2016 LA Kings Offseason GDT V: Free Agent Frenzy

[KingsFan7824]

I love Toffoli. I don't want him to go anywhere. But can we keep signing all these big extensions with the cap barely moving?

No, and that's why Lucic, Okposo, Ladd, or Ericsson aren't here. Brown and Gaborik take up too much space, with no reason right now other than hope to think that they're not here in October of 2017.

If Doughty/Muzzin would go down, the team would struggle in the AHL...
Let me put this way. If either Hjalmarsson/Campbell go down, there would still be 3 bonafide NHL defensman left on the Blackhawks.
If Martinez goes down for the Kings, we turn into Doughty/Muzzin and a lot of pylons...

As of right now, yes. But if things go right, and some of the other defensemen develop into better/more consistent players, then perception can change.

The Hawks also need more than Kane and Panarin to score too, or else they're out in the 1st round. Every team has problems.

 

[damacles1156]

McNabb.

Unpopular opinion, but he's a #4.

McNabb is a legit NHL Defender, He simply needs to be more consistent to reach that Top four.

Reminds me of how A-Mart struggled with bigger minutes early in his career.

 

[damacles1156]

No, and that's why Lucic, Okposo, Ladd, or Ericsson aren't here. Brown and Gaborik take up too much space, with no reason right now other than hope to think that they're not here in October of 2017.



As of right now, yes. But if things go right, and some of the other defensemen develop into better/more consistent players, then perception can change.

The Hawks also need more than Kane and Panarin to score too, or else they're out in the 1st round. Every team has problems.

Bingo.

All it took was Toews too dip a little, the Hawks literally couldn't score.

 

[Herby]

David Pagnotta ‏@TheFourthPeriod · 28m28 minutes ago
Per source, Kings' last offer to Lucic was 8-years, $34M... which is $4.25M AAV. He now makes $8M more over 1 less year in Edmonton

All you can do is laugh if this is true.

Dean is like the guy in your Fantasy Football league who drafts Michael Turner, Steven Jackson and Reggie Wayne and everyone else knows the decline has begun.

 

[Kingspiracy]

re gilbert

He has no skills anymore really. He can skate I guess, that's about it. Bad defensively and brings nothing offensively. I guess as "depth" for 1.4M it's whatever but he makes your team worse when he's on the ice.

Stole this from the main board, obviously like its just his opinion man, but why are we signing this guy if hes so ****? Perhaps let some kid have a go.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

All you can do is laugh if this is true.

Dean is like the guy in your Fantasy Football league who drafts Michael Turner, Steven Jackson and Reggie Wayne and everyone else knows the decline has begun.

LeBrun just tweeted the same.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

McNabb is a legit NHL Defender, He simply needs to be more consistent to reach that Top four.

Reminds me of how A-Mart struggled with bigger minutes early in his career.

I agree, but the problem is he rarely got 2nd pairing time; he was either miscast with Doughty or thrown on the bottom pairing with limited minutes. I'm confident he could play there now but the issue is (in a small sample size) him and Martinez don't seem to mesh.

re gilbert

Stole this from the main board, obviously like its just his opinion man, but why are we signing this guy if hes so ****? Perhaps let some kid have a go.

Low-risk reclamation project. Vet depth. Best I can come up with.

 

[LAKings88]

My only thought for Gilbert is second unit power play.

Erhole 2.0

 

[Minor Boarding]

McNabb is a legit NHL Defender, He simply needs to be more consistent to reach that Top four.

Reminds me of how A-Mart struggled with bigger minutes early in his career.

With all due respect guys and I would gladly be wrong (for once), McNabb doesn't exactly have the poise to move the puck fluidly like Martinez has.

 

[Martyros]

Watch Brown have a monster season, just so Dean protects him in the expansion draft…..then sucks even worse after that.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Surprised to hear nothing about Demers yet. I'm not the biggest fan but hey, he's an RHD. Versteeg MIA too

My only thought for Gilbert is second unit power play.

Erhole 2.0

I also wonder if they're gambling a little bit on his knee being better now, like nowhere to go but up? heh.

 

[Herby]

LeBrun just tweeted the same.

I really question whether he is the man to lead this reload that the roster needs. These last two years have been late 90's/early 00's Milbury bad.

He obviously did some great things here but all the faults are coming home to roost at this point. All the flopped picks, the traded picks, the mind boggling contract decisions leave the Kings at this spot.

He did have some horrible luck with Voynov and Richards, but he also inherited a team that had Kopitar and Quick, two future Hall of Famers in the system.

I'd like to see him remain a part of the organization, but we need a fresh mind making the everyday decisions. We need to realize the importance of adding and developing younger players, guys who you can get a couple of years of production on an ELC and not trade that guy for UFA rentals because you are "enamored" with the player. Lucic was just like Richards, it was one of Dean's favorites that he wanted badly and Dean's mind was clouded by the want for that player. In Lucic's case it was bringing him in period against all Dean normally stood for and in MR's case it was not getting rid of him when it was clear as day he was toast.

 

[CTKingsFan]

Watch Brown have a monster season, just so Dean protects him in the expansion draft…..then sucks even worse after that.

That's exactly my prediction!

 

[Herby]

re gilbert



Stole this from the main board, obviously like its just his opinion man, but why are we signing this guy if hes so ****? Perhaps let some kid have a go.

Because the kids aren't very good either, outside of Gravel who likely has a spot already locked up.

 

[Minor Boarding]

I really question whether he is the man to lead this reload that the roster needs. These last two years have been late 90's/early 00's Milbury bad.

He obviously did some great things here but all the faults are coming home to roost at this point. All the flopped picks, the traded picks, the mind boggling contract decisions leave the Kings at this spot.

He did have some horrible luck with Voynov and Richards, but he also inherited a team that had Kopitar and Quick, two future Hall of Famers in the system.

I'd like to see him remain a part of the organization, but we need a fresh mind making the everyday decisions. We need to realize the importance of adding and developing younger players, guys who you can get a couple of years of production on an ELC and not trade that guy for UFA rentals because you are "enamored" with the player. Lucic was just like Richards, it was one of Dean's favorites that he wanted badly and Dean's mind was clouded by the want for that player. In Lucic's case it was bringing him in period against all Dean normally stood for and in MR's case it was not getting rid of him when it was clear as day he was toast.

That is well said and true as its gets...

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

I really question whether he is the man to lead this reload that the roster needs. These last two years have been late 90's/early 00's Milbury bad.

He obviously did some great things here but all the faults are coming home to roost at this point. All the flopped picks, the traded picks, the mind boggling contract decisions leave the Kings at this spot.

He did have some horrible luck with Voynov and Richards, but he also inherited a team that had Kopitar and Quick, two future Hall of Famers in the system.

I'd like to see him remain a part of the organization, but we need a fresh mind making the everyday decisions. We need to realize the importance of adding and developing younger players, guys who you can get a couple of years of production on an ELC and not trade that guy for UFA rentals because you are "enamored" with the player. Lucic was just like Richards, it was one of Dean's favorites that he wanted badly and Dean's mind was clouded by the want for that player. In Lucic's case it was bringing him in period against all Dean normally stood for and in MR's case it was not getting rid of him when it was clear as day he was toast.

We'll see if anyone is moved out but if no one is, it goes completely against what he was saying about playing the kids and grooming them in the NHL. My guess is Sutter wasn't on board with that so Dean had to dumpster dive and pull out some veterans for cheap on one year deals.

And that final offer to Lucic? What in the world was that? Insulting to Lucic and embarrassing for Dean.

 

[damacles1156]

With all due respect guys and I would gladly be wrong (for once), McNabb doesn't exactly have the poise to move the puck fluidly like Martinez has.

He doesn't need to be the puck mover on his pairing. He needs to not turn the puck over so much.

Consistency.

 

[theMajor]

I really question whether he is the man to lead this reload that the roster needs. These last two years have been late 90's/early 00's Milbury bad.

He obviously did some great things here but all the faults are coming home to roost at this point. All the flopped picks, the traded picks, the mind boggling contract decisions leave the Kings at this spot.

He did have some horrible luck with Voynov and Richards, but he also inherited a team that had Kopitar and Quick, two future Hall of Famers in the system.

I'd like to see him remain a part of the organization, but we need a fresh mind making the everyday decisions. We need to realize the importance of adding and developing younger players, guys who you can get a couple of years of production on an ELC and not trade that guy for UFA rentals because you are "enamored" with the player. Lucic was just like Richards, it was one of Dean's favorites that he wanted badly and Dean's mind was clouded by the want for that player. In Lucic's case it was bringing him in period against all Dean normally stood for and in MR's case it was not getting rid of him when it was clear as day he was toast.

whos next? is it Futa time?

 

[damacles1156]

We'll see if anyone is moved out but if no one is, it goes completely against what he was saying about playing the kids and grooming them in the NHL. My guess is Sutter wasn't on board with that so Dean had to dumpster dive and pull out some veterans for cheap on one year deals.

And that final offer to Lucic? What in the world was that? Insulting to Lucic and embarrassing for Dean.

Lombardi never said he would play the kids, or groom them in the NHL.

Said a bunch of lawyer speak about evolve/evaluate ETC.

Means a whole lot of nothing.

Never specifically said "I will play rookies/kids/prospects ETC , and develop them in the NHL".

 

[Minor Boarding]

Because the kids aren't very good either, outside of Gravel who likely has a spot already locked up.

That's how I see it too. The only prospect that the Kings should count on is Gravel (assuming he can learn to have a better gap control to opponents).

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I really question whether he is the man to lead this reload that the roster needs. These last two years have been late 90's/early 00's Milbury bad.

He obviously did some great things here but all the faults are coming home to roost at this point. All the flopped picks, the traded picks, the mind boggling contract decisions leave the Kings at this spot.

He did have some horrible luck with Voynov and Richards, but he also inherited a team that had Kopitar and Quick, two future Hall of Famers in the system.

I'd like to see him remain a part of the organization, but we need a fresh mind making the everyday decisions. We need to realize the importance of adding and developing younger players, guys who you can get a couple of years of production on an ELC and not trade that guy for UFA rentals because you are "enamored" with the player. Lucic was just like Richards, it was one of Dean's favorites that he wanted badly and Dean's mind was clouded by the want for that player. In Lucic's case it was bringing him in period against all Dean normally stood for and in MR's case it was not getting rid of him when it was clear as day he was toast.

I mean, he's said as much going into this summer, and the action so far has shown true to his words, no?

Is anyone going to give him a chance to walk the walk or are we burying DL less than a month after those comments agreeing with what most of what his most vocal critics say?

I would think a guy who led a rebuild from scrap heap to the top of the mountain knows a little bit about building a team. He's got an uphill battle he created for himself by moving assets, but he's signaled a refocus on that direction. It's gonna take some time to re-do that with limited assets, of course.

 

[damacles1156]

Your not going to stay on top of the mountain forever.

The Hawks went out round one as well, and had to trade some youth to rid themselves of a contract.

 

[damacles1156]

I am not happy with some of Lombardi's moves.

But people were asking Lombardi be removed back in 2010/11. So this is nothing new.

I am not sure Futa would be much different, or Rob Blake. They have a similar mind set in how a team is built, and how Hockey is played the correct way.

 

[Herby]

That's how I see it too. The only prospect that the Kings should count on is Gravel (assuming he can learn to have a better gap control to opponents).

The farm system is terrible, and it's not really the scouts fault, they crapped the bed with Forbort but it's hard to add contributing players when you have so few quality picks to make.

Since the 08 draft the Kings have developed Toffoli and Muzzin, two second line wingers. Clifford a 4th line winger, King a third line winger, Nolan a 4th line winger, Shore a 4th line center, Andreoff a 4th line center.

I get it, some of these were lost getting guys like Carter. But Carter was signed for 9 more years when the Kings got him, he was not a rental, that is the difference.

 

[Minor Boarding]

He doesn't need to be the puck mover on his pairing. He needs to not turn the puck over so much.

Consistency.

Well if he would have to replace Martinez...

I just don't see the hockey sense* (reading the play), quickness or good positioning there for more then bottom pairing defensman on an NHL SC caliber team.


*Kind of got tear-eyed thinking about Mitchell there...