Durzi needs to be replaced with Byfield, Spence or Vallardi if the Jets are taking Iafallo. It won't be just pieces LA wants to get rid of, they'll be losing something they don't want to that Winnipeg wants

Trading for PLD in this kind of manner doesnt make any sort of sense. Yes hes a good player but the Kings top 9 doesnt need any sort of help at all. By far their biggest issue is goaltending and signing PLD to a 1 year contract throws solving their biggest issue right out the window. The defense produced by Iafallo and Moore would be more productive and positive to the team then the offensive traits that PLD would bring to the table.

No thanks on Moore.

From what I’ve read, WPG wants to remain competitive even if they unload PLD Helly, Schiefle, etc. This trade gives them three, every day players. Iafallo can play up and down the lineup. Kupari is a 6’3”, 3C who plays a 200-ft game and skates like the wind. And Durzi is a great, offensive, top 4 Dman who plays both sides.

Neither PLD nor Villardi will sign that cheaply, You could swap Villardi for Kupari in the offer and then the cap and trade likely work. Without that, bottom of the lineup pieces aren’t really what the Jets will be targeting. They’d want rfa’s with 3+ years of team control ideally.

Moore’s partial no trade for sure has Winnipeg on it. PLD in a sign and trade for Villardi+ is the deal imo. Can figure out the appropriate adds based on the other pieces involved.

With Villardi’s injury history he likely wants to go long term to guarantee the money. Kings can’t do that and if they don’t view him as a C they may not want too. Lots of prospects in the pipeline still.

1. I’m not suggesting the Kings need to trade for PLD. I’m looking at the rumors and piecing together the roster GMRB may be trying to build. If PLD is the best player we can add without a seismic shift to the roster or prospect pool, Blake should do it. Just like he did with Fiala last year and RV the year before. This top 9 is significantly stronger than the one that finished the 22-23 season.

2. Copley isn’t the long-term solution, but he was one of the mvps from last season. Until Kopi’s cap hit goes down, the Kings have to save somewhere. That’s why I’m this scenario, LA signs PLD to a 1-yr deal. They can pay him more when Kopi’s cap hit is closer to $4M/yr.

3. If GMRB doesn’t want a goalie with a $5M+ cap hit, another way to shore up your goaltending is by improving your D. Hence, trading away a player I like very much (Matt Roy), and replacing him with a Hague/Zadorov type and replacing Roy with Spence. Just like the Kings did in 2012 when they traded JMFJ for Carter and called up Voynov.

Villardi will sign a bridge deal because he wants to stay in LA and that’s the only way he fits under the cap. He’s had one good season, which is why the number will be around $3M. If Blake ends up trading for PLD, it will be with the understanding that his payday will come next season when the cap goes up significantly and Kopi’s contract comes off the books.

If PLD is on the market, it’s because he’s forcing WPG’s hand. The Jets aren’t coming from a place of strength and the Kings won’t include Vilardi, Byfield or Spence. They no longer have the prospect depth at RD after trading Faber and Grans.

Iafallo is a 2nd liner or a 3rd liner on a true, top contender. Durzi is a top 4 Dman who can play either side. Kupari is a young 3C with a lot of potential. Calling any of them bottom of the lineup guys isn’t accurate.

Yeah, but it also has to make sense value wise. You want a valuable player and are offering 2 years of a 29YO that the Jets would only be taking to help with cap and has little real value to them along with a meh bottom pairing defenseman they don't need and a meh 4th liner.

There's just nothing there with the potential to be more that it already is, or that Winnipeg would seek out in return.

As I said, it won't be pieces that you couldn't care less about losing because you know they don't offer much value. There will be a piece or two, that you don't want to give up.

Bottom half… my bad.