Montreal Canadiens: Five Potential Jeff Petry Trades

Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings have a ridiculously deep prospect pool. They have drafted so well in recent years, they almost definitely have the best group of up and comers in the NHL at the moment.

They also have a bit of an opportunity to make some playoff noise as soon as this season. The Pacific Division is not the league’s best and though the Vegas Golden Knights look really good, home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs is up for grabs for the next best team in the division.

With some tinkering, the Kings could take advantage of that fact and allow their leaders, Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty and Jonathan Quick to pass on some playoff knowledge to the youngsters that are already in the lineup, like Quinton Byfield, Tobias Bjornfot and Arthur Kaliyev.

To get there, the Kings could use a little help on defence with Sean Walker out for the season. Petry could step into a second pairing role behind Doughty and help guide a young defender like Bjornfot.

The Kings have some cap space but would probably want to move a little out to take on Petry’s $6.25 million. Olli Maatta would be a nice fit to balance some salary. The Kings also have Kopitar and former Canadiens centre Phillip Danault locked in down the middle of the ice. Byfield has cracked the lineup at centre as well and young players like Lias Andersson, Blake Lizotte and Rasmus Kupari are already battling for ice time.

Alex Turcotte, Francesco Pinelli, and Gabe Vilardi will be knocking on the door for an NHL role next season as well. So, the Kings move one of them for a veteran right defender.

You know Danault will put in a good word for Petry and Marc Bergevin, the guy who signed Petry to this deal, is an advisor for the Kings now.