With about three hours remaining before Monday’s NHL Trade Deadline, LA Kings GM Rob Blake and the Alex Iafallo camp continue their path toward a fork in the road. Going left would mean a new contract extension for the 27-year-old forward. Leaning the wheel to the right side would involve a trade to a contending team.
If a deal is reached between the Kings and Iafallo, look for it to be four years. Key sticking point continues to be AAV.
Article coming.
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) April 12, 2021
As we reported, they seem to have settled on a term of four-years if a deal is to be reached. The sticking point remains the AAV, with Iafallo’s camp reportedly looking for $5M per season, while the Kings most likely look at recent deals for players like Tanner Pearson and think the number should be closer to $4M.
Since turning pro in 2017, Iafallo has played in 266 NHL games with the Kings, recording 126 points. This season has been his most productive, with 25 points (11G, 14A) in 39 games.
We outlined the Iafallo situation in greater detail here.
If a new contract can’t be agreed to in the coming hours, Blake will need to move the left wing, as he’s set to be an Unrestricted Free Agent this summer.
One never truly knows how the trade market will shake out. Yet, two deals made yesterday would appear to take three likely landing spots off the table for Iafallo. First, Toronto traded for Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno, followed by Boston pulling off a deal for Taylor Hall. Both were rumored to be interested in Iafallo.
Iafallo — 11G, 14A in 39GP
Foligno — 7G, 9A in 42GP
Hall — 2G, 16A in 37GP
Ages 27, 33, and 29.
All on expiring contracts. https://t.co/M2vllCOrg9
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) April 11, 2021
The Kings then pulled off a deal of their own late Sunday, sending veteran forward Jeff Carter to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Full coverage of that trade is linked below.
One final note to pass along – despite other reports out there regarding Andreas Athanasiou, we continue to hear from our sources there isn’t the same level of urgency to get a deal done with him. The two sides have been in talks for what we believe is a two-year deal. However, we’re told that even if they can’t work it out in the next few hours, they don’t expect to trade him at this point. Because he’s scheduled to be an RFA this summer, they still have time to wrap it up.
Originally signed by the Kings on a one-year ‘prove it’ deal, paying him $1.2M this season. To date, he’s put up 17 points (9G, 8A) in 32 games. His speed and ability to finish have been a welcomed addition to a Kings team looking for offense from their middle-6 forwards.
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TRADE ALERT: LA Kings Send Jeff Carter to the Pittsburgh Penguins
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