Los Angeles declines. Durzi has already shown top-4 talent and is a RD; Joseph hasn't and isn't. Zucker just isn't the RW we need, and Friedman doesn't give us anything more than any of the developing defensemen we already have in the system.

Aside from the Kings not being able to afford the cap-hit repercussions of this trade and downgrading defensively at 3 RD, Joseph Pierre-Olivier is not enough to take on Zucker's increasingly bad contract, let alone adding two NHL-ready prospects (both being paid under 850K).

Let's pretend that Durzi for POJ is an even swap (it's not, but let's pretend) and that the Kings aren't getting fleeced. That means that LA is giving up Grundstrom to take on Zucker's cap hit for Pittsburgh? Friedman carries no trade value whatsoever and might as well be left out of the deal.

Why would LA go for this?

Thanks for feedback. All right, looks like I obviously underestimated that trade, at least i should probably instead of Friedman give a prospect (probably Nathan Legare).

Zucker essentially has exactly the same trade value as Jeff Carter did. If the Pens retain 50% of his salary, they can get a couple conditional mid-round picks in return. At $1.5M of retention, they might get future considerations, if he's not negative value.

Durzi is a good fit for LA's lineup right now. If they're going to consider moving him, they need a quality option that's a better option for the lineup RIGHT NOW. They have no desire to move him for prospects that may or may not help in the future.