Kings decline. Neither player is useful to them.

Kovacevik isn't worth a 2nd, he's a #7 or #8 defenseman on the Oilers roster. Once player to have around but they aren't paying a 2nd to acquire him. 4th tops.

Are you telling that the Kings don’t need a young LD? Is Lizotte more useful than Pearson? Is it more useful to play Kaliyev on the 4th line?

Yes, Lizotte is more useful than Pearson. Lizotte is the best bottom six center the Kings have had since Jarret Stoll, and he's only getting better, while Pearson is on the decline.

The Kings do not need a young LD. They had a young LD on the roster earlier this season and had to subject him to waivers because they didn't have a spot for him. Harris would be a healthy scratch on the Kings. If he were younger or still waiver exempt, then maybe he would be useful to them.

Kaliyev for Xhekaj maybe since the Kings could use some truculence, but the Kings have no interest in Harris or Petersen, nor do they want to move Lizotte.

Kulak was not worth a 2nd on this forum 2 years ago. Hovy would arguably be the 6th -7th D in EDM. I intentionally put a 4th with Kovy because his value is more around a high 3rd rounder.

Kulak was a proven #4/5 defender with legit playoff experience though. This guy isn't... I don't think he would beat out Desharnais for playing time right now either.

I don’t see how LA can sign Lizotte in the offseason but I understand your point.

MTL doesn’t take calls for Xhekaj. Struble might be an intersting piece for LA in a Kaliyev deal. He’s physical, he moves the puck well, he’s defensively responsible, can fight and he’s only 22. He is actually MTL 4th D right now.

Aside from Xhekaj, I don't see anything Montreal can offer on defense that would interest the Kings.

I'm not saying that the Kings will keep Lizotte next year, but that doesn't mean they'll move him for a rental 4th line winger. They have more of those than they know what to do with. He has value as an RFA, and the Kings can get a much better return for him. If they do trade him, it will be for his RFA rights this summer.

Kovy is more mobile, it allows him to be more offensive. He has no secondary assist this year and still better offensively than Desharnais. Defensively it is similar but Desharnais is more physical. Up to debate who’s better.

MTL got a lot more than Xhekaj on defense. Xhekaj is a long term project. I don’t see how it would be a fit in LA. He needs a lot of time to refine his game. If LA is not somewhat high on Struble, they need to fire their pro scouts. So good defensively. If there was no LD logjame in MTL, he wouldn’t be available whatsoever. He was also a Bergevin prospect.

Right now the Kings have Englund at 3LD covering all of the truculence duties. He'll drop the gloves when needed, but he doesn't do much physical play between the whistles. He's fine defensively, but his play is replacement level.

The Kings could stand to have a player that can fight and play physical between the whistles that is also decent on the PK and not a defensive liability during protected minutes. Struble isn't enough of an upgrade over England to warrant giving up anything of value.

Ummm... you're going strictly off points, lol. Your boy also has an 18.2% shooting percentage. How long do you think that will last?

Defensively Desharnais is vastly superior.

23.25 SA/60 v 32.32
2.06 xGA/60 v 2.88
21.25 SCA/60 v 30.22
7.23 HDCA/60 v 12.70

Their 4v5 defensive numbers follow the same pattern.

Kovacevic is a mediocre player riding a streak of shooting luck.

CBJ immediately say yes, and that trade might be the best thing to happen all season (the bar is so so low).

I’m also considering those advanced stats in my evaluation.
XGA, SA, SCA and HDCA are partially due to MTL playstyle. With that mentality, Desharnais > Guhle. Kovy is more mobile, doesn’t count on superstar secondary assists to produce offence (even if its Shooting% is off the chart), and is a good all-around D. It is debatable who the better D.

From a management perspective he’s got a bonus year at league min.

He’s indeed an upgrade and he will get even better. He would be a perfect option as 3rd LD being on a ELC for 2 years.

If that's the case, then Montreal should keep him and be more than willing to trade Xhekaj instead.

He’ll leave at the TDL. Don’t know if CBJ will receive a small return or he will be dump. Peeke’s contract will be interesting % of the cap wise in 2 years.

Completely agreeing with you. The brother connection, the little size difference, his love for the habs since he was young, and the project they see in him is why they don’t want to trade him.