Goaltenders are never worth 1st round picks, in the draft or via trade. Pretty much every team that has ever given one up has come to regret it, with very limited exceptions.

Goaltender performance fluctuates greatly from year to year, and is heavily dependent on the team playing in front of them. Boston has been one of the single best defensive teams in the league for a long time now, it's not a surprise that they continue to showcase quality goaltending performances. The Kings used to be that way (hence the strong play of Quick and Petersen before this year), but are no longer that way (hence the terrible play of Quick and Petersen this year). Taking a historically average goaltender like Ullmark and moving him from arguably the best team in NHL history to a team that was horrible defensively this season is going to be followed by a huge dropoff.

We saw the same thing with Philipp Grubauer. He got himself a Vezina nomination on the Colorado Avalanche, and the Avs chose to move on rather than pay up on Grubauer's extension. Grubauer went to Seattle where he was absolutely terrible the following season. The only thing that changed was the quality of the defense in front of him.

So no, the Kings will not be paying a premium for Ullmark. Durzi or the 2nd is the max they'll give. You can have both of them if Boston retains (like Arizona did on Kuemper in the trade you mentioned) or takes back Cal Petersen.

A pick outside the top 50 and a turnover machine that’s below average defensively is NOT paying a premium it’s the going rate. Lol. A premium would be a 1st and high end prospect.

The entire point of moving Ully is freeing cap space. Retaining is pointless. Taking back Cal defeats the purpose entirely. Neither would ever happen. They are taking Durzi to help LA with cap, rather have a pick or prospect. If LA wanted to pay someone to retain 50% on CAL then pay us to to add him to the deal…maybe, Cal at 2.5 might be moveable, if not cut it half by burying him.

LA is paying someone. In this case Durzi. Ullmark is worth a 2nd. If you want to take Cal at 50% retention with a 3rd team involved, then Durzi goes to the 3rd team instead of Boston, and you guys get the 2nd instead.

Alternatively, you guys Keep Ullmark and the Kings will look elsewhere.

2nd is half of Ullmarks value. Sorry.

Then Boston should keep him.

Can’t keep and pay 2 #1 goalies. But they aren’t giving one away for 50 cents in the dollar either.