Calgary Flames and Connor Zary remain at an unsigned RFA standstill, with dispute over term vs. price keeping him in limbo as business picks up. Mikael Backlund, in the final year of his deal and open to Canada-only terms, weighs his future with the team while Rasmus Andersson’ s status looms on a potential trade. The piece also flags Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings as broader league players in the rumor mill, underscoring Calgary’s tightrope between asset value and roster continuity.

Anaheim Ducks aim to flip defensive depth into scoring by shopping young blue-liners for a top-six addition, keeping Trouba and Gudas on the shelf if the playoff push stalls. The rumor mill ties Ducks to marquee names like Mitch Marner, Jason Robertson and Martin Necas, while the Kings chase forward prices around Adrian Kempe’s extension. Hutson and Reinhart surface in broader market chatter, with Rossi’s deal shaping McTavish talks.

Patrick Polino signed with Greenville Swamp Rabbits for the 2025-26 season, adding a veteran scoring punch to an ECHL lineup tied to the Kings’ pro ladder via Ontario. He posted 24 points in 55 games last year across Adirondack Thunder and Allen Americans, notching his 100th ECHL assist on Feb. 15 against Worcester.

His pro ledger spans 261 games with 169 points in the ECHL and AHL, plus four collegiate seasons at RPI and a USHL background with Chicago, Green Bay and Lincoln. Polino’s path through the Cyclones and multiple leagues signals depth and potential late-blooming fantasy upside in a Kings ecosystem.

A fresh NHL draft ranking probes every slot (1-224) since 1967, blending talent, hardware, and legacy to name one essential pick per slot. Wayne Simmonds lands at No. 61 as the ultimate late-second-round steal for the Los Angeles Kings, a sign that impactful pros can emerge well after the top picks. The piece threads through a who’s-who of legends—Lemieux, Crosby, Ovechkin, McDavid, Jagr, Lidstrom and more—highlighting era-adjusted value and the lasting fantasy implications of every draft slot.