Frank Seravalli put the Kings in the Connor Hellebuyck race, but Elliotte Friedman can't find a deal that works for Los Angeles.
On 32 Thoughts, Friedman acknowledged the report before pouring cold water on it. “The way they're going, I don't know,” he said.
“I also find it very hard to see what the trade is there,” Friedman added. “I look up and down and I'm thinking, I don't know if I see the match.”
The clock matters. Friedman expects Winnipeg to pay Hellebuyck to stay away if no trade lands by Friday, when his suspension window closes.
Kevin Cheveldayoff wants help now, not futures, and that's exactly where Los Angeles runs into trouble.
The Kings are 0-4-2, dead last in the league after Saturday's 4-1 home loss to Boston.
They've dropped six straight and scored just 12 goals.
Ken Holland's winless Kings have little Winnipeg would want
On paper, the need couldn't be clearer. Darcy Kuemper sits at .847, and Anton Forsberg isn't much better at .883.
The problem is what Ken Holland can offer. Artemi Panarin and Drew Doughty each carry an $11,000,000 cap hit.
Those aren't players a team trying to win now takes back in a goalie deal. And the younger pieces are scuffling too.
Quinton Byfield and Brandt Clarke have both gone minus-6.
The Kings walking into this negotiation is like showing up to a high-stakes poker table with a pocket full of IOUs.
Friedman's right, and Los Angeles shouldn't force it. Selling what's left of the future to rescue a winless start is how a bad October turns into a lost decade.
Hellebuyck carries an $8,500,000 cap hit, which only makes the math harder for a team already loaded with big contracts.
Peter Laviolette's group heads east this week, with stops in Washington on Tuesday, Long Island on Thursday and New Jersey on Saturday.
Seravalli isn't wrong that the Kings need a goalie. The open question is whether anyone in that front office can build an offer Winnipeg would even pick up the phone for.
Should the Kings go all in to trade for Connor Hellebuyck?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Dylan Larkin trade reportedly nearing in Detroit
