The LA Kings have had plenty of players come through their organization. Some have succeeded, others have not. One of those players, Alex Iafallo, finds themselves in a challenging situation with the Kings. Do they find a trade partner or keep Iafallo during their pursuit of a Stanley Cup?
There are two ways to look at this. The first is you trade Iafallo. The most likely return may be a 4th round pick and maybe a prospect. Whatever the trade may be, it would help the King’s prospects overall because it gives them one more spot to fight for during training camp. This would give one of the young stars a chance to grab a spot and provide another young player in the lineup.
On the other hand, you keep him but not in the same place. Iafallo, over the years, has been everywhere in the lineup and played with a different mix of linemates. While he played most of that time on the first line with Anze Kopitar, Iafallo is probably best suited in the middle six.
Iafallo’s problem over the years has been his inconsistency. And, if he stays with the LA Kings, general manager Rob Blake gives him one, maybe two, more seasons to figure it out as the Kings push towards another playoff push before he could be on the move anyways.
In all honesty, Iafallo should be moved if the right deal comes along. This gives him a new team, a new direction, and a fresh place to start over, and maybe he can become a more consistent, lethal player. If a deal is brought to him, Rob Blake should listen to give a prospect the chance to earn a spot before next season.
We should all remember that free agency and the 2022 NHL Entry Draft are right around the corner. If Iafallo is moved, Blake can replace him with a draft pick or incoming free agent. Iafallo is not a bad player. He has been good for LA. However, he has been given every chance to be a legit top-line player but has not shown he can be consistent enough to earn that spot and may benefit from new scenery.
Iafallo’s contract is through the 2024-25 season, and his cap space is $4 million. He may be suitable for a team on the bubble or a Stanley Cup-favorite team. He did tie a career-high in goals this past season (17) and is capable of setting a new career-high next season. He is capable of more offensive production and has not shown he belongs on the top line. Iafallo may be one to keep an eye on this offseason.
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