From Ken Campbell at the Hockey News:
Will the Kings’ spending spree coincide with an effort to revive a declining team that has been lost in an enormous market or to try to qualify for the post-season after five years on the sidelines during the playoffs?
Uh, no. According to nhlnumbers.com, the Kings’ payroll currently sits at just $27.756 million, which is almost $13 million under the mandated salary floor. Before the season starts, the Kings must crank up their spending to at least $40.7 million. And that’s after they dispatched two prospects to the Philadelphia Flyers for Denis Gauthier, who played all this season in the minors, but has a very convenient cap hit of $2.1 million.
Dean Lombardi will likely have more than a few guys calling the team, but given his recent comments he may just wait to see who really wants to play there and who just wants access to the beaches.
He's closing in on his first game since January 13th.
The 2024 2nd rounder is in Winnipeg where he'll spend the rest of the season…
At the GM meetings GMKC spoke 1-on-1 with Gino Reda.