Any recent updates on negotiations with Vilardi? I haven't heard much.

Also, CHI likely declines.

I can’t fully confirm anything yet. As of yesterday the Kings and Jets deal was not getting much progress. The Jets are wanting more than the Kings want to offer. PLD also wants more than the Kings are offering.

Many fake rumors out there saying the “deal is close.” However it is not. I’m not saying a deal won’t happen within the next couple days but as of yesterday they were still miles apart.

It depends on Chicago’s plan for upcoming year. Acquiring Hall and rights to Folingo shows signs they are trying to spike up the rebuild.

Eh... that isn't what I take from that trade at all. Just more trade bait and a means of getting to the cap floor. Also, a former 1st overall pick and talented veteran to mentor and play with Bedard.

Yeah. They could be waiting on more market setting developments and whatnot before they finalize a deal, which I fully expect the market will become clearer before the draft.

I think all the PLD rumors are just smoke. Probably coordinated by Blake and Cheveldayoff.

Vilardi supposedly is playing hardball on an extension. The Kings want him to sign a short bridge deal like Mikey Anderson did last summer and defer his payday to when there's more cap space available.

PLD is done in Winnipeg, and he has made it clear he wants to play in Montreal. Montreal knows that he wants to play there, so they're not keen to give up a huge payday since why would another team offer a haul for a guy that said he won't sign anywhere else.

Kings get to say to Vilardi, "You can sign a bridge deal or play in Winnipeg." Jets get to show Montreal that someone is serious about giving up a large haul for PLD in an effort to get Kent Hughes to pay up in a trade return.

Everyone wins.

Yeah. I kinda figured that was all smoke in mirrors. Who would honestly pay for one year of PLD after everything we know about him essentially forcing his way to MTL? Especially that much. My question was more concerned with Vilardi's contract negotiations. I appreciate the detailed response, though.

Nope. Supposedly there hasn't been much talk.

There has been lots of talks today. Hearing the deal is almost finalized. Will be a 5-6 players total involved.

In terms of the trade. Sadly it’s happening. Yesterday they were miles apart since they were insisting to get Byfield.

Yeah just saw that too. That's dumb. LAK shouldn't do that.

That's how contract hardball works. If the trade wasn't "imminent," there wouldn't be much incentive for Vilardi to relent.

The deal is being sorted but from what I heard it may be

Los Angeles:
Vilardi
Iafallo
Kupari
Grundstrom
Draft pick

Winnipeg:
Dubious
Harkins
Dillon

But it’s not finalized as both sides didn’t agree yet and pieces can still be swapped.

If that's the deal, Blake should be fired immediately.

Take out Kupari and the draft pick and it's still awful for LA.

I agree. This is coming from a Kings Scout I do taxes for. He’s the same guy that told me the Anderson bridge deal that I had put on here before his signing and all the Kings fans attacked me saying he won’t sign a bridge deal.

The deal will be finalized today afternoon or tomorrow at worst.

The deal is complete now. PLD is a King. The official trade will be announced within the next hour or less.