Defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, in the final year of his contract with a full no-movement clause, is considered the top candidate for a trade. Newly acquired forward Tanner Jeannot could also be traded.
Stephens suggested that the Kings might choose between a full rebuild or a "retool," focusing on young players like Byfield and Clarke while keeping key veterans such as Adrian Kempe, Kevin Fiala, and Mikey Anderson. It seems that Kopitar is set to finish his career with the team.
Discussions with players like Drew Doughty and Phillip Danault might be necessary to determine if they prefer to join a more competitive team. Danault might not want to be part of another rebuilding phase. The increased salary cap this season could make a trade for Danault easier, but Doughty's contract, with an $11 million cap hit through the 2026-27 season, will complicate trades.
