Kings Have Amazing Offseason Trade Option if Korpisalo Walks

The Los Angeles Kings’ 2022-23 season is over, but not without a fight. They pushed the Edmonton Oilers to the limit again and the King are a much better team than their first round exit implies. As they have a great young team, it’s time to look forward to bigger things. The team has a few UFAs this summer that they would benefit from keeping around, but things might not play out exactly how they plan.

Joonas Korpisalo and Vladislav Gavrikov were very good trade deadline acquisitions, but both could test free agency before even discussing a contract extension with the Kings. Korpisalo was very good once acquired, locking down the starting job and holding it through the first round. The Oilers did get some goals in on him and he was pulled in one of the games, but he was arguably the best player for the Kings (other than Adrian Kempe) and made it a series. As there’s no certainty that the Kings will be able to extend Korpisalo in the offseason, there very well might be an amazing option to trade for, Connor Hellebuyck.

Jets Blowing Up Roster?

It didn’t look good for the Winnipeg Jets after their first round loss. Rick Bowness, their head coach, called out the players and there seemed to be a disconnect there. The team was very inconsistent this season and it might have been the last time the core remains together. Pierre-Luc Dubois is very likely on his way out and could be followed by the veteran core of Hellebuyck, Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele, and more, all with one year remaining on their deals.

Despite very strong seasons in Winnipeg from Hellebuyck, the Jets just haven’t been able to push to the Stanley Cup Final and win. It may be time for a change in scenery and to go to a team that looks promising for the future as he will not stay with the Jets through a rebuild. The Kings might not only have the need for a great starting goalie like Hellebuyck, but have a ton of prospects and assets to provide the Jets in a trade. Whether it’s defence (which the Jets don’t necessarily need) or skilled forwards (which they certainly do), the Kings will not be hesitant to make the big trade and better their chances at a Cup next season.

Hellebuyck has one more year left on his deal at $6.167 million, is a former Vezina Trophy winner, and has finished in the top-four in voting in three of the seven seasons prior to this one. The Kings were shaky in net for most of the season and could’ve been elite if they had stability throughout. Hellebuyck could provide that for at least a full year at a fair cost.