"In the wake of dealing for Philadelphia Flyers captain Mike Richards, Los Angeles Kings general manager Dean Lombardi says he's trading Ryan Smyth in the next day or so.

Smyth is likely to go to one of the two Alberta teams — his original club, the Edmonton Oilers, or the Calgary Flames, which would be close to where Smyth grew up in Banff.

Lombardi told the Los Angeles Times he'd like to wrap it up in a day or two, that the Smyth asking for a trade situation has been going on for six weeks. He said there was a front-runner, with only two clubs in the hunt. He said he was close to a deal.

The feeling is the Kings would take a draft pick for Smyth, who wants to get back to Alberta because of family issues. The Oilers, obviously, have the greatest tug on his heart, but he's from Banff, so Calgary might work, too.

It's not like the Kings want to rid themselves of Smyth's $6.25-million salary-cap hit and $4.5-million salary. They aren't looking to make a big hockey deal here. They're trying to help Smyth out.

The Oilers have two third-round draft picks (one they got from Calgary for defenceman Steve Staios). One of those picks (either No. 62 or No. 74) might be in play for a trade."