The New York Rangers were the big winners at the NHL Draft Lottery, meaning the Westen Conference won’t have to deal with Alexis Lafreniere on a regular basis, right? Well, as Lisa Dillman examined for The Athletic, if the Los Angeles Kings or another team with a high pick came calling the Rangers would have to listen. The Kings have arguably the best prospect group in the entire NHL already and could potentially create quite a package of assets for the first overall selection.
While the Kings have that impressive prospect base and several high picks, the Ottawa Senators are primed to make a huge splash at this year’s draft as well. Not only do they hold the third and fifth overall selections, but they also have an incredible seven picks in the first two rounds of this year’s draft. Nine if you extend that to the third round, and 13 in total for 2020.
- Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff liked the fit for trade deadline acquisition Dylan DeMelo, but hasn’t started negotiations yet for a new contract according to Murat Ates of The Athletic. The team will “definitely take a look” at a new deal with the pending free agent, who ended up playing just 14 total games for the Jets after arriving from Ottawa partway through the season. The 27-year old DeMelo recorded just ten points in 59 games this season and is coming off a two-year deal that carried a $900K cap hit.
- Martin Pospisil, who signed his three-year entry-level contract in 2019, will be playing in Slovakia for the time being. The Calgary Flames prospect has been loaned to HC Kosice for the next few months but is expected back for NHL training camp. Pospisil played 26 games for the Stockton Heat of the AHL this season, recording ten points.
Kings will offer Doughty, Kopitar and their first rounder whilst retaining 50% of both players salaries in exchange for the first overall pick, Staal, Smith and Lundqvist. Just waiting to hear someone propose that here, followed by “you heard it here first”.
wow. no other words. wow.
I prefer the “wonder if x for y gets it done” posters. They win 7 cups back to back in GM mode and just goes right to their head.
@manos – That almost plays out as a 3-alarm tire fire deal, though… Lafreniere is cost-certainty for the next three years. The Kings getting Staal, Smith & Hank would keep them being 5 years away from being 5 years away. As has been stated on PHR, the only potential problem for NYR would be misuse of Lafreniere. A potential generational player could really energize the Blueshirts, if they don’t blow it.
They would have to include quick in the package as well they can’t roster 3 goalies. Dont see this as possible. I’m a kings fan and not sure that deal works out for either teams
@imindless – I’m hoping @manos was just messing around here, not being totally serious. The problem is, some guys might think that could happen…
So if the Kings do that how much better off are they for the next let’s say five years I would say in the basement looking up every year… Not a chance I would bet more on Ottawa to make a move on the French speaking Canadian kid… 2 picks in the top 5…
If for no other reason, the Rangers have never had a #1 overall pick, they will keep it.
But, I can see a case for why they should consider trading it…cap space.
If Lafreniere needs a $10 million a year deal when they already have Panarin signed at $12 million plus Zibenajad and Kakko and Fox needing new deals in two years, plus Krieder and Trouba, etc., you can make a case that they’d be better off with the #3 and #5 picks from Ottawa.