Kings finalizing trade of Carter to Penguins

Jeff Carter, who gave the Kings vital depth at center and was a catalyst in their 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup title runs, will now figure into the club’s rebuilding process as he departs in a trade that will bring draft picks.

As of Sunday night, several sources said Kings general manager Rob Blake was finalizing a trade that would send Carter to the Pittsburgh Penguins for conditional draft picks. According to Canada’s TSN, which first reported the deal, the Kings also will retain part of Carter’s salary. Carter, 36, has one season left after this one at a salary-cap hit of more than $5.2 million.

The NHL trade deadline is Monday at noon Pacific time.

— Helene Elliott

Columbus traded forward Nick Foligno to Toronto. The Blue Jackets received 2021 first- and 2022 fourth-round picks from the Maple Leafs as part of the trade that also involved San Jose. The Sharks got a 2021 fourth-round pick for retaining 25% of Foligno’s salary. Toronto also announced it acquired goalie David Rittich from Calgary for a 2022 third-round draft choice.

Buffalo traded forwards Taylor Hall and Curtis Lazar to Boston for forward Anders Bjork and a secondround draft pick, according to reports . ... Goalie Henrik Lundqvist is abandoning a bid to return from openheart surgery to play for Washington this season.