The Los Angeles Kings made waves on Day 2 of the NHL Draft — and not in the way their fans were hoping. Defenseman Jordan Spence, coming off a breakout season, was dealt to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a third-round pick (No. 67 overall) in the 2025 draft and a 2026 sixth-rounder. The move has drawn raised eyebrows across the league, and for good reason.
Spence, just 23 years old, posted a career-best 28 points (4 goals, 24 assists) and a +23 rating in 79 games while averaging nearly 17 minutes of ice time per night. He was a reliable third-pairing blueliner with upside, and his cost-controlled contract — with restricted free agency on the horizon — made him a valuable asset for a team that claims to be contending.
So why trade him now?
Los Angeles Kings Catch Heat for Trading Jordan Spence in Questionable Draft-Day Move
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According to Elliotte Friedman, the deal gives L.A. about $1.5 million in cap flexibility, but clearing that small amount of space while receiving no NHL-ready players in return feels out of step with a team that hasn’t won a playoff series since 2014 and just watched Edmonton eliminate them for the fourth straight year.
It’s even more puzzling when considering how thin the Kings’ defensive depth has become. With Vladislav Gavrikov still unsigned and Spence now gone, general manager Ken Holland has created an urgent need on the right side of his blue line.
Meanwhile, the Senators are the clear winners here. General manager Steve Staios landed a 23-year-old, everyday NHL defenseman for the price of picks — one of which they had only acquired 24 hours earlier. It’s a classic example of a rebuilding team capitalizing on another’s cap mismanagement.
Unless L.A. uses these picks in a blockbuster deal that materializes soon, the Spence trade may be remembered as one where the Kings got fleeced in broad daylight.