2015-2016 Roster Talk: East Coast Thinks We Suck Edition(MOD WARNING) post# 107

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In terms of roles they would best succeed in, I think you have some good comparisons. Although it's extremely optimistic that any number of them would be able to fill in for current NHLers.

Just a brief summation of a chunk of them, if not all, from my perspective:

Kempe would definitely be able to benefit more from his speed through the neutral zone, so he may thrive at center like Carter. However, he's very tenacious and speedy along the boards too, and I thought he played a lot like Trevor Lewis.

Prokhorkin wouldn't play in Carter's role, if he decided to commit to the NHL. I'm not as optimistic about him as years past. At best, he would make a good 3rd line center, something along the Shore mold.

Watson isn't too different from Weal, in terms of being a smaller guy whose speed, skill and tenacity has allowed him to be successful. Could he make it as a 2nd line winger, like Gaborik? He COULD, but like Weal, he may find more success in a different organization.

I agree Mersch could eventually develop into a top line powerforward, although he's not as menacing as Lucic. He really has to improve on his skating, however, and consequently, he will need another offseason to (pardon the pun) make strides.

Brodzinski has a better chance than Watson of having that second line sniper role. His technique is much better refined. Kubalik, I think, still sealed his fate by returning to Europe instead of staying and developing his game in North America.

Zykov, skillwise, has been a little lukewarm. He's more competitive than skillful. I think he would find himself in a more suitable role on the third line, like Brown or King. Mistele is such a wild card. I don't know how to project him.

Cernak I think is closer to the role of what Voynov provided, in terms of having a combination of skill and gritty play. He's still very immature, in my opinion. LaDue, I've heard comparisons of him to Willie Mitchell, which as a stay-at-home defenseman with some ability to chip in offensively, I think is pretty fair.

I actually agree Leslie is a perfect comparison to Martinez as far as role and style of play. Ebert would also have a similar role as a bottom pairing offensive defenseman, although he's a more skilled puck carrier like Doughty.

Sharipziyanov might succeed as a bottom pairing stay at home defenseman at best. I don't see much of Voynov in him.

Lowry could top off as a third line wing like Brown, but I just don't see it happening. He's a high energy player. Kitsyn is still in the ECHL at the age of 24, and even after the Kings have lost Weal, Mersch to the NHL and Kempe temporarily to the WJC, he wasn't called up to the AHL. I think we can assume the organization has no long term plans for him.

Dergachev would fit in perfectly in the third line grinding winger's role. I agree.

Amadio and Dowd are both fantastic two way centers; I feel both would be okay as bottom 6 centers.

Schenn is a good style and role comparison to Gravel; bottom pairing stay at home defenseman who can play physical. Forbort is not nearly assertive enough in his game, and I've compared him for years to Jeff Schultz before the Kings signed Jeff Schultz. Lintuniemi is a wildcard. He can play the McNabb role, given his skils and style of play, but I've always come away feeling lukewarm when I watch Lintuniemi play. I don't know why.

Schmalz has not impressed me at all, and I definitely don't see him being able to eventually fill the role Lewis does. He turns 20 this year, he's the 7th leading scorer on a very bad team, and he has the second worst +/- in the entire league (-35). Now, I normally don't think +/- means a whole lot, but when you have his size, you're older than a lot of your competition, and you still can't reconcile any of your metrics to something respectable, only reinforces the eye test.

Auger and Marchment could both pan out as fourth line grinders. I think like other prospects, the Sabourin ship has sailed. Wagner would actually benefit more playing in a higher tempo role, like that of a third line winger or even a second line winger if he puts it together (his numbers have been up and down this year).

A couple more players not mentioned. Middleton could pan out as a bottom pairing, stay at home tough guy. Kurtis MacDermid as well (he's closer to Greene in terms of role and style of play than anyone else in the organization). Reddekopp could become a bottom four defender, but I have to see more of him to have a better handle.

Thanks KP! Always like hearing your take.

The only thing I have to say why I put Watson in the Gaborik spot. Is that he doesn't have the speed of Gaborik but he does have a good shot like him and that I hear he is willing to go to the front of the net for rebounds when he probably shouldn't be because of size. He might be like Weal but I think he has a better shot of landing in the top 6 because he is a winger and not a center like Weal. It's not as hard and grinding as a winger on thus team than the Center spot is, so he might be able to get away with his size.
 
Playing winger for the Kings undersized is harder than Center.

Kings wingers are required to win board battles at ALL times. It's why Jordan Weal was never even tried as a winger seriously, also why Kozun was never even given a shot.
 
Some more info just for YP44:

http://spectorshockey.net/lower-canadian-dollars-effect-on-the-nhls-2015-16-salary-cap/

In examining this last January, I referenced a New York Times’ interview last November with Glen Hodgson, chief economist of The Conference Board of Canada, in which he claimed the Canadian dollar would have to drop well below .85 cents for a lengthy period to have a significant impact upon league revenue.

The CDN $ has been less than $0.85 USD for over a year.

Teams pressed for cap space heading into 2016-17 could find themselves in serious difficulty if the cap ceiling fails to significantly increase. And if it actually drops, the effects could be devastating, forcing those clubs to trade away expensive stars they would otherwise retain.

It’ll also affect players eligible for restricted or unrestricted free agency, especially the latter. Stars like Steven Stamkos, Anze Kopitar, Jakub Voracek, Eric Staal, Brent Seabrook, Mark Giordano, Dustin Byfuglien, David Backes, Andrew Ladd, Milan Lucic and Kyle Okposo are slated for UFA status next summer. While most are likely to be re-signed, there’s a deep enough pool of talent there to ensure a handful could be available.

Problem is, if the salary cap stagnates or declines, there might not be enough money available for those players to receive lucrative long-term deals. A number of teams could be unwilling to spend big on available stars in next summer’s free-agent market.

Question: Could Dean be waiting until the cap number becomes better defined before making his final offer to Kopitar? Could he just wait until the off season and if the cap remains that same, or even decreases, just look at Kopitar's agent and say, "Now what?"

In the event that something like this happens, would Kopitar take a short term deal in hopes of the salary cap rising in the not too distant future?

At this point with the way the team is playing, I think Dean is all in this season, even if it means going to the playoffs without Kopitar being re-signed yet.
 
Thanks KP! Always like hearing your take.

The only thing I have to say why I put Watson in the Gaborik spot. Is that he doesn't have the speed of Gaborik but he does have a good shot like him and that I hear he is willing to go to the front of the net for rebounds when he probably shouldn't be because of size. He might be like Weal but I think he has a better shot of landing in the top 6 because he is a winger and not a center like Weal. It's not as hard and grinding as a winger on thus team than the Center spot is, so he might be able to get away with his size.

I'm glad you enjoyed the reading :)

As far as Watson, I understand the thought process. It just takes a very special player who will succeed as an undersized winger in a top six role for the Kings. Watson CAN do it, but it's very physically taxing, and he'll have to learn the nuances of body positioning to get the right leverage. It's just a longshot for him.

And I read someone say, "Then why do the Kings draft these players if they don't fit with the Kings?" It's sort of like Weal; you develop him into a good player and you can trade him for value to a team where he will succeed. That's assuming the player doesn't make it on the Kings. I think he'll just find more success in an organization, and hopefully the Kings develop him to be a good professional.

Playing winger for the Kings undersized is harder than Center.

Kings wingers are required to win board battles at ALL times. It's why Jordan Weal was never even tried as a winger seriously, also why Kozun was never even given a shot.

Pretty much. There were quite a few things where I was concerned about him translating his game to the NHL. His physical play (or lack thereof) was one of them.
 
There is nothing wrong with spending late picks on players like Weal/Kozun/Watson.

What if you land the next Tyler Johnson, or Marty St Lou ? Steal. If not, you only wasted a 3rd-7th round pick.

It's not like the Kings are using 1st and 2nd rounders on undersized guys. The vast majority of 3rd-7th round picks (historically) don't even turn out to be successful AHL players.

Kings also still take chances on guys like Auger/Schumacher in late rounds, you may just land a late bloomer power forward. A lot of NHL teams do this.
 
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I'm glad you enjoyed the reading :)

As far as Watson, I understand the thought process. It just takes a very special player who will succeed as an undersized winger in a top six role for the Kings. Watson CAN do it, but it's very physically taxing, and he'll have to learn the nuances of body positioning to get the right leverage. It's just a longshot for him.

And I read someone say, "Then why do the Kings draft these players if they don't fit with the Kings?" It's sort of like Weal; you develop him into a good player and you can trade him for value to a team where he will succeed. That's assuming the player doesn't make it on the Kings. I think he'll just find more success in an organization, and hopefully the Kings develop him to be a good professional.



Pretty much. There were quite a few things where I was concerned about him translating his game to the NHL. His physical play (or lack thereof) was one of them.

Nailed it.

Jordan Weal filled a need for us. A SAH defenseman and a gigantic bottom six center!

Someone will always take a flier on these guys because of Martin St. Louis.
 
Some more info just for YP44:

http://spectorshockey.net/lower-canadian-dollars-effect-on-the-nhls-2015-16-salary-cap/



The CDN $ has been less than $0.85 USD for over a year.



Question: Could Dean be waiting until the cap number becomes better defined before making his final offer to Kopitar? Could he just wait until the off season and if the cap remains that same, or even decreases, just look at Kopitar's agent and say, "Now what?"

In the event that something like this happens, would Kopitar take a short term deal in hopes of the salary cap rising in the not too distant future?

At this point with the way the team is playing, I think Dean is all in this season, even if it means going to the playoffs without Kopitar being re-signed yet.

DL was on Hockey Central at Noon on Friday and was asked about the Kopitar contract, he said it was 'coming along' he noted that 'you have to make sure you have enough food for everybody at the table' (paraphrasing). I think he knows what Kopi and his agent want and is eyeing the future (TT and TP among others, which he'll be working on next season) contracts that will require signings and also what the CAP might be then. Given the downward plunge and Canadian economists not painting a positive picture for the future, it could go down next year possibly.
Kopi will get a LTC, he's not going to sacrifice his homerun contract and there no guarantee the CAP will stabilize next year. He's in the driver's seat. He'll get his money, it's just a matter of what moves DL will have to make to accommodate that.
 
I will say that I am puzzled that Mike Amadio went in the third round. The Kid is a Man among boys right now, and has zero holes in his game.

Can't wait to see him in the AHL, maybe some flaws will pop up there, playing against Men.
 
DL was on Hockey Central at Noon on Friday and was asked about the Kopitar contract, he said it was 'coming along' he noted that 'you have to make sure you have enough food for everybody at the table' (paraphrasing). I think he knows what Kopi and his agent want and is eyeing the future (TT and TP among others, which he'll be working on next season) contracts that will require signings and also what the CAP might be then. Given the downward plunge and Canadian economists not painting a positive picture for the future, it could go down next year possibly.
Kopi will get a LTC, he's not going to sacrifice his homerun contract and there no guarantee the CAP will stabilize next year. He's in the driver's seat. He'll get his money, it's just a matter of what moves DL will have to make to accommodate that.

Yes, I heard the interview. Dean came at this question from a lot of different angles. I don't think he will hesitate to go into the playoffs with Kopitar on the roster if he hasn't signed his extension by then. I also think Dean believes that anything too crazy for Kopitar severely limits the Kings ability to contend beyond this season, if the cap is stagnant or decreases, which is a very distinct possibility.

I think if this was a foregone conclusion, and that if they are as close as we were led to believe back in December, something would have already been announced.

I think Dean's idea of Kopitar "getting his money", and his agent's idea of that are two different numbers. I am just trying to encourage some discussion beyond the normal, "Pay the man his money.", because it isn't that simple.
 
Cap uncertainty is wreaking havoc on Long term commitments. GM's have no concrete idea how much Cap space they will have, only projections.
 
Yes, I heard the interview. Dean came at this question from a lot of different angles. I don't think he will hesitate to go into the playoffs with Kopitar on the roster if he hasn't signed his extension by then. I also think Dean believes that anything too crazy for Kopitar severely limits the Kings ability to contend beyond this season, if the cap is stagnant or decreases, which is a very distinct possibility.

I think if this was a foregone conclusion, and that if they are as close as we were led to believe back in December, something would have already been announced.

I think Dean's idea of Kopitar "getting his money", and his agent's idea of that are two different numbers. I am just trying to encourage some discussion beyond the normal, "Pay the man his money.", because it isn't that simple.

This.

I think he is eyeing the CAP number and June 30, I can't see him risking Kopi hitting FA.
 
Cap uncertainty is wreaking havoc on Long term commitments. GM's have no concrete idea how much Cap space they will have, only projections.

And that it appears to be unstable for the future, which handcuffs them. Players , esp elite ones, and at Kopi's age, 29 when it kicks in, want their LTC, and that's a problem for GM's.
 
I will say that I am puzzled that Mike Amadio went in the third round. The Kid is a Man among boys right now, and has zero holes in his game.

Can't wait to see him in the AHL, maybe some flaws will pop up there, playing against Men.

It was easy to see why when his offense production didn't intially translate, he just looked like a good defensive guy. Now his offense has exploded and he's filled out into a monster too. No one on the prospects board I've asked has ANYTHING bad to say about him, and all the home team fans just say things like "he might be the best stick checker I've ever seen" and nary a negative word.

I tried to pry--skating, sense, maybe he doesn't know how to use his teammates, what--but nothing negative has come up.

Surely as you say he'll have to work on his game in the A but his development is outstanding and if he can learn and grow under our dev team in the A he should surely carve out a career as a bottom sixer at least.

He's amongst all the highly-touted first rounders from all the last few years in scoring. Keep that in mind. If he were on a TO, Calgary, whatever we'd never hear the end of him.
 
yesterday kopi made a short interview for slovenian media (source: http://www.rtvslo.si/sport/citat-za-prebrat/anze-kopitar/383028). about the contract: first he was disapointed, "lak advertised to sign the contract around the start of 15/16 season." after that: "now we're still fighting for it." a big interview is coming tomorrow, i'll keep you posted.

If you can post it for us tomorrow with some type of translation, it would be much appreciated. :)

I still believe that the reality of this situation is that the Kane and Toews contracts are not valid comps for any player with the current cap situation.
 
At 9.25 Lombardi has a good chance at keeping most of the team intact. Much over that (9.75) will probably require a player with a 2M+ contract to be moved.

500k X 8 years is 4M, so it isn't exactly change that Kopi would be leaving on the table.

I got some ideas on where to cut first!!! Triage for the win!!!

The way to resolve this is for Lombardi to get a marketing guy to get Kopi an endorsement deal on something to make up the extra cash. Problem solved. Just got to be careful the league doesn't catch on now that they have their eye on the Kings after the Richards cap hit scandal.
 
If you can post it for us tomorrow with some type of translation, it would be much appreciated. :)

I still believe that the reality of this situation is that the Kane and Toews contracts are not valid comps for any player with the current cap situation.

Kopi actually said that at the beginning of the season the fact, that he still didn't agreed for new contract, really bothered him and influenced his game. And after some time he managed to turn off this issue from his mind and after that his play has significally rise.

But I saw yesterday also on TV news his interview and I can tell you that you could see on his face (at that question) he is not pleased at all that that this topic is still open, although he tried to answer in neutral way...

Just check this video on bottom link between 0:50 and 1:00 and see his body language at that question:

http://www.24ur.com/sport/hokej/kopitar-2.html
 
At 9.25 Lombardi has a good chance at keeping most of the team intact. Much over that (9.75) will probably require a player with a 2M+ contract to be moved.

500k X 8 years is 4M, so it isn't exactly change that Kopi would be leaving on the table.

I got some ideas on where to cut first!!! Triage for the win!!!
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The way to resolve this is for Lombardi to get a marketing guy to get Kopi an endorsement deal on something to make up the extra cash. Problem solved. Just got to be careful the league doesn't catch on now that they have their eye on the Kings after the Richards cap hit scandal.

It can be done even @9,75, but Greene should be gone in either case. He shuld just retire and take some kind of coaching role with Kings.

Kopitar @9,75
Lucic @6,5 (maybe it could be done even with lesser cap hit for 8 year contract?)
Lewis @2,5 (sounds fair, but he could get a bit more on open market)
McNabb, McBain, Forbot, back up @4,5
=23,25

Rest od signed roster w/o Greene(@2,5) plus Richards cap penalty =47,45
That makes total cap hit 70,7M (for 22 players-14F, 6D, 2G).

Forwards stay almost same as today, but there would be some holes in defense (bottom pairing would be weak to put it kindly).

Bonus should be that any cap raise could be used to sign bottom pairing D man.
 
It can be done even @9,75, but Greene should be gone in either case. He shuld just retire and take some kind of coaching role with Kings.

Kopitar @9,75
Lucic @6,5 (maybe it could be done even with lesser cap hit for 8 year contract?)
Lewis @2,5 (sounds fair, but he could get a bit more on open market)
McNabb, McBain, Forbot, back up @4,5
=23,25

Rest od signed roster w/o Greene(@2,5) plus Richards cap penalty =47,45
That makes total cap hit 70,7M (for 22 players-14F, 6D, 2G).

Forwards stay almost same as today, but there would be some holes in defense (bottom pairing would be weak to put it kindly).

Bonus should be that any cap raise could be used to sign bottom pairing D man.

but it leaves no room for TT and Pearson
 
If you can post it for us tomorrow with some type of translation, it would be much appreciated. :)

I still believe that the reality of this situation is that the Kane and Toews contracts are not valid comps for any player with the current cap situation.

don't expect too much about the contract, it should be a soft one with nothing really new. but it's been a while since he gave a big one here...

42 days since doofus wrote that "contrary to what you may have read elsewhere, MayorsManor has recently confirmed via multiple sources close to the negotiations, the two sides are very close to wrapping up a new eight-year contract..." 42 days.

Anze Kopitar Contract Nearly Done With LA Kings

Great sources there, Crossing Guard. Wrong again (at least, in terms of timing).

550px-SchoolCrossing.jpg
 
but it leaves no room for TT and Pearson

Yeah, I know :(

Those two would command another 3,75-4M at minimum(Toffoli@5,5M and Pearson@2,8M).
There are few options to get that money but main issue will be cap increase next two years. Expansion draft could play role too and there is always a desperation move - trading(aka giving away) Gaborik in summer 2017( or maybe by than Hextall can return favor to Dean and take Brown :sarcasm: )
 
Yeah, I know :(

Those two would command another 3,75-4M at minimum(Toffoli@5,5M and Pearson@2,8M).
There are few options to get that money but main issue will be cap increase next two years. Expansion draft could play role too and there is always a desperation move - trading(aka giving away) Gaborik in summer 2017( or maybe by than Hextall can return favor to Dean and take Brown :sarcasm: )

I would move Gaborik this year if there is a taker just to get the hit off the books.
It would definitely give DL the flexibility to retain Lucic
 
I would move Gaborik this year if there is a taker just to get the hit off the books.
It would definitely give DL the flexibility to retain Lucic

But it's a even year, Kings turn for cup. And Lombardi is not into brakeing cup wining teams ;)
 
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