The Montreal Canadiens have been looking to add size leading up to the 3:00 pm deadline on Wednesday. General Manager Marc Bergevin was able to address this need early on deadline day, finding a partner in the cap-strapped Los Angeles Kings. The Habs have acquired forward Dwight King from the Kings in exchange for a conditional 2018 fourth round pick.
Canadiens acquire forward Dwight King from the Los Angeles Kings, in return for a conditional 4th round pick in 2018. pic.twitter.com/XXas32sp3i
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 1, 2017
Dwight King Traded to the Montreal Canadiens
This trade came as a surprise for all parties involved. King was not in trade rumours leading up to the deadline, but as the Kings pursued Jarome Iginla, they needed to free up some cap space. The fit was in Montreal, who have been chasing size in their bottom six for a while now.
King definitely fits the bill, listed at 6’4″ and 232 pounds. He heads to Montreal after seven years with the Los Angeles Kings. This season, the Saskatchewan native has 15 points in 63 games. King had a career-high 30 points and 15 goals back in 2013-14 and has been a staple on Los Angeles fourth line for years.
King is in the final year of a three-year, $5.85 million deal. That comes in at $1.95 million per season. A pending unrestricted free agent, the Kings did not retain any salary in the trade.
In exchange for King, the Canadiens sent a conditional 2018 fourth-round pick to the Kings. If the Canadiens re-sign the 27-year-old, the Kings receive a 2018 third round pick, instead of the 2018 fourth round pick.
Another Depth Addition
In addition to King, the Canadiens have also acquired Andreas Martinsen in exchange for Sven Andrighetto. Martinsen is sizable as well, a 6’3″ pending UFA with seven points this season with the Avalanche. Andrighetto moves to Denver, a diminutive depth winger with eight points in 27 games with the Canadiens. Martinsen is 26, while Andrighetto is 23.
King bolsters the Montreal fourth line. He adds significant size to a relatively small team. He and Martinsen join recent acquisition Steve Ott in an attempt to make the Canadiens tougher to play against. Heading into the playoffs, the Canadiens needed to add some grit to the lineup. With the moves they’ve made so far this deadline, they seem have done exactly that.
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