Kings Rumors: Defenseman Becoming Trade Candidate

For much of the 2023-24 season, the Los Angeles Kings were on autopilot and near the top of the NHL standings. However, after an atrocious month of play, the Kings have fallen pretty rapidly in the standings, and changes to their group are likely on the way.

While the Kings are still very much in the playoff race, they could look to make upgrades to their roster and move out some of their NHL talent to do so. As a result of this, The Fourth Period's latest Trade Watch board has Kings defenseman Matt Roy on its Bubble List. 

Here's what TFP had to say on the prospect of Roy getting dealt: "The Kings aren’t looking to sell Roy, they value what he brings to the lineup. But if the team looks to shake things up a bit, they could move out Roy and his cap hit to accommodate a move for another defenceman with term. Teams have expressed interest in the past, like Ottawa, and could poke around again if the Kings dip further."

This is certainly an interesting potential scenario to pay attention to as we continue to get closer to the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline. While Roy is a solid part of the Kings' roster, it is possible that he could help them land an impactful defenseman. This is because he is a steady top-four defenseman. 

Roy, 28, has appeared in 48 games this season with the Kings, where he has two goals, 15 points, and a plus-10 rating. Overall, it has been another solid season for him, but with the Kings struggling and him having an expiring deal, perhaps he could be used in a trade package to land an upgrade over these next few weeks. 

photo credit:  Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports