If there's anyone that needs centers less than the Canadiens, it's the Kings. LA declines.

TB isn't isn't giving up Thompson and Evans while decent doesn't get you a top flight RD prospect that could play in TB this year . Especially considering Bogosian will be out as long as Cirelli being he had the same exact surgery a week later.

Totally get it. But there are a lot more Forward positions than Defense positions on an NHL team. Kidney is an equivalent prospect of 1 year younger. I wonder if the teams don't find a way to get something like this done?

You are nuts to evaluate this kid as a top flight defenseman. He was drafted in the 3rd round, has never play a single game of professional hockey, and his career projection if he even makes the NHL is middle or bottom pair.

Of course we don't know what he can develop into. But if you think he'll play a single game for the Bolts this season... You are out of your mind. Teams do not win Stanley Cups with 20 year old Jack Thompsons in tow.

Teams do win Stanley Cups with players like Evans who I believe in 2-3 years will be considered a better version of Lehkonen... But it's all good if you don't like my deal. Good luck with the second coming of Roman Hamrlik over there!

Not for Grans. The Kings are severely short (pun intended) on defensemen with size. Grans is their only large defenseman that is anywhere near NHL ready.

Also, the Kings aren't looking for prospect swaps at this point. If they're going to move one of their quality prospects, it's going to be in a package for a significant upgrade.

Fair enough. Thanks for your perspective sir.

I was thinking that between Doughty, Roy, Durzi, Walker & Clarke - Grans is gonna have a tough time making the team over the next 3-5 years. I'd say all of those guys are ahead of him and that's a tough spot for a prospect who could be NHL-ready in another 1-2 years. He may even request a trade at one point. It's also, in my admittedly inexperienced opinion, bad asset management as they CAN go and get something for him to help their team now or down the road (even if it's not a lateral move at a different position and a similar development timeline).

EDIT: Forgot Spence. Spence is also ahead of Grans.

Durzi and Walker are both on the trade block. I'd be surprised if either were still on the team next summer. Roy is a quality defenseman right now, but he's a stopgap. He'll stick around longer than Walker and Durzi, but I don't think he'll be back after his current contract ends.

Durzi, Spence, and Clarke all check the same box at RHD. The Kings only have a spot for one of those guys. Short term, it will likely be Spence, but long term, it will be Clarke. Clarke's recent play has demonstrated that he's not ready for the NHL yet.

If the Kings learned anything from last year, it's that it's good to have redundancies on the back end. There was a handful of games last season where every single one of their starting defensemen were on IR and they had to run 6 defensemen that weren't on the opening night roster. They don't want to go through that again.

Grans will be getting a shot in the league sooner rather than later. I think this season, he'll play in the AHL while he's still waiver exempt and will be the first called up to cover for injuries. Next season, he'll run with Doughty-Roy-Spence as the 7th defenseman, while Clarke gets a year in the AHL. 2024-25, we'll likely see Doughty-Grans-Clarke, with Spence either as #7 or someone playing on the left. By this point, Doughty will be pushing 36 years old and Clarke will likely be looking to take over as the #1 defenseman. Assuming everyone works out, I could see Clarke-Grans-Spence as the long-term defense of the future for the Kings.

You can't teach size, and Grans has a lot of it. The Kings defense is currently lacking size and grit at this point, so I don't see them willing to move Grans right now.

Ok great. Same deal Kidney for Durzi?

No, Durzi is worth significantly more than that.

The Kings will not be trading their valuable trade chips for players without NHL experience. If Durzi is getting traded, it's going to be for someone like Chychrun.

The Kings might consider Sean Walker for Kidney.

Sean Walker is not in the age range we'd be looking for. Looking for someone to grow with the team.

Thanks again for your perspective. Very insightful!

If he puts age 20-26 Hamrlik numbers up and plays almost 1400 games over 20 years he'll be ecstatic. He'll be on much better teams than Hamrlik was those were terrible Lightning teams . At least you got 100% effort every night.

What team wouldn't be happy with Hamrlik numbers? Good luck with your prospect sir. I hope it works out as you think it will.