Kings 2 Potential RFA Targets This Summer

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The Los Angeles Kings will be somewhat limited by their cap space this summer, but they need to plug a few holes next season.

One of those holes is a winger for Phil Danault and Trevor Moore, assuming Viktor Arvidsson is allowed to test free agency.

It's possible the Kings look to fill that hole internally, someone like Alex Turcotte, Akil Thomas or maybe even Samuel Fagemo are all options, but they can also target the RFA market.

Replacing Arvidsson with a young player who has more upside, or is a more natural fit, compared to the internal options could soften the blow of potentially losing him.

Given their budget, they'll likely have to accept a downgrade from Arvidsson, but these two options could help soften the blow.

Kaapo Kakko, New York Rangers:

It's no secret that the New York Rangers are open to moving their 2019 second-overall pick, Kaapo Kakko.

After a 2022-23 that looked to be moving things in the right direction, the 2023-24 season was a disaster for Kakko in many ways.

He posted just 19 points in 61 games and was a healthy scratch on a few occasions.

Like Arthur Kaliyev in LA, Kakko is now a once-touted prospect who looks out of favor with his current team.

Unlike Kaliyev, Kakko would be a good fit for the Kings. He's a right-shot who can play down low on the power play and, excluding this season, has posted good defensive numbers in his career.

Fans want the Kings to move away from the 1-3-1, and they probably will, but they'll still favor a more defensive approach and Kakko fits into that.

As a replacement for Arvidsson, he would fit well with Moore and Danault on a defensively responsible middle-six line.

There's also the potential for real offensive upside. His skating has held him back from fulfilling his second-overall expectations, and it's unlikely he will meet them, but there's still a very skilled player in Kakko.

Taking Arvidsson's spot in front of the net on either power-play unit could be a key to unlocking some offense for him.

The hurdle here becomes acquisition cost, the Kings don't have many tradeable assets and the Rangers will likely want an NHL-ready replacement.

Maybe a deal centered around Kaliyev-plus could be enticing for the Rangers, but it's difficult to gauge their asking price.

Eeli Tolvanen, Seattle Kraken:

This move could be impossible if the Seattle Kraken are interested in bringing Eeli Tolvanen back, and I'm sure they are, but the Kings should be making calls for Tolvanen.

Tolvanen is a left-shot, which is not ideal, but he's another defensively responsible forward with offensive upside. He's also an extremely physical forward which the Kings could use.

Tolvanen finished top-20 league-wide in hits amongst forwards and added 41 points last season. Being physical isn't a reason to move for someone alone, see Andreas Englund, but having a physical presence that can also play would be huge for the Kings.

You can think of Tolvanen as a better version of Carl Grundstrom, more physical than his size suggests and a player who can put the puck in the net.

However, unlike Grundstrom, Tolvanen can consistently perform in a role higher up the lineup.

Tolvanen could play on any of the Kings' top three lines and he'd be a good fit.

Every line can use a physical player who can finish.

The big problem with Tolvanen is acquisition cost, unless contract negotiations go sour with Seattle, it's unlikely they'll look to move him.

This would drive up the cost and potentially price LA out of a move, but again, Rob Blake should at least be throwing out a feeler on Tolvanen.