2015-2016 Roster Talk: Bottom Six has 0 goals in Infinity Games Edition

[Johnny Utah]

I love Clifford but Andreoff and Nolan can do the same job for a lot less.

Even though I am a big proponent of fighting, Lucic single handedly makes the team tougher and teams like the Blues, Hawks, etc who tried to push the Kings around in the past, tend to now back off when they see Milan on the ice. Clifford really never intimated anyone.

So yes, in that regard, 1.6 million for Clifford and his 2 goals is kinda a waste when AA has 5 and is much cheaper.

 

[go4hockey]

Who would you trade Clifford for?

Caps space and a draft pick. It's just that the young guys could do his role just as good and maybe better for way way less.

 

[KingsOfCali25]

Caps space and a draft pick. It's just that the young guys could do his role just as good and maybe better for way way less.

Depending on if Lucic resigns...

Lucic/XXX--Kopitar--Toffoli
Pearson--Carter--Gaborik
King--Shore/Dowd--Brown
Andreoff/Mersch--Dowd/Shore--Nolan/ZZZ

XXX-Mersch, Kempe, UFA, Prokhorkin (in my dreams)
ZZZ-Lewis, UFA, Prospect

Edit: Clifford should be the odd man out if Mersch and/or Kempe earn a spot. I wouldn't want Andreoff or Nolan back because both are useless but the Kings don't have the prospects or money to fill those holes.

 

[goosh]

It means nothing at this point, but in his weekly 30 Thoughts column Elliotte Friedman notes that the Kings would have taken Kyle Connor with the Lucic pick. Wow, would that have been something.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/30-thoughts-adam-oates-responds-critics/

edit: Same column also suggests that the Kings will trade Prokhorkin, but no surprise there.

 

[YP44]

It means nothing at this point, but in his weekly 30 Thoughts column Elliotte Friedman notes that the Kings would have taken Kyle Connor with the Lucic pick. Wow, would that have been something.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/30-thoughts-adam-oates-responds-critics/

edit: Same column also suggests that the Kings will trade Prokhorkin, but no surprise there.

wow...makes me wonder 2 things
1) what woudl DL have done with Lucic's cap space
2) what would DL have got for Jones if not Lucic

Kid looks unreal and would have been an amazing addition if not next year the year after.

Lucic better re-sign for cheap....or even for a reasonable amount. haha

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

wow...makes me wonder 2 things
1) what woudl DL have done with Lucic's cap space
2) what would DL have got for Jones if not Lucic

Kid looks unreal and would have been an amazing addition if not next year the year after.

Lucic better re-sign for cheap....or even for a reasonable amount. haha

It's too bad they didn't draft Connor. Could've penciling him and Pearson on the LW for the next 10 years.

Lucic's cap space is only about $2.5 million so not sure what they could've gotten. Although you could take Ehrhoff's $1.5 million and maybe they could've sign Beauchemin for $4 million? Oduya signed for just under $4 million also. But then you have a big hole in the top 6.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Kyle Connor would be potentially nice but with no Lucic this year, we're still fighting for a wild card spot imo.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

Kyle Connor would be potentially nice but with no Lucic this year, we're still fighting for a wild card spot imo.

Probably. That's 17 goals and 50ish points up to this point. Would've had King in the top 6 all season.

 

[Herby]

Kyle Connor would be potentially nice but with no Lucic this year, we're still fighting for a wild card spot imo.

I love what Lucic has brought, but the Kings are 20 points into a playoff spot. There is no way they would be fighting for a WC spot without him, he has not been that type of a difference maker.

 

[Kingsfan1]

I love what Lucic has brought, but the Kings are 20 points into a playoff spot. There is no way they would be fighting for a WC spot without him, he has not been that type of a difference maker.

More goals have gone in because of him being infront of the opposing teams goalie. He has brought hunger and leadership. He has brought 50 points. Sparks whatever line he is on. I think he has been a huge difference maker and should get a 8 year contract.

 

[YP44]

Kyle Connor would be potentially nice but with no Lucic this year, we're still fighting for a wild card spot imo.

this..hard for me to say I wish we kept the pick.
Also I doubt Connor would have had a large impact this year. Would have probably meant Mersch stays up

 

[Herby]

More goals have gone in because of him being infront of the opposing teams goalie. He has brought hunger and leadership. He has brought 50 points. Sparks whatever line he is on. I think he has been a huge difference maker and should get a 8 year contract.

He said the Kings would be fighting for a playoff spot without Lucic and I think that is drastically overrating his impact, not that he hasn't been great but you mean to tell me we are a Coyotes caliber team without him? No way.

As for KC, he is still only 20, he is an amazing talent but he needs another year in the weight room to be a real impact player at the NHL level. He may have higher upside than Larkin, but Dylan was more NHL ready than Connor was.

 

[Trolfoli]

He said the Kings would be fighting for a playoff spot without Lucic and I think that is drastically overrating his impact, not that he hasn't been great but you mean to tell me we are a Coyotes caliber team without him? No way.

As for KC, he is still only 20, he is an amazing talent but he needs another year in the weight room to be a real impact player at the NHL level. He may have higher upside than Larkin, but Dylan was more NHL ready than Connor was.

Pretty much. If Lucic wasn't here he'd need to be replaced by another top 6 forward. If the Kings were running Brown/Lewis on the top line that's 29th ranked offense territory. That puts the Kings as a gamble to make the playoffs. Just like last year.

It would seem clinching early is a new thing for the Kings who have finished 8/6/5 out, the last few years.

Also, what do the Kings need with another wing? They have too many already. Need to fill other holes.

 

[lexlavender]

According to Rosen, Greene is participating in practice today. Maybe he'll be ready for playoffs, and able to add some defensive stability to the bottom pairing.

 

[tsanuri]

According to Rosen, Greene is participating in practice today. Maybe he'll be ready for playoffs, and able to add some defensive stability to the bottom pairing.

That's some good news.
Let's hope we see the same info about Gaborik soon as well.

 

[YP44]

According to Rosen, Greene is participating in practice today. Maybe he'll be ready for playoffs, and able to add some defensive stability to the bottom pairing.

i am not confident that he is an upgrade over scuderi or Schenn. Especially when considering he has missed the whole season and will take a bit to get up to game speed.

Nice to have the depth option. Would be nice if he could be sent down for conditioning and play some AHL games.

 

[tsanuri]

i am not confident that he is an upgrade over scuderi or Schenn. Especially when considering he has missed the whole season and will take a bit to get up to game speed.

Nice to have the depth option. Would be nice if he could be sent down for conditioning and play some AHL games.

He can be sent down once he's healthy as long as he agrees to it. That's all part of the cba.

 

[tsanuri]

Darryl said Gaborik skated this morning. Still no date on a potential return. Running out of time for that to be at the outset of playoffs.

https://twitter.com/lakingsinsider/status/715248368642048000

Not with the team but he's skating.

 

[theMajor]

According to Rosen, Greene is participating in practice today. Maybe he'll be ready for playoffs, and able to add some defensive stability to the bottom pairing.

whos the odd man out? Mcnabb? Scuderi?

 

[tsanuri]

whos the odd man out? Mcnabb? Scuderi?

I would say McNabb but it would also allow us to give scuderi a rest day here and there also.

 

[Trolfoli]

i am not confident that he is an upgrade over scuderi or Schenn. Especially when considering he has missed the whole season and will take a bit to get up to game speed.

Nice to have the depth option. Would be nice if he could be sent down for conditioning and play some AHL games.

- 7/2 is the greatest pairing ever.
-"game speed" isn't really something Greene does. I have no doubt he'll be back to regular Greene speed quickly.

Darryl said Gaborik skated this morning. Still no date on a potential return. Running out of time for that to be at the outset of playoffs.

https://twitter.com/lakingsinsider/status/715248368642048000

Not with the team but he's skating.

Is there enough cap space for Gaborik to come back before the playoffs?

whos the odd man out? Mcnabb? Scuderi?

Muzzin.

Someone will probably end up getting banged up.

 

[tsanuri]

No gaborik can't come back before playoffs. But you have to think he'll need a week or two of skating on his own before he'd even be close to ready. And that's the best case scenario.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

No gaborik can't come back before playoffs. But you have to think he'll need a week or two of skating on his own before he'd even be close to ready. And that's the best case scenario.

Yeah, Jon Rosen said this in response to someone.

probably not very good news. Six games left and return not imminent.

How do you embed tweets?

 

[LAKings88]

I was really upset about the Lucic deal. Connor was falling into that slot and I think he will be a good one. Barzel and Konecny were also there.

That said, it's hard not to like Lucic. Will feel better about it if Lucic re-signs in LA.

 

[BigKing]

Oh, you mean that he probably wont be back in time for the 1st round?!?! Shocking! I mean, I was told on here he'd be ready to go even though we just went through this with Pearson and his "he'll be back before the playoffs" story.

As I said when it happened, it is imperative we avoid the Ducks in Round 1 since we won't have him. Haven't expected him back until Round 2 at best.

Versteeg needs to get back to 100% before Round 1.

As for Lucic and fighting for a WC spot, you just bring Williams back for two years. Team is not fighting for a WC with Williams on the roster.

Nobody wants to hear it, but this team is extremely similar to last year's team except they crush the OT/SO. That was a playoff team last season that missed because of the skills competition. Pearson injury was gigantic and then the Sekera loss as he was rounding into form.

Toss in the seasons from VAN/CGY/WPG that were expected last year but happened this year instead and you have the perfect storm for missing the playoffs.

Last year's team couldn't win on the road and this year's road record has been sliding down. Think they set the record for most home wins in a season last year too.

If it is still 4 v 4 OT, does this team finish so many games in OT before going to the shootout? It's funny how we all **** on the 2014-15 team yet that GM or coaches poll a month before the playoffs had two votes for LA to win the Cup again I think.

IMO, that team isn't as bad as we thought or this year's team isn't as good as some think it is in comparison.