One of the more intriguing names that has been involved in trade speculation as of late is Kings forward Alex Iafallo. A few days ago, it looked as if the two sides weren’t going to be able to agree on a contract extension but that may be changing, as Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that the two sides have closed the gap and are making progress on getting a new deal done.
The 27-year-old has largely gone under the radar but has been one of the top college free-agent signings in recent memory. After spending his first two seasons in a middle-six role, Iafallo spent most of 2019-20 on the top line and that has continued this year. As a result, he’s averaging over 20 minutes a night for the first time in his career while picking up 11 goals and 14 assists in 39 games to be tied for third in team scoring.
Iafallo is in the final season of a two-year, $4.85M contract and is eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer which has made Monday somewhat of a deadline to get a deal done as if it doesn’t happen, Los Angeles may be inclined to turn around and trade him. With his emergence as a key cog for the Kings, he’s certainly well-positioned to land a considerable raise on his $2.425M AAV.
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