Feb. 25--The Kings' search for a skilled, puck-moving defenseman found its way to Carolina as they acquired Andrej Sekera from the Hurricanes on Wednesday afternoon.
In exchange for Sekera, the Kings will be giving up a first-round pick and a prospect, according to Aaron Ward of TSN. The most important element of that equation is that the pick is lottery protected. In other words, the pick is for this year if the Kings make the playoffs.
It would have been especially risky not to have protected it because this year's draft is exceptionally strong.
Multiple reports had defenseman Roland McKeown as the prospect going to Carolina. McKeown was a second-round draft pick (50th overall) in 2014.
The deal was finalized Wednesday afternoon, according to the Kings. But it was expected that Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi would be available via conference call with reporters later in the day.
"Andrej Sekera has been traded to the LA Kings," said his agent Allan Walsh, on his Twitter time line. "He's an LA kind of guy, will be a great fit. Prediction: a lot more dinners with his agent."
Sekera, 28, will be a unrestricted free agent this summer but there are several factors working in the Kings' favor if he is to be more than a brief rental. Walsh has a good working relationship with Kings management and there is a built-in comfort level for Sekera with his Slovak countryman, Marian Gaborik of the Kings.
Gaborik and Sekera played together at the Olympics in Vancouver in 2010 and are good friends.
In 57 games this season, Sekera has two goals and 19 points.
