LA Kings acquire 2026 second-round pick + conditional pick from Ottawa in exchange for Warren Foegele, conditional pick

The LA Kings have acquired a 2026 second-round draft pick and a conditional 2026 third-round draft pick in exchange for forward Warren Foegele and a 2026 conditional third-round draft pick.

The second-round pick is Buffalo’s, which Ottawa previously acquired. Lots of conditions involved, but as I understand it, the Kings will most likely move up a handful of spots in Round 3, with the exchanging of the picks.

Instant Analysis
This is a trade, 12 months ago, you couldn’t have imagined.

Foegele felt like a masterclass signing during the 2024-25 NHL season, frankly one of the best value contracts dished out in the summer of 2024. Signed for a very modest cap hit over three seasons, Foegele led the Kings in even-strength goals and was a good fit with several others. His best perhaps came on a line with Phillip Danault and Trevor Moore, the team’s shutdown line down the stretch and into the playoffs, though it was a line that dished out as much as they defended. It was a really impressive line and Foegele’s addition was a big part of what made it tick. Ultimately, Foegele scored 24 goals last season, with 22 of them coming in 5-on-5 situations. That’s outstanding production, on a team that did not score all that many goals, compared to other playoff teams a season ago.

Expectations were rightfully high coming into this season. All nine forwards from the Kings top-nine returned, including Foegele, Danault and Moore. Now, 60 games into the season, only Moore remains.

Foegele was not the only Kings forward to underachieve this season. Far from it. But, similarly to Danault, he was just unable to replicate what he did last season. Foegele has seven goals and nine points in 47 games played this season. He’s been utilized in a number of different roles on the team, played with a lot of different players. He’s lined up anywhere from the first line to the fourth line. Just hasn’t clicked for him the way it did last year. I don’t think it was at all due to a lack of trying. Foegele was always up front and honest when addressing shortcomings in his play or the team’s play. I always appreciated that. I think there’s a real buy-low option here for the Senators, who are getting a hard-working player who was a huge part of last season’s Kings team. I thought he embodied a lot of the spirit that made last season’s team so much fun and so competitive. I wish I had an answer as to why it just didn’t quite translate for Foegele this season, but for whatever reason, he just wasn’t able to recreate what he did a season ago, which is a shame. Thought Foegele was a very shrewd signing, right from the start. Last season proved that, and then some. Hope, for a good guy, that he can rediscover that form in Ottawa.

For the Kings, this is the reality of the situation. Coming out of the Olympic break, the Kings have dropped three of four, two in convincing fashion. That start cost Jim Hiller his job, despite the one win over Calgary. The Kings are five points out of a playoff spot entering tonight’s action. This isn’t waiving the white flag on the season, but let’s be realistic here. If they can net a couple of assets here, which they are, for certain players on the roster then it makes sense to do so. While I think Foegele could have bounced back a bit to play a third-line role on next season’s team, there are also a number of younger players in the system who play that style of hockey. Looking at Kenny Connors and Jared Wright, who have both flashed in the AHL this season and did not look out of place in their respective NHL debuts on Monday.

Alongside the trade, don’t be surprised to see the Kings recall Wright from AHL-Ontario, whether that be for tonight’s game or not. Assuming Drew Doughty is able to play as expected, the Kings would have 18 healthy skaters on their roster, though they would need to go with 11 forwards and 7 defensemen, with Jacob Moverare checking in. So, it would not be surprising to see a forward added, whether that is Wright or someone else.

Wright is a speed demon, who actually brings a lot of the same things that Foegele does. He plays with pace, tenacity, willing to forecheck and kills penalties. Assuming that is the move the Kings make, it should give him the chance to play a few games here and continue to showcase himself at the NHL level. Might not be, but it stands to reason, considering he was called up earlier this week. There are jobs to be won down the stretch and potentially even into next season. If he can show that he can play at this level, it gives the Kings decisions to make. Same goes for Connors, albeit at the center position. Both guys impressed in the AHL as they adjusted from college hockey to professional hockey at a faster pace than most, faster even than we might have expected. More time in the AHL never hurts, especially as these players have the the chance to add more offense to their games, which is harder to do at the NHL level. But still. An opportunity to prove that they can play at this level, game-over-game, while hopefully not allowing the level to dip for the Kings, to where they can continue to push for a chance at the postseason.

Lastly, a shoutout to a good person in Warren Foegele. He was among the easier players to work with, he understood the job and was always a good guy to have around the room. I found myself talking with him a bit less this season, with team and individual performance, as well as his injuries and a couple of scratches. But he was always professional and I thought he had something to say. Very approachable and pleasant to be around. A good dude, if you will. Wishing him the best in Ottawa, because I think there’s more in there than we saw this season. Hoping he bounces back in a new spot.

From the team’s official release –

The LA Kings have acquired Buffalo’s second-round pick and a conditional third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forward Warren Foegele and a conditional 2026 third-round draft pick.

Foegele, 29, has collected seven goals and nine points (7-2=9) in 47 games for the Kings this season as part of his second campaign with the club. The 6-2, 205-pound forward has skated in 129 games for the Kings, registering 31 goals and 55 points (31-24=55). Overall, Foegele has appeared in 560 career NHL regular-season contests across nine seasons, accumulating 111 goals and 218 points (111-107=218) split between the Kings, Edmonton Oilers (2021-24) and Carolina Hurricanes (2017-21). The Markham, Ontario native has added 27 points (13-14=27) in 86 career Stanley Cup Playoff outings.