If you’re a fan of the Silver and Black, you’ve probably spent the last few weeks staring at the standings and then at the trade wire, wondering if the sky is actually falling. Honestly, the vibe around Crypto.com Arena is a bit weird right now. We just watched Phillip Danault—the guy who was supposed to be the defensive heartbeat of this team—get shipped back to Montreal for a draft pick.
It feels like a pivot. Maybe even a full-blown retreat.
The Los Angeles Kings trade of Danault on December 19, 2025, wasn't just a minor roster tweak; it was a signal. Ken Holland, now steering the ship as GM, didn't get an NHL player back. He got a 2026 second-round pick (originally belonging to Columbus). That tells you everything you need to know about where this team's head is at. They aren't just looking at the next game; they’re looking at the salary cap and a future that suddenly looks very different than it did two years ago.
The Danault Departure: A Reality Check
Let’s be real: Danault wasn't the same player this season. Five assists in 30 games? That’s brutal for a guy making $5.5 million.
When he signed that six-year deal back in 2021, he was the missing piece. He was the "progression, not regression" guy. But things soured. Rumors started swirling that he wanted a bigger role, but with Quinton Byfield finally taking that leap into a top-six powerhouse, there just wasn't room for Danault to be the man.
Holland basically traded a slumping veteran for financial freedom. By moving that contract, the Kings cleared enough space to theoretically go "big fish" hunting at the 2026 deadline. We’re talking about roughly $9 million in cap space that could balloon even higher by March.
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It’s a gamble. You lose the defensive security of a Selke-vote getter, but you gain the ability to actually fix the scoring problem that has been killing this team.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Jordan Spence Move
If you want to talk about trades that still sting, we have to look back at the Jordan Spence deal to Ottawa. People were heated about this one, and for good reason. Spence was 24. He was a puck-moving wizard. His underlying metrics were, frankly, excellent.
So why move him for a 67th overall pick and a 2026 sixth-rounder?
It was about the "veteran logjam." The Kings brought in Cody Ceci (4 years, $4.5M AAV) and Brian Dumoulin (3 years, $4M AAV). Looking at it now, it feels like a massive miscalculation. You traded a young, ascending asset to make room for aging blueliners who haven't exactly set the world on fire.
The logic from the front office was clearly about "playoff grit" and "experience." But in a league that is getting faster every single day, losing Spence’s transition game has made the Kings' breakout look sluggish. It’s the kind of move that looks worse with every highlight reel Spence puts up for the Senators.
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The Prospect Shakedown: Carter George and the Future
While the NHL roster is in flux, the "trades" happening in the junior ranks are actually more interesting. The Kings’ goalie of the future, Carter George, just got moved from Owen Sound to Sault Ste. Marie in a massive OHL blockbuster.
Why does this matter for a Los Angeles Kings trade discussion?
Because the Kings are clearly letting their top assets "over-ripen" in winning environments. George is a World Junior bronze medalist. Moving him to a contender like the Greyhounds ensures he’s playing high-pressure hockey. Same goes for Jared Woolley, who got shipped to Kitchener.
The strategy is clear: The big club is clearing cap space, while the cupboards are being stocked with prospects who are actually winning elsewhere.
Recent Kings Roster Transactions (Late 2025 - Early 2026)
- Dec 19, 2025: Traded Phillip Danault to Montreal for a 2026 2nd-round pick (CBJ).
- Oct 15, 2025: Acquired Pheonix Copley from Tampa Bay for future considerations (Goalie depth move).
- Nov 2025: Sent Akil Thomas to St. Louis for Nikita Alexandrov.
- Jan 10, 2026: Placed Anze Kopitar on IR (Lower body); activated Corey Perry.
The 2026 Trade Deadline: Who Is on the Radar?
The Kings are in a weird spot. They have the cap space now, but do they have the guts to use it?
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The offense has been stagnant. If they want to salvage this season, they need a scoring winger. Names like Alex Tuch from Buffalo or Bryan Rust from Pittsburgh are the ones you keep hearing in the circles. Tuch would be a dream—he’s got the size and the finishing ability that the Kings have lacked since... well, a long time.
The Sabres are bottom-feeders right now. They’re going to be sellers. If Holland can package that newly acquired Columbus second-rounder with a prospect, he might actually be able to land a top-six game-changer.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're trying to figure out what the Kings are doing, stop looking at the win-loss column for a second and look at the "Banked Cap" column.
- Watch the Alex Turcotte Experiment: The Danault trade wasn't just about money; it was a vote of confidence in Turcotte. If he can hold down that 3C spot and provide secondary scoring, the Danault trade looks like a genius move. If he falters, the Kings are a one-line team.
- Monitor the Columbus Pick: That second-rounder they got for Danault is currently tracking to be in the top 40. In a deep 2026 draft, that is a massive trade chip.
- The Kopitar Factor: With the Captain on IR and in the final year of his career, the Kings are at a crossroads. They either go all-in for one last run with #11, or they start the "Great Reset."
The next six weeks are going to be wild. Between the Olympic break and the March deadline, the Los Angeles Kings trade rumors are only going to get louder. Ken Holland has the picks and the cap space; now he just needs the right target.
Keep an eye on the waiver wire too. This team is churn-heavy right now, and they aren't afraid to swap "project" players like Akil Thomas for different looks like Alexandrov. It’s not always pretty, but it’s definitely not boring.
Next Steps: Follow the cap trajectory on PuckPedia to see exactly how much Holland can spend as we approach the March deadline. If the Kings remain within four points of a Wild Card spot by mid-February, expect a major move for a top-six winger.