Connect with us

Featured

Los Angeles Kings Listening on Alec Martinez

The LA Kings appear to be sellers at this year’s NHL Trade Deadline and one name that’s come up is Alec Martinez.

In a recent article by Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, he notes that Alec Martinez is available from the Los Angeles Kings. His name has been in the trade rumor mill before, but with the Kings now pretty much official sellers at this year’s NHL Trade Deadline, Martinez is among the many names that will likely be on the move.

Martinez is signed through the 2020-21 season, making him slightly more than a rental but his $4 million cap hit is affordable for a number of teams looking for a dependable defenseman where there are fewer questions about how he’ll contribute to your lineup. Martinez is a left-handed shot but was forced to play the right side quite a bit during his time with the Kings, at times beside the aforementioned Muzzin.

In fact, there are some teams out there at every year’s deadline who prefer to pick up players with a little term. There should be a number of suitors for Martinez if and when the Kings decide to move him.

Among the teams LeBrun considers as interested parties, he lists the Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche and possibly the Winnipeg Jets.

LeBrun writes:

What remains to be seen is what kind of return the Kings could get for Martinez compared to Muzzin, who fetched a first-round pick last June plus prospects Carl Grundstrom and Sean Durzi from Toronto.

… “Second and a prospect,’’ one Eastern Conference team executive suggested as the potential return for Martinez.

The Kings Want Futures

Not likely looking for players who can contribute to their lineup immediately, the Kings will try and acquire players that will help their long-term future. A second and a prospect is the same ask rumored for Tyler Toffoli and many NHL insiders believe the Kings should get that without much trouble.

If the Kings can load up on picks and prospects, they may be able to do something else at this year’s NHL Draft where Alex Lefreniere was just listed as the consensus top-overall North American skater and No. 1 option teams.

Perhaps the Kings will try to use those second-round picks and pick up another first, giving them an even better chance in the lottery. As it stands, the Kings have nine selections in the first seven rounds.

Related: [Report] 3 Teams In Trade Market For Jean-Gabriel Pageau

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

More News

Discover more from NHL Trade Talk

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading