The Kings and Sabres have completed the first post-deadline swap – of sorts. Instead of making a trade (which is permitted with heavy restrictions) after last Friday’s deadline, they’ve opted to instead loan a pair of players to each other’s top developmental affiliate. The Kings will loan forward Kaleb Lawrence to the Sabres’ AHL club in Rochester while L.A.’s affiliate in Ontario receives defenseman Nikita Novikov on loan from Buffalo, per John Hoven of Mayor’s Manor.
Doing it this way could preface an offseason swap of the two prospects, but it does not yet transfer their NHL rights. There was nothing stopping them from making a trade now, as they’d still have been allowed to finish out the season in the minors, but doing so would have made Lawrence ineligible to suit up for the Sabres and vice versa for Novikov and the Kings. By simply loaning them outside the organization, Lawrence technically remains eligible to be recalled back to the Kings’ roster to play this season, and Novikov could still be added to the Sabres’ roster.
Recalls for either are unlikely, though. Lawrence has another year left on his deal, while Novikov is a pending RFA. If both were RFAs, there might have been the option to non-tender them to complete an NHL-rights swap for next year in July, but instead, the Kings will need to send Lawrence to Buffalo in an official trade for Novikov’s signing rights after the season ends if it’s still something they’re interested in.
Lawrence, 23, was a seventh-rounder by L.A. in 2022. The selection was almost entirely by virtue of his 6’7″, 229-lb frame. He’d played just two Ontario Hockey League games over the preceding two seasons due to COVID and injuries, but finished out his junior career with 41 goals and 82 points in 149 career games. He hasn’t been much of a factor since turning pro in 2024, though. He split last year between Ontario and ECHL Greenville, recording a 13-11–24 scoring line in 52 games across the two leagues. This year, he’s stayed on the AHL roster but barely played after missing nearly three months with an injury – just three assists in 16 games to this point in the season.
Buffalo needed some minor-league forward depth, so outside of how they feel about Lawrence long-term, it fills a short-term need. Rochester lost one of its best talents when the Sabres traded Isak Rosen to the Jets in the Logan Stanley deal last week, and Noah Ostlund will be ineligible for the Calder Cup Playoffs after establishing himself as a top-niner in Buffalo.
Novikov, 22, has a bit more of a pro track record. He was a sixth-round selection by Buffalo in 2021 and came over from Russia two years later. The 6’3″ lefty had an impressive rookie campaign in Rochester, posting 23 points and a +20 rating in 65 games. In the two seasons since, he hasn’t shown much of any forward progress, though. He’s continued as a legitimate top-four piece in the minors but hasn’t seen a change in his offensive or two-way performance. Buffalo has plenty of organizational depth defensively, so he likely welcomes a move to a place where he may have a bit better shot at climbing the ladder to an NHL role.
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Doing it this way could preface an offseason swap of the two prospects, but it does not yet transfer their NHL rights. There was nothing stopping them from making a trade now, as they’d still have been allowed to finish out the season in the minors, but doing so would have made Lawrence ineligible to suit up for the Sabres and vice versa for Novikov and the Kings. By simply loaning them outside the organization, Lawrence technically remains eligible to be recalled back to the Kings’ roster to play this season, and Novikov could still be added to the Sabres’ roster.
Recalls for either are unlikely, though. Lawrence has another year left on his deal, while Novikov is a pending RFA. If both were RFAs, there might have been the option to non-tender them to complete an NHL-rights swap for next year in July, but instead, the Kings will need to send Lawrence to Buffalo in an official trade for Novikov’s signing rights after the season ends if it’s still something they’re interested in.
Lawrence, 23, was a seventh-rounder by L.A. in 2022. The selection was almost entirely by virtue of his 6’7″, 229-lb frame. He’d played just two Ontario Hockey League games over the preceding two seasons due to COVID and injuries, but finished out his junior career with 41 goals and 82 points in 149 career games. He hasn’t been much of a factor since turning pro in 2024, though. He split last year between Ontario and ECHL Greenville, recording a 13-11–24 scoring line in 52 games across the two leagues. This year, he’s stayed on the AHL roster but barely played after missing nearly three months with an injury – just three assists in 16 games to this point in the season.
Buffalo needed some minor-league forward depth, so outside of how they feel about Lawrence long-term, it fills a short-term need. Rochester lost one of its best talents when the Sabres traded Isak Rosen to the Jets in the Logan Stanley deal last week, and Noah Ostlund will be ineligible for the Calder Cup Playoffs after establishing himself as a top-niner in Buffalo.
Novikov, 22, has a bit more of a pro track record. He was a sixth-round selection by Buffalo in 2021 and came over from Russia two years later. The 6’3″ lefty had an impressive rookie campaign in Rochester, posting 23 points and a +20 rating in 65 games. In the two seasons since, he hasn’t shown much of any forward progress, though. He’s continued as a legitimate top-four piece in the minors but hasn’t seen a change in his offensive or two-way performance. Buffalo has plenty of organizational depth defensively, so he likely welcomes a move to a place where he may have a bit better shot at climbing the ladder to an NHL role.
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