Recent reports from Kevin Weekes, it appears that the Kings are now in play for Mitch Marner
According to NHL insider Kevin Weekes, the Los Angeles Kings appear to be in on one of the biggest fish this off-season.
Now that the Kings cleared cap space by trading Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Washington Capitals, Weekes believes LA may now be a suitor for Toronto Maple Leafs star forward Mitch Marner.
Weekes floated the idea on TSN Overdrive on June 22. He talked about how the Kings have moved themselves into a position to make a bid for Marner.
“First of all, I can’t believe Los Angeles got off that (Dubois) deal,” Weekes said. “Now that they’ve opened up that money, why not go big-game hunting? Why not go Mitch Marner hunting?”
This deal would have many moving parts and likely involve the Kings offering up one of their best defensive prospects, like Brandt Clarke.
The Kings also have $23.4 million in projected cap space and could logically take on the entity of Marner's contract.
As previously mentioned, the Maple Leafs would expect one of the Kings' best defensive prospects. They would also likely ask for a roster player and a pick as a return.
Kings GM Rob Blake would be more than open to acquiring Marner from the Maple Leafs, but it would depend on the asking price. If the Kings gave up Clarke as the headliner of a package for Marner, it could be a trade that benefits both teams.
The only roadblock to making a deal work would be convincing Marner to waive his no-movement clause and accept a trade to LA.