The Los Angeles Kings aren't expected to make any big moves this summer but they will move some pieces around.
Namely, Arthur Kaliyev who Rob Blake is trying to move after the player requested a trade.
It's hard to gauge Kaliyev's value, but you have to imagine teams looking for secondary scoring will be interested in the 2019 drafts 13th-highest scorer.
This is where the Nashville Predators come into play.
In a recent Athletic article, Pierre Lebrun discussed Nashville's desire for depth scoring.
"We relied heavily on one line last year, the Ryan O’Reilly line," said Barry Trotz to Lebrun. "They all had career years on that line. But I’m looking for more scoring. I’m looking at the trade market. I’m looking at free agency. And some options internally."
Lebrun then clarified that he doesn't think Trotz will go after a big fish like Jake Guentzel and will instead target more of a "second-layer" type forward.
For a team with a league average power play, that creates a lot of offense off the cycle, Kaliyev could be a perfect fit.
The issue becomes, what does the return look like?
The Kings aren't getting Juuse Saros out of any Kaliyev package, so put that on the back burner.
Someone like Cody Glass or maybe Philip Tomasino could use a new look, but neither player would fit in LA.
That leaves the Kings targeting a more bottom six, grinder type forward from Nashville.
While that isn't an exciting return for Kaliyev, it is a sensible one. Realistically, the Kings aren't getting a big pull from Kaliyev and are either looking at a gamble like Wahlstrom or a low-ceiling addition.
Given the potential open spots on LAs roster next season, a physical bottom-six forward makes sense for them.
Somebody like Michael McCarron or Cole Smith, a physical presence on a cheap contract.
It would give the Kings an element they're missing in their lineup and allow them to allocate more of a budget somewhere else, like in net.
It isn't exciting, but you know what you get with those players and you fill a need.
The one potential high-upside play for the Kings would be Russian forward Egor Afanasayev, who was selected 12 picks after Kaliyev.
Afanasayev shares some similarities with Kaliyev. Both are big bodies snipers with skating deficiencies and questions about their defensive game, although I think those are blown out of proportion in Kaliyev's case.
The big difference between the two, and why I think Afanasayev could be a fit, is that Afanasayev is far more physical.
In his short stints with the Predators, he's been more than willing to throw his weight around and forcecheck hard.
His offense, which lit up the AHL last season, hasn't translated to the NHL, but the tools are there.
I do wonder how interested Nashville would be in Kaliyev with internal options like Joakim Kemell and Zachary L'Heureux potentially ready for an NHL spot.
However, if the Predators are believers in Kailey's upside, they might be willing to take a shot on him.
For the price of a depth forward, or someone like Afanasayev, Nashville might be interested.
The Kings can't hold out for a big return on Kaliyev, it won't happen, they need to get someone who will fit a role back.