Toggle sidebar

2016 LA Kings Offseason GDT V: Free Agent Frenzy

  • Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
Herby said:
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.
Click to expand...

It's really only two/Three ? Firsts.

A pair of 2nd's/3rd netted Gabo/RR.

The Kings farm system is not any worse than half the leagues.

Since 2006-2012 Boston/Kings have sent more prospects to the NHL than anyone in the league.

Last time the spreadsheet was done.

2012-2014 has been hurting for impact and depth players, due to 1st/2nd rounders being traded. You have to expect that your farm team will suffer, when you're trying to win cups.
 
Last edited:
Raccoon Jesus said:
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.
Click to expand...

He just offered Milan Lucic an 8 year deal?!. That tells me this is Richards and Greene all over again. And also the return to the stupid strategy of offering these long term deals to lower the AAV despite the fact that those deals are the ones that have crippled the Kings the last couple of years.

He didn't make any trades at the draft to try and add picks.

I just don't know what direction this team is going in, and yes the last two years have been bungled about as bad as you could imagine.
 
Lombardi didn't make Richards contract, Lombardi is also not at fault for Richards turning into an AHL player.

Sure he kept Richards one year too long(which costs cap space), but in the end Richards was buyout anyway.

The Sekera/Lucic deals, I have a bigger problem with. I understand why they were made, but don't like it.
 
so my guess is gaborik for shattenkirk or dwight king for christian frolin for the forward for dman.
 
mattgkg said:
so my guess is gaborik for shattenkirk or dwight king for christian frolin for the forward for dman.
Click to expand...

Why would anyone move a serviceable cheaper Defender/Forward for Gabo on his contract, and at his age, with his health concerns ?
 
Minor Boarding said:
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...
Click to expand...

Since drafting Doughty and Voynov in the same draft, they have not drafted any high end skill, skating defensemen. I am glad they drafted Clague, because he can skate and has skill. Played top minutes at 17 on the best WHL team. Could have a gem here. Ladue can skate and has a high level of skill as well. I just wish he would have turned pro last year, as he would possibly have been ready for a shot and they wouldn't have had to sign Gilbert and Trotman. Cernak is big and can skate, but probably 2 years away.

It really hurt, not having any defensemen in the system ready since Muzzin. Voynov, Martinez and Muzzin - 3 very good defensemen brought through the system in 3 years...and then nothing. It's taken a toll...as Mitchell, Regehr and Voynov have not been adequately replaced in the least! I think Gravel will do well. Not sure about Forbort.
 
damacles1156 said:
Lombardi didn't make Richards contract, Lombardi is also not at fault for Richards turning into an AHL player.

Sure he kept Richards one year too long(which costs cap space), but in the end Richards was buyout anyway.

The Sekera/Lucic deals, I have a bigger problem with. I understand why they were made, but don't like it.
Click to expand...

All the drama last year with Richards is on Lombardi. If he had used the compliance
buyout the year before the Kings could have walked away from Richards with no cap hit. I have far less of a problem with the Sekera/Lucic deals he was trying to keep the Kings Cup relevant. Sure they didn't workout but he probably had to try.
 
damacles1156 said:
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.
Click to expand...


But the Hawks evolve and adapt with the league. They know who their core players are and they dont marry themselves to players like King, Clifford and others. They know when to move on and replace within because rookies bring more speed and hunger and excitement to the locker room. The guys that have already won dont have it in them. Also Hawks have won 3 cups and actually compete and took it to 7 games instead of getting embarassed

I really believe some of our rookies would make a difference if only they are given a chance. If King and others know their jobs are guaranteed then they will coast like they do.

Also im really excited for some of our defensive prospects. I think Clague has # 2 potential and if it werent for his injury when he was 16 he had 13 pts in 20 he started this year off slow if it wasnt for his injury he would have gone in the 1st round. He had 35 pts in the last 40 games and also out scored Provorov in the playoffs. Also Moverare is a great prospect. We have Cernak who is a top 4 potential defenseman. Gravel and Forbort are great stay at home defenseman. SAH dmen usually take longer to develop. I think some of u sell our prospects to short. Brodzinski is underrated and will double his production this year. Amadio seems to be a gem. We have Kempe. Ladue who also has better numbers then most of the defenseman that were given chances on other teams that straight up took off and never looked back. I can see why Dean didnt go for a defenseman via free agency because he has plenty coming up in the next few years that will make anyone not named Doughty and Muzzin expendable.
 
Herby said:
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.
Click to expand...
Win some/lose some. Some pretty bad selections with some of those 2nd/1st round draft choices.

2010:
Forbort has basically busted... It happens. Maybe he can have a journeyman NHL career as a depth defensman.
Toffoli was a great pick, a 50 goal scorer for the Ottawa67s. How this kid fell to the late 2nd round is baffling. Gravel has developed into a decent prospect - good find.

2011:
Top pick was a bust: Christoper Gibson. Kid, bless his soul made Quick look like a technically perfect goaltender. I remember the kid struggling at the rookie camp trying to learn the paddle-down technique.
Two bottom 6 centers in Shore/Andreoff. Andreoff more physical but bad FO% guy, Shore has little physical play, more upside and a better FO%. Decent selections there.
Mersch has been ok. Questionable quickness/ game if it could translate to the NHL.

2012:
Pearson was a great selection (and McKenzie had him going there).
Collin Miller was a great 5th round selection. Prokhorkin was a nice try in the 4th round. LaDue has stagnatted in his development..

2013:
Fasching was a nice selection. Auger might get a lower line look... Low potential from that draft. Notably busted: Zykov

2014:
Kempe and Amadio are nice but not exactly shoe in for top 6 jobs. The two struggling defensman taken in the 2nd round not (McKeown, Lintuniemi).
Still early for conclusions there.

2015:
Early to predict there. No one really sticks out there...
 
Ziggy Stardust said:
Click to expand...


That's kind of a bomb from Rosen.

I'd do King for Folin, that's awesome.

Kingsfan1 said:
But the Hawks evolve and adapt with the league. They know who their core players are and they dont marry themselves to players like King, Clifford and others. They know when to move on and replace within because rookies bring more speed and hunger and excitement to the locker room. The guys that have already won dont have it in them. Also Hawks have won 3 cups and actually compete and took it to 7 games instead of getting embarassed
Click to expand...

Yeah if only the Hawks didn't marry themselves to players like Bickell (and lose Teravainen over it), or knew how to work a fax machine so they didn't burn themselves on Byfuglien, Ladd, Versteeg....or gamble on Panarins contract only to lose cap space on bonuses...

Again, grass is always greener.

Agree with you immensely on prospects though.
 
I'm always wrong about these things, but I'd expect a package for a big name on an ELC:
Gaborik + King for a 1st line F upgrade
or
Martinez + King for a D upgrade
 
Herby said:
He just offered Milan Lucic an 8 year deal?!. That tells me this is Richards and Greene all over again. And also the return to the stupid strategy of offering these long term deals to lower the AAV despite the fact that those deals are the ones that have crippled the Kings the last couple of years.

He didn't make any trades at the draft to try and add picks.

I just don't know what direction this team is going in, and yes the last two years have been bungled about as bad as you could imagine.
Click to expand...
I hated that Lucic trade the second it was announced. And sadly he proved me right. He wasn't physical imposing at all, committed plenty of unnecessary penalties and his price to resign was hilariously high...
There is still plenty of time for some trading to be done till the season and some of the mediocre guys should be traded away for futures...

Peter James Bond II said:
Since drafting Doughty and Voynov in the same draft, they have not drafted any high end skill, skating defensemen. I am glad they drafted Clague, because he can skate and has skill. Played top minutes at 17 on the best WHL team. Could have a gem here. Ladue can skate and has a high level of skill as well. I just wish he would have turned pro last year, as he would possibly have been ready for a shot and they wouldn't have had to sign Gilbert and Trotman. Cernak is big and can skate, but probably 2 years away.

It really hurt, not having any defensemen in the system ready since Muzzin. Voynov, Martinez and Muzzin - 3 very good defensemen brought through the system in 3 years...and then nothing. It's taken a toll...as Mitchell, Regehr and Voynov have not been adequately replaced in the least! I think Gravel will do well. Not sure about Forbort.
Click to expand...
What does hurt is lack of true top level prospect at any position.
Clague sounds like having decent upside but I will reserve my opinion till after the rookie camp.
I said it before - Forbort might at best be a decent bottom pairing defensman in the NHL. Not quick enough and gets beaten by forwards to the outside way too often. His physical play makes Drewiske look like Konstantinov...

----------
Some glass-full kool-aid:
A healthy Gaborik will still be a force with Kopitar.
Pearson, Shore, Dowd/Mersch have some decent upside and could take a good step forward.
Kempe has nice speed and can pass the puck, that's a rare thing on the Kings.
Kings still have their 1st rounder this year.
Dwight King still has the best troll face in the league...
 
Do you guys think any team would claim Forbort if he was placed on waivers?

I can't see him being a top six defenseman on any roster, nor do I anticipate any team to protect him in an expansion draft.

He's waiver fodder at this point. I hope he makes strides and surprises us by winning a spot on the blueline, but I find the odds to be highly unfavorable for Forabort.
 
KopitarFAN said:
Yea, they are gonna have to move some bodies, 24 players with contracts as it is, that doesn't include Mersch and Auger, nor unsigned players in Dowd and Forbort (will have to clear waivers).

https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/kings
Click to expand...

Forbort will not clear waivers. IMO. He's played well in the AHL, and I'd imagine at least one other team knows this. So far, DL won't trade him and DS won't play him. Gravel has been in the same boat. I know a lot of people here have Gravel ahead of Forbort, but I think its a lot closer than you think. Forbort's game is steadier and more consistent than Gravel. Gravel exceeded more than Forbort only in areas where he probably won't get NHL ice time in, like PP.
 
Yeah Forbort being a SAH defenseman takes longer to develop and Forbort has shown signs that he is progressing and coming along.

Im desperately hoping Dean signs Brad Richards . Make it happen Deano ! He is still unsigned and just 2 years ago had 51 points. Maybe he can put up some points for us .
 
Ziggy Stardust said:
Do you guys think any team would claim Forbort if he was placed on waivers?

I can't see him being a top six defenseman on any roster, nor do I anticipate any team to protect him in an expansion draft.

He's waiver fodder at this point. I hope he makes strides and surprises us by winning a spot on the blueline, but I find the odds to be highly unfavorable for Forabort.
Click to expand...

New Jersey says hello.
 
McNabb is a #4? That's ****ing hilarious, yeah nah, he's not. Maybe he is on our **** mediocre D squad where he's miscast, but he's clearly a 5/6. I'll reserve judgement until summer is over, but its not looking good for our team so far. I can just see the top guys getting ridden into the ground (again) with such an underwhelming supporting cast.

Holy realism.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom