One of the biggest trade chips out there is off the market after the Los Angeles Kings acquired defenceman Andrej Sekera from Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a conditional first-round pick and prospect Roland McKeown.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, who broke the trade, the draft pick will be a 2015 selection if the Kings make the playoffs this season but if L.A. misses the post-season it will the the Kings’ 2016 first-rounder.
Sekera’s cap hit is $2.75 million, but his current contract expires at the end of the season. It’s expected Sekera will get a significant raise in the off-season. The Kings have been in the market for a skilled blueliner ever since the future of Slava Voynov became murky.
This move puts the Kings right up against the cap as Carolina didn’t retain any of Sekera’s remaining salary.
The smooth-skating Slovak has always been able to put up points from the back end and is effective on the man advantage. In 57 games with the Hurricanes this season he has 19 points.
McKeown was drafted in the second round, 50th overall, by the Kings last summer. The 19-year-old defenceman plays for the Kingston Frontenacs in the Ontario Hockey League. He has 24 points and 43 penalty minutes in 54 games this season.
