Wed, Mar 1, 2023 at 11:10am

LA LANDS BOTH KORPISALO AND GAVRIKOV

The Los Angeles Kings acquired goaltender Joonas Korpisalo and defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov from the Columbus Blue Jackets for a conditional first-round draft pick in 2023, a conditional third-round draft pick in 2024 and goaltender Jonathan Quick.

What does it give the Los Angeles Kings
The Kings are getting two of the best pending UFAs still available before this week's trade deadline. Korpisalo should provide a boost to LA's goaltending situation, even if it is just for the short term. Korpisalo will probably share the net with 2022-23 breakout netminder Pheonix Copley. In Gavrikov, the Kings get a quality defender who should help the team in its own end immensely.

What does it give the Columbus Blue Jackets
Quick is not expected to join the last-place (in the entire NHL) Blue Jackets, so his inclusion in this deal was for salary-cap purposes. The first-rounder in '23 would be switched for a second-rounder in '23 if LA misses the playoffs this season, while the third-rounder in '24 would then become a second-rounder in '24 under that scenario. So Columbus will certainly be rooting for the Kings to make the playoffs!

Fantasy impact
Korpisalo's fantasy stock should skyrocket after this trade, since he has a chance to unseat Copley as the Kings' No. 1 goaltender. Quick is now in fantasy limbo until his situation gets resolved, so he can be avoided. Gavrikov's fantasy value is somewhat limited.