Yep -- those are three guys the Kings won't trade and one guy the Kings won't trade for.

Marner is the worst of the Big Three for fit with Los Angeles. Whereas some arguable rationalization exists for Matthews to LA or Nylander to LA, none whatsoever exists for Marner coming here. Right now, we have $7.5 million in cap space with 7 -- count 'em, seven -- roster slots open, and since Clarke and Vilardi don't count towards the roster or the cap right now, this trade would put us $2.5 million over the cap with 8 roster slots to fill. These facts aren't my opinion -- this is inescapable numerical certainty. And adding more assets on our side to close the cap gulf just makes the problem worse.

Now aside from the cap definitiveness, let's consider the philosophical subject of roster structure. We're not going to sacrifice our future based upon building from the ground up to look like top-heavy Toronto or Edmonton, with stars whose cost is so high that it's impossible to assemble a proper supporting cast. We're doing fine; we're on the upswing. I suspect that the reason for the dozen-or-more-a-day Big Three trades to Los Angeles stems from the realization, conscious or not, that the end may be near for the Maple Leafs because if one of Matthews, Marner or Nylander leaves as a free agent, a collapse is possible. We can afford to add Auston Matthews as a free agent in 2024, but neither Marner nor Nylander fits the Kings either as a free agent or a trade acquisition, and both run completely counter to the theory on which the Los Angeles roster has been carefully assembled.

Anything else? Maybe Kaliyev or Kempe?

Lol, you just gave the kings cap problems

Sure - if you insist!

The greatness of fantasy trades, right?