If Lucic discounts to 5mill longterm, does moving King free up enough space? Lucics on about 3m now and King on about 2m isn't he?
It's going to depend on the cap. Since there's no real accurate predictions out there (unless you believe the tinfoil hat guys) we're going to have to wait for the number. King right now only makes around 1.95 so moving King and replacing him with a 0.5-1M contract doesn't free up a lot of cap space. Don't think it's enough to entertain moving King to free cap.
As far as retaining Lucic, I'm sure Lombardi has his mind set to it as Lucic embodies Kings hockey.
Now if the cap goes up Kings shouldn't have much of an issue... if the cap doesn't go up Kings will need to look at cutting cap space. That's Brown or Gaborik because the size of their contracts, and what they're contributing. Brown can easily be replaced at this point. I'd rather have Lewis logging his time.
As for the "Brown Light"... Lucic brings something Brown can't. It's size. Lucic also has the ability to hold the puck, then move in order to open a passing lane between himself and a line mate to get them a shot. This is something I don't remember seeing from Brown in a very long time. Lucic is able to to be played in the top 6 without shutting down production, unlike Brown. Also Lucic is intimidating. I've seen him go into the corner and come out with the puck because the defender bailed on the play. No one is running from Brown.
If Lucic walks the Kings are right back where they were last year with Brown on the top line... which means Lewis is on the top line shortly after everyone realizes it won't work and Sutter gives up.... it's a good way to miss the playoffs.
Size... when Mersch comes back up.... the 220+ club is going to look like Kopitar/Lucic/King/Mersch/Nolan... that's a lot of size and that's going to be very hard for teams to hide smaller defenders.
Lucic even when he isn't producing is still contributing unlike captain faceplant.
The singing him long term is a mistake people... Kopi/Carter are 28/31 years old. They will eventually reach the point of not being able to compete for a cup as a 1/2 C in the future. In 3 years at 31/34? Maybe, 4 years, 32/35 will they still be able to compete at a high level? Without a replacement for either, or the assets to pull off a Carter/Richards trade the Kings will go into a rebuild mode at that point. Lucic sucking in 3-4 years for the second have of his contract won't matter at that point. The only downside is if the Kings manage to extend their cup window by finding some high end talent, unlikely while drafting in the back half. They can deal with that if it arises.
How many points has Kopi put up since being put with Lucic recently?
I'm not worried... You know Lombardi's going to do everything he can.
