The Los Angeles Kings made a splash on Friday by trading Phillip Danault, but the next move might be the one that saves their season. With Darcy Kuemper sidelined and the Buffalo Sabres facing a chaotic three-goalie rotation under new GM Jarmo Kekalainen, the stars are aligning for a trade. The Kings now have a 2026 second-round pick in their back pocket, and Alex Lyon looks like the perfect target to stabilize the crease in Hollywood. Here is why this deal needs to happen now.
Analyzing the Sabres’ Crease Congestion
As an analyst who has watched Jarmo Kekalainen operate for years, one thing is certain: he does not like indecision. Stepping in as the new GM of the Buffalo Sabres, his first order of business is cleaning up the roster. Currently, Buffalo is juggling Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, the emerging Colten Ellis, and veteran Alex Lyon.
In today’s NHL, carrying three goalies is a death sentence for roster flexibility. You cannot develop Ellis if he is sitting in the press box, but you can’t risk waiving him or Lyon because the waiver wire market is razor-thin right now. A team will claim them.
Luukkonen hasn’t replicated his stellar stats from last season, but he is the franchise investment. Ellis represents the upside. That leaves Lyon as the odd man out. He is a veteran stopgap who, while perhaps not a 60-game starter, is one of the best “1B” options in the league. He battles, he has playoff experience from his Florida days, and he is exactly the kind of asset Kekalainen will want to monetize rather than lose for nothing.
The Kings’ Desperation and Opportunity
This brings us to the Los Angeles Kings. The recent trade of Phillip Danault to Montreal was a shock to some, but it signaled a mini-retool. By picking up that 2026 second-round pick, the Kings acquired currency.
With Kuemper out, the Kings are vulnerable. They need a goaltender who can step in immediately and handle the pressure of a playoff push without needing a long-term commitment. Lyon fits this mold perfectly. He isn’t a long-term burden on the cap, but he brings an intensity that the Kings desperately need on the back end.
From my perspective, swapping a second-round pick for a reliable goaltender like Lyon is aggressive, but necessary. The Kings cannot afford to let their season slip away due to goaltending woes while waiting for Kuemper to heal.
Why This Trade Is a Win-Win
For Buffalo, moving Lyon clears the logjam, allows Ellis to get necessary reps (or backup duties), and stocks the cupboard with a valuable draft pick. For Los Angeles, they get a goalie who thrives on adrenaline and has proven he can carry a team in short bursts. It is rare to see a trade that helps both clubs so clearly, but the Lyon-to-LA connection is undeniable.
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The post Is Alex Lyon the Answer for the Kings? Trade Rumors Heat Up appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
