Report: Hellebuyck would accept LA as Kuemper sits at .847 for 0-3-2 Kings

By the Data Desk · Published 17 OCT 08:30

First reported by Frank Seravalli, Sportsnet · 15 OCT 13:03

Kings goalies have stopped 112 of the 132 shots they have faced this season, and Los Angeles are still looking for a first win after five games. According to Frank Seravalli of Sportsnet, they are also looking at Connor Hellebuyck, and "the Kings have received affirmation that Hellebuyck apparently would accept a trade to LA".

• Seravalli writes that Kings general manager Ken Holland "at the very least has ascertained an understanding on the price" for the three-time Vezina Trophy winner, who is suspended by the Jets after not reporting to training camp.
• Los Angeles are 0-3-2 with 11 goals for and 21 against; with Philadelphia (0-6-3) they are one of two NHL teams without a win. Darcy Kuemper is 0-3-1 with a .847 save percentage and a 4.53 goals-against average (NHL).
• Chris Johnston does not see LA as the likely destination: Buffalo, Carolina and perhaps San Jose remain in the mix, Markerzone reports from his show.

Seravalli's report came in his Thursday notebook. "Count the Los Angeles Kings among teams who have recently kicked the tires on Connor Hellebuyck," he wrote, adding that "the depth of these trade talks is difficult to qualify". He also named the problem inside the building: the Kings are debating direction, and if their start sinks the season, "it will be difficult for Los Angeles to include a 2027 or 2028 first-round pick as part of the package", even with lottery protection. He notes that Hellebuyck has five years left on his deal.

The other side of the story is less sure. On his show, Chris Johnston said: "I sort of think the teams that we've talked about this are kind of the teams", and Markerzone's account of it says he sees Buffalo and Carolina, and maybe San Jose, as more likely than Los Angeles, with Utah another option. Hellebuyck remains suspended for not reporting to camp, Markerzone adds, citing TVA Sports. No club has commented.

The goaltending numbers are why the Kings are looking. Kuemper has faced 98 shots and allowed 15 goals in four games; Anton Forsberg has allowed 5 on 34 for a .853. Seravalli also lists injuries to Kevin Fiala and Mats Zuccarello and the league's worst combined special teams. Three of the five defeats were by one goal: 5-4 in overtime at San Jose, 2-1 at home to Florida and 2-1 in overtime at Vegas (NHL).

Winnipeg, meanwhile, are 4-1-2 without him. Stuart Skinner is 3-0-2 with a .906 and Clay Stevenson 1-1-0 with a .872 (NHL). What happens next: Carolina, 6-1-1, visit the Jets on Saturday, 17 October, at 19:30 UTC, and Boston, 6-2-0, visit the Kings at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, 18 October, at 01:00 UTC, the night after a 4-2 win in Anaheim.