Colorado Avalanche Rumors: Analyzing the LA Kings as Trade Partners
The Colorado Avalanche have reportedly been scouting the L.A. Kings “heavily” recently — are the Kings and Avs good trade partners?
The big rumor between the Colorado Avalanche and L.A. Kings involves Gabe Landeskog and Jake Muzzin. However, there are some other players that would need to be considered in order for the Kings to acquire Landeskog’s rights.
The Kings do have a solid blueline, but the players that comprise that blueline are getting older. In other words, Landeskog is only 24 years old, while Muzzin is 27.
It’s not a huge difference, but Jake Muzzin is not really a player of the future for the Avalanche. So, if he’s going to be the centerpiece of that trade, he better have some nice floral arrangements around him.
Would take more than Muzzin, Avs have also been scouting Kings AHL team heavily https://t.co/e4RWafn0QJ
— Adrian Dater (@adater) January 16, 2017
Unfortunately, their prospect pipeline is not stocked by any means, but I was able to find a few viable options, and also some young players currently on the Kings’ roster who may work as well.
Nonetheless, the Kings are also fighting for a playoff spot, and currently hold down the second wild card spot.
So, if the Avs do acquire a draft pick from the Kings, it needs to be a conditional one. The Kings won’t have a particularly high draft pick in this year’s first round. Especially not if they have Landeskog on their team.
Regardless, Jake Muzzin is a good player, and with the right combination of prospects/young roster players and picks, a deal might be conceivable. First, let’s do a little digging on Jake Muzzin.
Jake Muzzin
Muzzin is having a down year this year. After putting up two straight 40+ point seasons, he is on pace for just 26 points. However, he is strangely on pace to pot a career-high 11 goals.
Nonetheless, Muzzin has some intriguing underlying numbers. He eats up a ton of minutes, he has a 55.7 Corsi-for percentage and starts in the defensive zone the fourth most on the L.A. Kings.
And even though he doesn’t have the best takeaway/giveaway numbers, he is still much better than one big name player on the LA Kings.
For example, he has a higher Corsi-for percentage than Drew Doughty, has given up the puck 19 less times, and starts in the defensive zone more often than Doughty.
More From Mile High Sticking: Analyzing a Gabe Landeskog for Nick Leddy Trade
Obviously Drew Doughty is a real special player, and he is certainly a better player than Jake Muzzin, but those are some interesting numbers nonetheless.
If Muzzin can get his point production back on pace, he might be a good option for the Avs to consider. He’s signed at 4 million over the next three years, and would give the Avs a nice middle pairing defenseman to build around.
The Avs would shed some more cap in that kind of a deal as well. And, they would still be able to go out and chase a young top-pairing defenseman in the draft, or in another trade.
However, in any Muzzin deal, the Avs would need to demand some other pieces. Let’s take a look at a couple.
Tanner Pearson
Pearson is fifth overall in time on ice for forwards on the L.A. Kings, but he still only gets an average of 15:57 per game. What he does with that time is pretty enticing though.
For example, he’s tied with Anze Kopitar for the team lead in takeaways with 15, and his turnover ratio is +4. He also has the fourth highest Corsi-for percentage on the team at 56.7 percent.
He’s also been developing more and more each year. Pearson is currently on pace to smash his previous career-high for goals — 15 — as he is on pace for 25 this season. He is also on pace for 44 points, which would be another career mark.
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If he continues to develop at that speed, then he will most certainly find a permanent role on the second line. The Avs could also use a real good two-way forward because they just haven’t had that type of forward since Ryan O’Reilly’s departure.
Unfortunately, Pearson would be a tough player for the Avs to acquire along with Jake Muzzin. The Kings would be creating a hole in their top six, and in their top four on defense.
Granted they would be filling that top six hole once again with Gabe Landeskog. Nonetheless, the Kings are trying to add offensive help, and not lose any in the process.
So, if the Avs wanted to acquire Pearson, they would probably have to throw in a prospect of their own — someone like Cam Morrison, or even A.J. Greer. Which is why it might be best for the Avs to go after the next player on this list.
Conclusion
This is a tough trade for the Avs to consider because the defenseman they would be getting for Landy is not very young. He’s still got some good years ahead of him, but he’s not really a defenseman of the future for the Avs.
Nonetheless, the Kings have some promising forward talent, and if the Avs could pry Kempe or Pearson away plus some draft picks and Muzzin, then it’s definitely a deal Joe Sakic should at least consider.
Next: Analyzing the 'Canes and Avs as Trade Partners
There’s plenty of time before the trade deadline, so deals are going to begin heating up between the Avs and buyers. However, I don’t really foresee the Kings as viable trade partners unless they throw in a bunch with Muzzin.
Although, It’s unlikely the Kings would be willing to give up what the Avs would ask for in that case.
The Kings are certainly an interesting trade partner to consider, but there are ultimately better options out there. Keep checking back in the next few days to see what better options are available for the Avs.