Scouting the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins
Shawn Hutcheon: Teams listed to scout last night’s Bruins-Penguins game include the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, New Jersey Devils, Winnipeg Jets, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Calgary Flames, and the New York Islanders.
Dennis Bernstein: Kings had Mark Osborne at the game. He’s the Kings eastern scout and is in Boston, so not unusual.
The Bruins may not need much help at the moment, but there will be connections to Tyler Toffoli.
David Pagnotta: The Kings and Bruins had held Toffoli trade talks last year before the trade deadline. They could revisit trade talks at some point later this season.
Toffoli hears the rumors, and he’s easier to move than some other Kings
Luke Fox of Sportsnet: The Los Angeles Kings made 27-year old Tyler Toffoli a healthy scratch last week.
Toffoli has scored over 20 goals three times but dropped down to 13 goals last year and only 34 points.
He’s a pending UFA on a rebuilding team, and his name has already hit the rumor mill.
“I mean, it’s just the way it is,” Toffoli told Sportsnet Monday, acknowledging the trade noise. “It comes with not playing well and not winning games, so whatever happens, happens.
“I was definitely disappointed , but at the end of the day it’s not my decision. My job is to go out there and perform.”
Toffoli carries a $4.6 million salary cap hit and he doesn’t have any trade protection.
He’d be easier for GM Rob Blake to move at the deadline compared to the 33 plus-year-olds in Jeff Carter, Dustin Brown and Jonathan Quick. Carter, Brown, and Quick each have three years left and are at least a $5.3 million salary cap hit. The Kings would likely need to retain salary to move any of those three.