One of the biggest names is off the market a week before the NHL's Feb. 24 trade deadline.
On Monday night the Kings sent winger Tyler Toffoli to the Canucks in exchange for 29-year-old forward Tim Schaller, forward prospect Tyler Madden, a second-round draft pick in 2020, and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2022 if Toffoli re-signs with the Canucks this summer.
Toffoli, 27, carries a $4.6 million cap hit and Schaller carries a $1.9 cap hit. No salary was retained on either side. Madden was the Canucks' third-round pick in 2018, was ranked the Canucks' fifth-best prospect this season by NHL.com.
Toffoli recorded 18 goals and 34 points in 58 games for the Kings this season, including a hat trick in his final game as a King, a 3-1 win over the Avalanche in the Stadium Series game at the Air Force Academy on Saturday.
“It’s tough,” Toffoli told reporters of the trade speculations after last game. “But it’s time like this where my teammates are behind me. Both (Alex Iafallo) and (Anze Kopitar) were looking for me for the hat trick. It’s those little things that go a long way. I’m very grateful. And we’ll keep going and see what happens.”
Before the Jason Zucker trade, Toffoli's name was one that frequently popped up as a potential deadline target for the Penguins as they looked to add more scoring depth at wing.
The Kings have had a scout at Penguins games fairly regularly as of late, but that could also be explained by the Penguins' upcoming California trip. The scout, Dave Torrie, is based out of southwestern Ontario and can usually be found scouting teams in the surrounding areas.
