Équipe: 2019-20 Kings de Los Angeles

Date de création initiale: 12 nov. 2019

Publié: 12 nov. 2019

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

Kovalchuk has a full NTC, which means he controls his fate. So the Kings, if they want to dispose of him, have to trade him to either a) a contender or b) a market he wants to be in. I would assume most contenders do not have the cap space for him, or he does not fit into their success, so that might depress the price, especially because LA likely has little leverage. Therefore, it's likely the Kings need to explore big markets and swap bad contracts.

I noticed Forbert, Ryan and Hutton (all the left defensemen) are UFAs come July, and the prospects may need some time (Bjornfort and Anderson). Regardless, there will be holes at left defense. Not that he's a great option, but Marc Staal is losing playing time with NYR. I think NYR would value from Kovalchuk, who would be motivated in the big apple, and Staal will get a fresh start in LA. I think both players would waive their NTCs.

NYR would obviously have to add assets, as Kovalchuk has more value. The question is, how valuable would the assets be?