NHL Rumors: Kings Could Go After Coyotes' Goaltender

Karel Vejmelka's name has started to come up in trade rumours considering the spot the Arizona Coyotes are in and how good the goaltender has been since coming over to North America.

Since the Coyotes are still a few years away from even contending for a playoff spot and Vejmelka is under contract for two more seasons at a very good price, he will definitely start getting trade interest. He is just 26 years old and has a .911 SV% and 4.3 GSAA on a team that gets outshot and outplayed regularly.

Elliotte Friedman suggested that the Los Angeles Kings could go after Vejmelka. Their goaltending situation is not good right now. Jonathan Quick, their starter, is 36 years old and in the last year of his deal. He also has poor numbers, sitting at a 3.55 GAA, .882 SV%, and -14.1 GSAA. Cal Petersen, who the Kings thought was going to take over as the number one in Los Angeles, was sent to the AHL because of his poor play in the first season of his three-year deal with a cap hit of $5 million AAV. He had a 3.75 GAA, .868 SV%, and -9.7 GSAA in just nine starts.

The team has the second-most goals against in the league with 120 in 33 games and is going to need goaltending if they are hoping to even get into the playoffs, nevermind go anywhere once they're there. A deal would make sense between the Coyotes and Kings, but will cost the Kings a great deal to pull this off. At least one to two of their solid prospects will be headed to Arizona as well as likely Petersen and his contract.