I wish that you Penguins guys would stop sending Reilly Smith to Los Angeles. The Kings won't be investing in a $5 million lame duck with limited cap space and both goalie spots to fill. And if there was any kind of market for Smith at all, he probably would have been traded at the deadline.

Speaking of Los Angeles, I'd be willing to bet that the Kings will offer Matt Roy 5 x $5.5 million.

Wait that’s a common trade? Usually it’s Smith to Vegas or Florida again

So you are signing Byfield to a bridge contract. That kind of surprising with the presence of Clarke. I thought you’d try to go for a cheaper option on the LHD side and let Roy go. That said, I know he’s important to the team defensive structure. Do you try Spence as a left handed D or try to find a trade?

Projections I've been trying out work with Byfield and Roy getting similar money but 3- and 5-season terms. If the Kings can re-sign Roy, Spence becomes theoretically expendable, but Gavrikov is a lame duck so the Kings may decide to keep Jordan. It will be telling to see what the Kings do on draft day -- if they trade Spence, then that signals that they have reached agreement with Roy on an extension.

My assumption would be that you would prioritize Byfield because of the present of Clarke. The difference in the salary he would make now vs later is probably substantial.

I don’t imagine that giving up Roy will be a very popular position with the coaching staff when you can develop Clarke as a third D and play Spence on his offside or swap him for a left D.

That’s one of the reasons that I didn’t discount the PLD for Ullmark rumors. The difference in salary would allow you to extend Byfield to a non bridge deal and sign Roy, while developing Portillo as Ullmark’s backup. Alas, I don’t think Ullmark waives his NMC without a contract extension.

And I think you could add up to 50% retention in the offseason, it didn't seem like any forwards with term were getting traded (Hertl aside) at the trade deadline.

I wouldn't be surprised if Guentzel returned...... but I doubt it