LA Kings Unexpected Expansion Shake-up

10 Assets Change Hands Between Seattle And Los Angeles

The Kings had strategically arranged their contracts with the intention of sidestepping expansion deals altogether, by way of short term deals and contracts ending prior to the expansion draft date. However, when Seattle GM Shuck reached out to discuss the Kings veteran netminder Mike Smith (signed in 2020 to a 2 year deal though 2021/22 season, specifically to satisfy expansion requirements), the hamster wheel took to spinning. 

What had originally started as a courtesy call quickly took shape into a pair of blockbuster deals. Initial talks wound up taking a twist, ending with the Kings sending a 2022 1st/2nd/2021 4th(CGY) along with prospect Zion Nybeck to Seattle in return for Max Pacioretty with 30% retention (2yrs x 7.25m) and veteran netminder Johnathan Bernier (3 yrs x 3.05m). Shortly thereafter, a second deal was struck to finalize the day with Mike Smith (1yr 3.75m), Cody Eakin (3.91m), and Mat Robson (800k) heading to seattle, with Garnet Hathaway (3yrs x 1.25m) and Seattles 2022 4th round pick coming back to LA. 

Deal 1 lands the Kings a top flight scorer, with Pacioretty sitting firmly inside the top 15 winger category, as well as a strong veteran presence to lighten the load on Mackenzie Blackwood, not unlike Mike Smith was signed to do. 

Deal 2 resulted in the Kings saying goodbye to Cody Eakin, one of the final hold-over assets remaining from the by-gone GM Michaud Kings era, and Mike Smith, who was initially signed as expansion bait but wound up solidifying his place as the Kings starting goalie in the 2020/2021 season and post season, surprising the Kings brass pleasantly. Garnet Hathaway comes in to replace Cody Eakin on the depth chart, and offer 2.75m in relief on the cap. 

All in all, the Kings lost a strong starting goalie in Mike Smith, but returned a strong 1B with term in Johnathan Bernier, as well as a coveted first line winger to ride shotgun with Sidney Crosby, at the cost of early round picks and a prospect. The Kings head into free agency with almost 20m in cap space, and 35m DCHL cash to spend, and GM Wolf is terribly worried about inflation so don't expect that cash to stay dormant long. The Kings will be on the hunt for another top 6 forward and more defensive depth in the off season.

Current look at potential line combos for the Kings 2021/2022 season:

Ladies and gentlemen, the Kings phone lines are open and ready for business. Come one, come all.