or the Kings claiming Condon, who they could have had a week ago for free, after Murray returns, but didn't put in a claim even after Quick got hurt.
- Oneonta Penguin

I guess it depends what they want. I can't see them wanting a high-priced goalie because it's going to force them to shed salary elswhere, which is going to be either impossible or undesirable.

Berube is on a 1yr deal making $675k and is still an RFA at the end of the contract. Seems like he'd be a desirable asset to obtain, especially considering the success he has had for their AHL affiliate.

I could definitely see Condon being worth a look too.

the bernier angle is an intriguing one. the ducks have a desperate need to shed to sign lindholm, and this would help. no argument that teams aren't going to do the kings any favors, and quite frankly there's no enticing package LA can come up with unless it involves kempe and/or mersch and/or high draft picks, which is how their depth is a mess in the first place.

still low chance of dealing to a division rival, but the needs of both may be enough in this instance to make it happen. any deal for someone with a serious cap hit would prob necessitate putting quick on LTIR, which they seem reluctant to do.
- hiway39

Bernier isn't worth a good prospect. Take a pick.

Trouba needs to go back to the USA.
- LeftCoaster

Most American players need to go back to the USA.

I guess it depends what they want. I can't see them wanting a high-priced goalie because it's going to force them to shed salary elswhere, which is going to be either impossible or undesirable.

Berube is on a 1yr deal making $675k and is still an RFA at the end of the contract. Seems like he'd be a desirable asset to obtain, especially considering the success he has had for their AHL affiliate.

I could definitely see Condon being worth a look too.
- eichiefs9

The Kings have Brown which is a awful contract. They won't be able to move that one. Gaborik at 4.875 isn't a good one. The Jeff Carter one could turn sour soon, if it already isn't. Kopitar is a hell of a player, but he ISN'T worth $10 million per.

Really, the roster is a mess. Goaltending has been rough since Quick has gone out. However, there are other issues and this isn't a quick fix (no pun intended). None of the heavy contracts come off the books anytime soon and the pending UFAs are all on the cheap side (King, Purcell, Gilbert) and I would assume Tofoli and Pearson are must signs as RFAs.

Believe it or not, the Flyers still haven't played their home opener this season.
- Eklund

i don't believe it. I'm going to need a source on this one.......

LA is a different story. Kings window is just about closed here. You either write off the season or bring someone in. Quick gone 3 months then getting back into game shape going to take at least a month. He's starting to break down with such heavy reliance on just him. Pavelec IF the Jets eat salary could be the most ideal, but could see MAF too cause expansion you leave him exposed and good chance Vegas takes him. The real issue is what LA can offer given the club's status and they cant afford trading young assets.
- Roadrunner75

Although Ek's hardly ever correct, I can actually see the Kings being interested in Fleury (although I don't know if the two teams could agree on terms). LA must be in win-now mode with an aging core, some bad / potentially bad contracts and relative dearth of upcoming prospects. Of the goalies in the league thought to be currently available, Fleury is undoubtedly the best. With Quick on the LTIR for 3+ months, the Kings can likely fit in Fleury's contract for the season. Depending on when Quick gets back, they could either try to flip Fleury before the trade deadline, or worst case scenario they play out the season with the best goalie combination in the league and then expose MAF to the expansion draft (in which he'd almost certainly be taken by the new Vegas team). Of course, this is all assuming that MAF would accept a trade to the Kings in the first place, as he has a modified NMC / NTC.

I think how the Pittsburgh goalie situation plays out this season is going to be the most interesting storyline to follow this year due to the expansion draft rules. Is Murray really considered the goalie of the future for them, and are they going to become increasingly desperate to move Fleury rather than lose him for nothing? Or are they going to flip Murray, who likely has more trade value now with his very reasonable new three year contract extension to another team? The fact that every GM in the league knows that Pittsburgh needs to move one of two will make it really interesting to see how the whole thing plays out.

The Kings have Brown which is a awful contract. They won't be able to move that one. Gaborik at 4.875 isn't a good one. The Jeff Carter one could turn sour soon, if it already isn't. Kopitar is a hell of a player, but he ISN'T worth $10 million per.

Really, the roster is a mess. Goaltending has been rough since Quick has gone out. However, there are other issues and this isn't a quick fix (no pun intended). None of the heavy contracts come off the books anytime soon and the pending UFAs are all on the cheap side (King, Purcell, Gilbert) and I would assume Tofoli and Pearson are must signs as RFAs.
- Oneonta Penguin

Yeah I can't really see them moving out any money. Don't think anyone will bother trading for Gaborik while he's hurt. Carter is the only significantly paid player that is worth moving, but at 31 with 5 more years on a lucrative deal I don't see that as particularly likely.

Going off of CapFriendly (thanks for shutting General Fanager down, stupid Las Vegas bumhole team) the Kings have a hair under $1.6M in cap space.

They could try trading Lewis or King for a little breathing room, but $2M isn't going to land them any kind of special goaltender and would just hurt their depth.

If they were smart, they could stick Quick on LTIR and get about $4.2M in allowed overage expenditure, but then they'd be faced with a nice-sized headache when Quick were healthy again.

I think they're kinda up-poops-creek on this one. Nobody is going to touch Carter or Gaborik. Even if they retained 50% I would be hesitant to take either player, because of the term remaining.

Although Ek's hardly ever correct, I can actually see the Kings being interested in Fleury (although I don't know if the two teams could agree on terms). LA must be in win-now mode with an aging core, some bad / potentially bad contracts and relative dearth of upcoming prospects. Of the goalies in the league thought to be currently available, Fleury is undoubtedly the best. With Quick on the LTIR for 3+ months, the Kings can likely fit in Fleury's contract for the season. Depending on when Quick gets back, they could either try to flip Fleury before the trade deadline, or worst case scenario they play out the season with the best goalie combination in the league and then expose MAF to the expansion draft (in which he'd almost certainly be taken by the new Vegas team). Of course, this is all assuming that MAF would accept a trade to the Kings in the first place, as he has a modified NMC / NTC.

I think how the Pittsburgh goalie situation plays out this season is going to be the most interesting storyline to follow this year due to the expansion draft rules. Is Murray really considered the goalie of the future for them, and are they going to become increasingly desperate to move Fleury rather than lose him for nothing? Or are they going to flip Murray, who likely has more trade value now with his very reasonable new three year contract extension to another team? The fact that every GM in the league knows that Pittsburgh needs to move one of two will make it really interesting to see how the whole thing plays out.
- TheMaritimer

This would never work in a million years.

1. Quick is not on LTIR. He is on the regular 'ol IR.

2. Even if Quick were to be placed on LTIR today, the allowable overage would only be $4,201,473 (assuming CapFriendly's numbers are correct) which is around $1.5M less than Fleury makes. The Pens would have to retain salary, which I doubt they want to do considering they're already tight enough to the cap.

3. Your "worst case scenario" would put the Kings more than $5,000,000 over the cap ceiling when Quick returned to action

This would never work in a million years.

1. Quick is not on LTIR. He is on the regular 'ol IR.

2. Even if Quick were to be placed on LTIR today, the allowable overage would only be $4,201,473 (assuming CapFriendly's numbers are correct) which is around $1.5M less than Fleury makes. The Pens would have to retain salary, which I doubt they want to do considering they're already tight enough to the cap.

3. Your "worst case scenario" would put the Kings more than $5,000,000 over the cap ceiling when Quick returned to action
- eichiefs9

Not if they traded the Pens Jake Muzzin. Only 1mil over

I would tend to think the Kings would want "a 2-3mil, 40games but then drop him easily when Quick gets back" type of goalie. That doesnt seem to be Fleury for me.

my prediction.
Ryan Miller
*He wanted west coast, his wife is an actress, VAN will start rebuilding and LA can drop him in the off season.

The asking price most likely would be low, its also possible that LA will see about Van taking Brown's contract.

my 2nd is DAL... they im sure would like to move one of Niemi/Lehtonen out.

----

Trouba, this will go on until Feb by my estimation.
- BooBoo997

You are the first person i have seen bring up Dallas as a solution. And it truly makes the most sense. Fixes and gives flexibility to Dallas' terrible goalie tandem. And because its advantageous for them, they would probably give one of them to LA for next to nothing. Exactly what LA is looking to pay for a short term goaltending solution.

Also, regarding your Brown/Miller suggestion... I shutter at the thought of all the cheap shots being taken with Burrows and Brown on the same team.

Not if they traded the Pens Jake Muzzin. Only 1mil over
- j.boyd919

Well if they're going to do that then they would obviously just trade Muzzin to the Islanders for Berube

This would never work in a million years.

1. Quick is not on LTIR. He is on the regular 'ol IR.

2. Even if Quick were to be placed on LTIR today, the allowable overage would only be $4,201,473 (assuming CapFriendly's numbers are correct) which is around $1.5M less than Fleury makes. The Pens would have to retain salary, which I doubt they want to do considering they're already tight enough to the cap.

3. Your "worst case scenario" would put the Kings more than $5,000,000 over the cap ceiling when Quick returned to action
- eichiefs9

Isn't Gaborik on LTIR? There is extra money, right? Don't know how long he is out. That said, the Kings aren't a playoff team even if they trade for Fleury now. One look at the roster suggests that.

I don't see Pittsburgh making a deal right now because Murray isn't ready to play. Time will tell a few weeks down the road. That said, if the Kings haven't found someone else, there is no sense making a deal because their fate would already be decided.

You are the first person i have seen bring up Dallas as a solution. And it truly makes the most sense. Fixes and gives flexibility to Dallas' terrible goalie tandem. And because its advantageous for them, they would probably give one of them to LA for next to nothing. Exactly what LA is looking to pay for a short term goaltending solution.

Also, regarding your Brown/Miller suggestion... I shutter at the thought of all the cheap shots being taken with Burrows and Brown on the same team.
- SJFreez19

How is Dallas a fit? Lehtonen makes $5.9M this season and next (that's 100k more than Quick) and Niemi makes $4.5M this season and next.

How do the Kings fit that into $1.6M in cap space?

Respectfully have to question validity of the sources on the Leafs rumors. Everyone knows the Leafs need young high quality d-men to align with their high quality prospects up front. But everyone also knows - or should know - that this Leaf regime, Lou in particular - aren't exactly loose lipped when it comes to their plans.

I can see them parting with Gardiner and a forward prospect not in the NHL, but that's about it for Trouba, and based on what we read, that wouldn't be enough for the Jets. Don't see this happening, but as always, conjuring up fictional rosters is good fun.
- grim

I have to agree. Lou's tight lipped approach is a direct mirror of Kevin Chevaldayoff. News of the Kane/Bogo/Kasdorf - Myers/Stafford/Armia/Lemieux Roslovic trade (aka the most lopsided trade in NHL History) only broke when someone in the NHL office leaked it when the trade was being approved. If the Jets and Leafs are trading partners, we will find out when it is announced and no sooner.

Isn't Gaborik on LTIR? There is extra money, right? Don't know how long he is out. That said, the Kings aren't a playoff team even if they trade for Fleury now. One look at the roster suggests that.

I don't see Pittsburgh making a deal right now because Murray isn't ready to play. Time will tell a few weeks down the road. That said, if the Kings haven't found someone else, there is no sense making a deal because their fate would already be decided.
- Oneonta Penguin

Gabby is on regular IR.

Definitely agree that MAF isn't a fit for a litany of reasons. Kings are going to have to go bargain-bin hunting on this one.

He reminds me of a young Phaneuf.
- SRam19

You're thinking of Dumba.

Trouba needs to go back to the USA.
- LeftCoaster

eichiefs' wife for Trouba

You're thinking of Dumba.
- mykokes

Victor Hedman

eichiefs' wife for Trouba
- glove_was_stuck

She left me

Victor Hedman
- glove_was_stuck

.........not a chance.

.........not a chance.
- mykokes

So you're saying there's a chance

Gabby is on regular IR.

Definitely agree that MAF isn't a fit for a litany of reasons. Kings are going to have to go bargain-bin hunting on this one.
- eichiefs9

Litany might be a bit much. It's a cap space thing. If the asking price for MAF was Muzzin, or a top notch prospect and a 1st is one thing. The asking price is probably a pick. The question is does that pick (probably a first or a second) deter the Kings from making the trade and then putting MAF on the non protected list for the expansion draft. If they wouldn't be bothered, then make the deal. However, its all a non factor due to the cap situation there. MAF has the ability to play well there. LAK is more defensive minded then Pittsburgh. It's the cap.

She left me
- eichiefs9

big if true

I would tend to think the Kings would want "a 2-3mil, 40games but then drop him easily when Quick gets back" type of goalie. That doesnt seem to be Fleury for me.

my prediction.
Ryan Miller
*He wanted west coast, his wife is an actress, VAN will start rebuilding and LA can drop him in the off season.

The asking price most likely would be low, its also possible that LA will see about Van taking Brown's contract.

my 2nd is DAL... they im sure would like to move one of Niemi/Lehtonen out.

----

Trouba, this will go on until Feb by my estimation.
- BooBoo997

Trouba has till December 1st to sign or he doesn't play at all is my understanding.

Agree that it is dumb but the Kings have alot of other dumb contracts. Do you really think the Ducks make a trade with the Kings even if this does make sense?

As for picking up "someone else's backup" that is what they did with Zatkoff and we know how that is working out.

The Kings have a tough decision to make and other issues with their team as well....(Brown).
- wrister

If the Ducks want to resign Lindholm, then they need to free up cap space. Trading Bernier for Zatkoff or Budaj frees up nearly $3.5M in cap space. All that money can go into a new Lindholm contract.