Quoting: mvp13
The way I see it is, LAK still has Turcotte and Byfield slumming around... that's 5 high quality centers on one team, where you'd arguably only want 3 of them playing center at one time. Makes sense for them to trade someone, no? I know centers can play also play wing of course, but still. Villardi is up for contract while the other 4 have contracts for the next 3+ years. I feel like he should be the "odd man out", if it means you can acquire two relatively solid wingers. Is there a contract LAK is trying to get rid of that MTL can take back to even it out? I'd suggest Matta or something, but he's up this year anyway.
There will be a trade eventually, sure. That does not mean it will be cheap for a team acquiring whichever center the Kings deem as an odd man out.
What everyone has to get through their head is that's a position of strength in trading, not a position that forces us to sell him low. We don't need to trade our centers. We can push Gabe to the right wing, Turcotte can be played on the left, Kupari can play right, etc etc. If a team wants a center, they'll need to pay up for him otherwise we're more than happy to find a place elsewhere on the roster for them.
As far as this trade, like I said there's nothing you'll like to give up. Looking at the money going in/out
MTL: -$5.9million in cap hit
LA: +$5.9million in cap hit
Next, looking at the age/contract status:
MTL: Vilardi -- 21, ELC this year, RFA
LA: Hoffman -- 31, 4.5mil for 2 more years after this one, UFA
Lehkonen -- 26, 2.3mil this year, RFA
The cap space Montreal gets is worth a 1st alone, looking at all the cap dumps that have happened. Vilardi himself is worth a 1st+, and to me a 31 year old declining winger on a 3 year deal doesn't bring value to a team that is rebuilding. I just don't see any way at all a trade works out without multiple picks going LA's way (at least one of them a 1st round), or a guy like Romanov. Like I said, nothing that Montreal wants to give up.
And finally, the Kings don't have cap space problems. They need Maatta for depth for the next few months with the injuries to Doughty and Walker, so there's nothing really that Montreal could take from LA to even out the trade.