saros to an eight-year deal, it is all but confirmed that the team will likely move Askarov and recoup some assets that they need more of.
For the Kings, they need a goalie of the future. As my colleague Rob Couch, who writes for the Predators, mentioned, "The Kings went and acquired Erik Portillo from the Buffalo Sabres in March of 2023, and he looks promising,".
However, it seems Portillo is a few years from being NHL-ready, whereas Askarov is not. He has shown in the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirals that he can be ready for the next step as soon as this season.
The question is, would the Kings trade a top prospect to complete the deal?
The first name that comes to mind would be Brandt Clarke, a young, promising defenseman who could have a long career as a top-four blue liner in the NHL.
Aside from Clarke, it may cost the Kings a lot to acquire Askarov. There could be a chance that if they agree to part with some draft capital, they can package a deal that includes Jakub Dvorak and Arthur Kaliyev, but it would ultimately depend on what the Predators set the asking price at.
Regardless, the Kings, as well as so many other NHL teams, will reach out to Barry Trotz and the Predators and see what their thoughts are. But if Rob Blake wants the young, promising goalie, he may need to part with one of his top defensemen.