Mid-Season Goalie Targets For The Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings made a risky bet this season by failing to re-sign Joonas Korpisalo and instead re-signing Pheonix Copley and signing Cam Talbot. A tandem that is expected to lead the Kings to the playoffs and hopefully deeper is being paid a total of $2.5 million AAV. This could be good for the team, but more likely it will cause problems. Looking ahead to mid-season and at the trade deadline, there are some cheaper additions that the Kings will most definitely be looking at if they're still there. They have David Rittich as a third string goalie, but I don't think that is enough for a playoff-bound team, if they are that.

Dan Vladar

The Calgary Flames have Jacob Markstrom, Dan Vladar, and Dustin Wolf. They can't have all three in the NHL. It is looking very likely that Markstrom and Vladar will be the starting tandem until the team finds a trade partner for Vladar. This shouldn't take all season, but talks have gone dry as training camps are about to start. It's only a matter of time until Vladar changes teams and gets a better opportunity to play more. He's still young and has talent. We could even see a situation like the one with Alexandar Georgiev and the Colorado Avalanche last season if Vladar is moved to the right place. He's a strong younger option than what the Kings currently have.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Speaking of young talent without much of an opportunity anymore, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from the Buffalo Sabres. Now that Devon Levi has arrived and should be the starter, there is less playing time available for Luukkonen. Last season he was one of three goalies in the NHL for the team and he will be in competition with Eric Comrie for a spot on the team this season. The Sabres already traded away one younger goalie in Erik Portillo to the Kings, but he's not ready to make an NHL impact just yet. Luukkonen has the potential and played in 33 games last season for the weak defensive Sabres. The Kings' stronger defensive system could help the numbers if he's moved over, and he's cheap cap-wise.

Casey DeSmith

The Montreal Canadiens currently have four options in net. They've been trying to move Casey DeSmith out since they acquired him, but no luck yet. It seems like the team is going to be going into the season with Sam Montembeault and Jake Allen as the tandem, but it makes things complicated if DeSmith is still around. If he's not moved, his career numbers have been great as the backup and he could be a cheap option from a desperate team that will play well.