we miss leo k
Rejoint: févr. 2018
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I do not think it's a stretch to call Brandt Clarke equal to a 1st rounder - he was the #8OA pick in 2021 and has done nothing but validate that pedigree since.
So, with that in mind, it's worth noting: the only goalie traded in the last 5 years for a 1st round pick was Darcy Kuemper before last season - colorado gave up a 1st you could reasonably predict would be a pick in the mid/late-20s, Connor Timmins, and a conditional 3rd for Darcy Kuemper with retention. Kuemper was coming off a 3 year run in Arizona where he put up a .922 SV% and 2.35 GAA in 111 GP, getting Vezina & postseason All-Star votes in 2 of those years, and even getting some down-ballot Hart Trophy votes in 2019. In other words, dude was on a crazy heater and Colorado viewed him as the guy to get them over the hump - and they *still* got retention coming back in that deal.
Even if you throw out Demko's struggles this year (a big ask, I'd say), his numbers still don't touch Kuemper's - .913 SV%, 2.83 GAA, and only really recognized with postseason award votes last season. I just can't see him getting similar value back in a trade, especially when you have to consider that he struggled mightily this year before getting injured - his trade value has definitely taken a hit.
Beyond all that - why the hell would the Kings, in playoff position, trade 2 of their 3 goalies with NHL experience for a guy in Demko who still isn't healthy enough to play and has been out with a lower body injury for 2+ months at this point? And even more so: in what world would the Kings trade Jonathan Quick for *anything*? Dude's the franchise icon, I can get it if he decides to do the Marty Brodeur "one more year" in a weird jersey, but that'll be his choice, not the team unceremoniously shipping him out.