2016 LA Kings Offseason GDT V: Free Agent Frenzy

[USE Fi]

the fact Greene cleared waivers once this offseason makes me think they may put him and Scuds on waivers. I would think both would clear, and be called up in case of injury.
The Trotman signing seemed odd to me as there already were a few D competing for less spots. At this point I could see LA waiving Forbort just like Berube and Hickey before him.

Kings could also have 8 D up from the start of the season

 

[USE Fi]

I am not sure if this is based on inside knowledge by Rosen, or simply his own speculation, but he has repeatedly said in the offseason that, although Gravel can be sent down without going through waivers, he is a lock for the roster. If true, it appears that Gilbert, Troutman, Green, Fobert, and Scuderi will be competing for one roster spot and one spot as the 7th defenseman.

I think Scuderi will be sent down to save cap space and because he is not as good as the players listed. Fobert may be given another look in training camp and if Sutter has issues with him, the Kings can get a pick for him. Gilbert, Greene and Troutman can be waived without another team picking them up, so no concern there.

Injuries will obviously play a role in the defensive roster. Its good that we have options this year if someone goes down.

The locks on the blueline will be Doughty, Muzzin, Martinez, McNabb and Gravel. I think we'll be seeing those 5 regularly in the lineup (God willing they aren't injured).

Now, Gravel and/or McNabb could go through some ups and downs and we don't know how consistent their 2016-17 season will be, which would explain why they'll be seeing some competition from 5 others.

Given how long Greene has sat out, I can't see him starting the season in the lineup. If he makes the team, it'll be as a 7th defenseman. I also think that the Kings picked up some extra defensemen in case some bodies are lost through waivers or injury.

Realistically, they're replacing the likes of Schenn, McBain and Schultz with Gilbert, Trotman and Scuderi. Greene may wind up on LTIR again given how fragile he's been over the past few years. I think his career is winding down at this point.

I`m reading same about another player, Nic Dowd from Frozen Royal and Jason Lewis

 

[KingsFan7824]

The thing with both Scuderi and Greene being in Ontario is that they're not needed there. They have 16 defensemen under contract, plus whatever happens with Cernak, which could make 17. You don't really want guys under contract playing in the ECHL. Are Scuderi and Greene going to not play in the AHL if they're there? Do you want either of them taking any development minutes from anyone? With Bissonnette, Hensick, Sutter, Backman, LoVerde, and Budaj, Ontario is not short on 30 year old veterans.

Greene has to be hurt to be put on LTIR, and they had thoughts of buying him out, and you have to be healthy for that. Then again, maybe they didn't actually buy him out because he's still hurt, but he was also skating around late in the season though. It's not a coincidence than Gilbert and Trotman are right handed either.

Up front, it's basically Shore, Dowd, and Mersch for 1 spot, outside of injury. That's sort of boring compared to the defense, where only Doughty, Muzzin, and Martinez are certainly in the top 4, and depending on who does what, and who fits where, Martinez could be on the 3rd pair again.

This is why summer speculation gets annoying as the summer drags on. We don't know anything, so too many possibilities exist, and you can get lost in them.

 

[Trolfoli]

What is your definition of bottoming out? Do you think a team with 11/8/32 is going to bottom out, depending on what your definition of it is?



Purcell had 2 more goals in the playoffs than Lucic did. One was driving the net, another on the PP.

Worse and better can really only be used once the games start. The Kings have a few questions that need to be answered, but the answers also could be good.

Bottoming out... go full emergency dive!!!! Down! Down! Down!

The team can bottom out with Quick/Kopitar/Doughty. If the Kings get to a point where 1 line is putting up anything and the defense is substandard, while getting rookies on D ice time, and giving the back up goalie 30+ games... Yeah... you can dive this boat.


Worse or better only can be determined after the games start? Yeah... I don't need to wait that long.

Edit: For me it's pretty clear. The team got worse. The only question is how much better, if at all, other teams in the division got.

 

[King'sPawn]

Activity =/= Achievement

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I honestly can't pinpoint any moves that Lombardi could've made this summer to improve the team.

I'm more concerned with seeing them get Toffoli and Pearson locked up to long term deals, and figuring out a way to rid the team of Dustin Brown's ridiculously overinflated contract.

 

[Cook24]

I honestly can't pinpoint any moves that Lombardi could've made this summer to improve the team.

I'm more concerned with seeing them get Toffoli and Pearson locked up to long term deals, and figuring out a way to rid the team of Dustin Brown's ridiculously overinflated contract.

The funny thing is if Brown were to put up even 20 goals and 40ish points this season it improves his worth substantially. Definitely don't expect it tho.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

The funny thing is if Brown were to put up even 20 goals and 40ish points this season it improves his worth substantially. Definitely don't expect it tho.

The last time Brown posted numbers close to that was 2011-12. Definitely don't expect that.

 

[USE Fi]

Dustin Brown GP G A Pts +/- PIM PPG SHG GWG TOI S PTSPG
2015-16 Los Angeles NHL 82 11 17 28 -5 30 2 0 0 16:10 218 0.34
2014-15 Los Angeles NHL 82 11 16 27 -17 26 1 0 3 16:31 189 0.33
2013-14 Los Angeles NHL 79 15 12 27 7 66 1 0 2 15:50 195 0.34
2012-13 Los Angeles NHL 46 18 11 29 6 22 8 0 1 19:30 142 0.63
2011-12 Los Angeles NHL 82 22 32 54 18 53 9 1 6 20:10 214 0.66

He sure like`s to shoot a lot still.

 

[The Tikkanen]

I've already seen videos of Brown working out this summer so the positive PR is starting. I really feel like Sutter will do all he can to boost Brown's numbers so either Vegas will take him or he can be traded more easily. That said if you look at his ice time it appears Sutter doesn't care for his game much either since the injury. The Brown/Vegas thing is the biggest story of the upcoming season, IMO.

 

[YP44]

Kings could also have 8 D up from the start of the season

yup but then have to expose another forward .

 

[YP44]

I honestly can't pinpoint any moves that Lombardi could've made this summer to improve the team.

I'm more concerned with seeing them get Toffoli and Pearson locked up to long term deals, and figuring out a way to rid the team of Dustin Brown's ridiculously overinflated contract.

I think the Purcell signing is a good low risk deal that will help. I was hopeful LA could sign Hamhuis, but cannot win them all.

I agree I am way more concerned with how LA get the space for Toffolli and Pearson.

 

[YP44]

The funny thing is if Brown were to put up even 20 goals and 40ish points this season it improves his worth substantially. Definitely don't expect it tho.

Huge IF...wouldn't want him gone if he was still a 20 goal guy who is also top 10 in the league in hits.

 

[USE Fi]

I've already seen videos of Brown working out this summer so the positive PR is starting. I really feel like Sutter will do all he can to boost Brown's numbers so either Vegas will take him or he can be traded more easily. That said if you look at his ice time it appears Sutter doesn't care for his game much either since the injury. The Brown/Vegas thing is the biggest story of the upcoming season, IMO.

Surely hope so, there is a way also to make Brown`s contract to effect your Cap less by having 4th line players cheap as possible.

Let`s say now we pay
Clifford - Shore - Nolan 1,6mil-0,6mil-0.95mil 3 150 000Dollars

Put cheaper players to 4th line
Andreoff - Shore - Latta - 0.6mil-0,587-0,6mil 1 787 500 dollars

Difference in cap is 1 362 500 dollars so from one point of view now Dustin Brown`s Cap is only around 4,5 mil dollars.
Now it`s 5 875 000 dollars

 

[YP44]

A very small part of me is still very delusional that Brown will be able to find a spot as a top 6 winger, and be productive.

It's more wishing what I want to see vs what will actually happen.

 

[YP44]

I've already seen videos of Brown working out this summer so the positive PR is starting. I really feel like Sutter will do all he can to boost Brown's numbers so either Vegas will take him or he can be traded more easily. That said if you look at his ice time it appears Sutter doesn't care for his game much either since the injury. The Brown/Vegas thing is the biggest story of the upcoming season, IMO.

The second part I feel to be true. It's the coaches job to try and win each game this year, they don't have an eye to next year. That is the GM's job. If anything now that Brown doesn't have the "C" I could see Sutter being able to bench him if he struggles.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Bottoming out... go full emergency dive!!!! Down! Down! Down!

The team can bottom out with Quick/Kopitar/Doughty. If the Kings get to a point where 1 line is putting up anything and the defense is substandard, while getting rookies on D ice time, and giving the back up goalie 30+ games... Yeah... you can dive this boat.

In 14-15, they lost Voynov for nothing, Kopitar had 16 goals, lost Pearson for half the year, a few other veterans sort of faded away, and they still finished tied for 4th in GA and had 95 points. It'll just be tough to bottom out, unless even more stuff goes wrong.

Worse or better only can be determined after the games start? Yeah... I don't need to wait that long.

Edit: For me it's pretty clear. The team got worse. The only question is how much better, if at all, other teams in the division got.

As they say, that's why they play the games. Could be worse, could be better, could be the same. We can guess all day, but only the record and performance will prove anything for sure.

The funny thing is if Brown were to put up even 20 goals and 40ish points this season it improves his worth substantially. Definitely don't expect it tho.

The problem if Brown puts up better numbers this year is that there's no reason for any team to think it would happen again in future years. I think just assume the Kings are stuck with him. If he had 1 year left, you could trade him at 100%, although still adding. 2 years, maybe at 50%, but still adding. He's signed until the end of the 21-22 season. Nobody needs that contract for 5 more years after this one.

 

[USE Fi]

If Vegas don`t claim Brown it`s up to Lombardi to trade him to some team sooner than later most/some of his salary retained. It`s up to that team to sort out how much he is worth. Is he a 2mil/year player or what is his worth.

 

[YP44]

If Vegas don`t claim Brown it`s up to Lombardi to trade him to some team sooner than later most/some of his salary retained. It`s up to that team to sort out how much he is worth. Is he a 2mil/year player or what is his worth.

Vegas won't claim Brown...Gaborik maybe

 

[USE Fi]

Vegas won't claim Brown...Gaborik maybe

I hope lombardi gives some draftpicks to Vegas and get rid of Brown.

 

[Reaper45]

Brown's not going anywhere. Hope and pray Vegas takes Gaborik.

 

[raswilliam]

It will be really interesting to see how our D ends up. the 5 and 6 D is between Forbort, Gravel, Gilbert, Green, Scuds, trotman.

Anyone else notice Gravel on display at the Dodger game the other day?

 

[USE Fi]

I honestly can't pinpoint any moves that Lombardi could've made this summer to improve the team.

I'm more concerned with seeing them get Toffoli and Pearson locked up to long term deals, and figuring out a way to rid the team of Dustin Brown's ridiculously overinflated contract.

How much more do you think Toffoli&Pearson will get next year.
Now it`s TT 3,25mil per year
TP 1,40mil per year
I think it`s going to be some where around 5mil more together to them.
Toffoli around 6mil and Pearson around 3,5 to 4mil.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I'd say those estimates are pretty close to what they'll get. I would hope they lock up Toffoli under $6M and Pearson in the $3M range given that they both still have something to prove, Pearson more so than Toffoli.

Toffoli is putting up numbers but his consistency and cooling down periods at the midway point and late stages of the season is something he needs to work on.

Pearson responded well to his benching, but he needs to create more offensively. I thought he was one of the best and most noticeable performers in this year's playoffs, which isn't saying much considering how crappy everyone else looked in their first round loss.

What's encouraging to see is how much Toffoli loves it here. He spends his summers here and is always involved in off-ice events representing the team. He's embraced the city and the team and I think he'll remain a King for a very long time. Hopefully the same happens with Pearson and he continues to improve. I still think he has some untapped potential that he can still reach.

 

[USE Fi]

I'd say those estimates are pretty close to what they'll get. I would hope they lock up Toffoli under $6M and Pearson in the $3M range given that they both still have something to prove, Pearson more so than Toffoli.

Toffoli is putting up numbers but his consistency and cooling down periods at the midway point and late stages of the season is something he needs to work on.

Pearson responded well to his benching, but he needs to create more offensively. I thought he was one of the best and most noticeable performers in this year's playoffs, which isn't saying much considering how crappy everyone else looked in their first round loss.

What's encouraging to see is how much Toffoli loves it here. He spends his summers here and is always involved in off-ice events representing the team. He's embraced the city and the team and I think he'll remain a King for a very long time. Hopefully the same happens with Pearson and he continues to improve. I still think he has some untapped potential that he can still reach.

He was like a veteran player in that Dodger event.