Los Angeles Kings: Brayden Schenn, Alex Ponikarovsky, and Brandon Kozun | NHL Trade Rumors: 10 Possible Deals Calgary Flames Could Get For Jarome Iginla | Bleacher Report
Brayden Schenn is going back to the Western Hockey League to finish this season after absolutely dominating the World Junior Championships while playing with a separated shoulder. Schenn set a new Canadian record for most points in a single tournament, with 18, and further established his status as a can’t miss prospect. He’s projected to be the top line center the Flames have needed for so long, and Flames fans are hoping this is the deal that gets done. Alex Ponikarovsky won’t really help the Flames, but will serve to free up the cap space in LA. LA signed Ponikarovsky as a free agent last summer, but he hasn’t really worked out there. Finally, Brandon Kozun balances the deal. He starred for the Calgary Hitmen in junior last year, and led the CHL in points over Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin. The knock on Kozun is that he’s too small–5’8″ and 156 lbs–too play in the NHL. Scouts have him pegged anywhere from he’ll be lucky to play in the NHL to a potential Martin St. Louis type upside. He’s very popular in Calgary, and being with the Flames probably gives him the best chance to succeed.
- Jarome Iginla has two more seasons on his contract, at a cap hit of $7MM, which is a lot of money for a guy who will be 36 by the time his contract expires and isn’t likely to score more than 30 goals a year between now and then.
- The Kings don’t have $7MM in cap space over the next two years. They have Drew Doughty to sign.
- Brayden Schenn isn’t going anywhere, least of all for a soon-to-be 34 year old. The only players Lombardi would consider trading Schenn for, are franchise players no one would ever want to trade.