A few weeks ago, on 32 Thoughts with Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the analyst shared that the Los Angeles Kings would prioritize a right-handed scorer at the trade deadline. We opined that New York Islanders’ winger Kyle Palmieri would be the best fit for Los Angeles, given that he’s one year removed from a 30-goal campaign.
It appears the Kings are thinking similarly, as Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News mentioned earlier that Los Angeles had checked in on Palmieri’s availability. Still, there’s some speculation the Islanders will keep Palmieri through the deadline, given they’re only five points back of the final wild-card position in the Eastern Conference.
Fortunately for the Kings and other interested teams, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that the Islanders’ reality has settled in, and the team is now engaged in trade negotiations for Palmieri and center Brock Nelson. Palmieri has 19 goals and 40 points through 60 games this year and should command plenty of interest at the deadline, especially if New York is willing to retain some money from his $5MM cap hit.
Additional notes from this evening:
- Exactly 10 days ago, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that the Utah Hockey Club was engaged in extension negotiations with netminder Karel Vejmelka. There weren’t any meaningful updates regarding an extension until today, when Belle Fraser of The Salt Lake Tribune quoted Vejmelka saying, “For sure. I don’t have reasons to change anything. It’s the first thing on my mind to be part of the team…we’re like a big family.” There’s no questioning Utah’s interest as Vejmelka sits 10th in the league with 14.3 goals saved above expected, according to MoneyPuck.
- As the top wild-card team in the Eastern Conference, the Columbus Blue Jackets could be sneakily active leading up to the trade deadline. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period asserts the team is targeting a middle-six forward, albeit without specific names. Pagnotta mentioned the Blue Jackets were interested in Gustav Nyquist before he was traded to the Minnesota Wild on Saturday. Assuming Nyquist’s archetype is a reasonable mold to work from, Columbus is likely involved in several wingers on the rental market.
The Jackets need an upgrade in net, They are loaded with talented forwards.
It seems that a house has fallen on Grandpa Lou, and he’s finally realized that this team he has assembled over the last seven years is and was never very good. Keep Sorokin, and jettison anybody else with a pulse off this team. After that do the decent thing and resign as General Manager in disgrace, because that’s what this team was under his leadership. Good luck to Nelson and Palmieri wherever they go.