Joined: May 2016
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I could see the Kings doing a similar trade for Jeff Carter, not Ilya Kovalchuk. Carter has 3 years remaining on his contract at a similar cap hit as Lucic, so the additional one year isn't a huge deal for the Kings. Kovalchuk only has 2 years remaining, so the Kings would be on the hook for Carter and Lucic in 2021-22, and that's not something the Kings can afford.
A couple conditions though:
1. Lucic would have to completely void his NMC for the remainder of his contract. If he insists that it remain intact on the Kings after he waives it for the trade, then no deal. The Kings need to be able to demote him to the AHL should his play continue to decline even further (if that's even possible). They also can't afford a protection slot on him in the expansion draft.
2. The draft pick heading to LA needs to be a 2020 2nd round pick with no conditions. Even if Edmonton finishes dead last in the league and the pick is 32nd overall, the Kings get it. A 2nd and Puljujarvi is fair compensation for the Kings taking on the additional $725k difference between Lucic and Carter's contracts, as well as the additional year at $6M.
McDavid, Connor
$250,000)
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