2017-18 Kings News/Rumors/Tidbits

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I said last season we should have traded Jeff Carter, we could have made out like bandits... now we have to hope that JC returns as good as before, but an achilles injury is downright devastating.. see Erik Karlsson

You blow up a struggling, aging team when the factors are near perfect and they are this season.. getting a boatload of assets and clearing salary allows the to reload faster by either drafting, trading or UFA, it could be all 3... It must be considered, winning streaks be damned...
 
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I said last season we should have traded Jeff Carter, we could have made out like bandits

For all the smart trades to do, they're not realistic. Teams will try to stay competitive, until forced to change. Because they all know there are no guarantees. Lombardi came in and cleaned house, totally rebuilt. 6 years later, they fired another coach, were hovering around 8th, and luckily Carter didn't want to be in Columbus. If that trade wasn't available, Lombardi may have been fired at the end of that season, and all that rebuilding would've been fruitless.

Nothing major will happen with the roster until the Doughty situation is resolved, one way or another.
 
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For all the smart trades to do, they're not realistic. Teams will try to stay competitive, until forced to change. Because they all know there are no guarantees. Lombardi came in and cleaned house, totally rebuilt. 6 years later, they fired another coach, were hovering around 8th, and luckily Carter didn't want to be in Columbus. If that trade wasn't available, Lombardi may have been fired at the end of that season, and all that rebuilding would've been fruitless.

Nothing major will happen with the roster until the Doughty situation is resolved, one way or another.

As you say there are no guarantees. Lombardi had kept his options open and had the assets to make a deal. Who is to say another forward of Carter's caliber couldn't have been had in a different deal.

There are no guarantees, but I think it's more than likely the Kings will be in the black hole and not truly competitive if they stay their current course. Right now Robitaille and Blake are putting lipstick on a pig. It's not the ugliest pig, but it's still a pig.

It's time for the rebuild to start. If Doughty wants to stay and be a part of it, great. If he doesn't he is an asset which has value.
 
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As you say there are no guarantees. Lombardi had kept his options open and had the assets to make a deal. Who is to say another forward of Carter's caliber couldn't have been had in a different deal.

There are no guarantees, but I think it's more than likely the Kings will be in the black hole and not truly competitive if they stay their current course. Right now Robitaille and Blake are putting lipstick on a pig. It's not the ugliest pig, but it's still a pig.

And who's to say there would've been? Looking at the other deals around that deadline, nothing really shows up.

The Gagne injury ended up being a blessing in disguise. That shifted Brown to the left side, which opened up a spot on the right, and Carter eventually fit in perfectly. If Gagne doesn't get hurt, who knows what happens. We might be talking about how the Richards deal was one of the worst in franchise history, and even more than we already do about how many 1st round picks Lombardi screwed up between 2006 and 2010. At least he wouldn't have been around to trade the 2015 and 2016 picks though.

And of course the Kings are more likely to be a black hole team again than not. Most teams are, and most teams aren't truly rebuilding at any given time.

If Doughty chooses to go, I imagine that will force their hand, unless they're bringing in Karlsson. Otherwise, there's no close replacement, and Robitaille won't even be able to convince himself of that, let alone a few thousand customers. If Doughty stays, it buys them time to get into some wallets. Whether they try and re-tool a bit, or integrate whatever marginal young players they may have, or whatever else.
 
Kings have a ton on young D that cannot fit on the roster next year since all will have to pass through waivers and some could be grabbed for nothing. Fantenberg (if Kings re-sign the RFA), La Due, Gravel (if he plays 12 more NHL games before the end of the year so we retain his rights as an RFA, otherwise he's a group VI UFA) and MacDermid. Of course if Folin moves on (UFA) and or one other D man like Forbort or Amart are traded, then likely Blake retains these kids and let's them fight it out.
 
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Pure bliss om HF for me is pissing off Ducks fans. Its truly my coffee. Whether they're right or wrong, usually wrong, it takes nothing to get under their thin skin lol
 
And who's to say there would've been? Looking at the other deals around that deadline, nothing really shows up.

The Gagne injury ended up being a blessing in disguise. That shifted Brown to the left side, which opened up a spot on the right, and Carter eventually fit in perfectly. If Gagne doesn't get hurt, who knows what happens. We might be talking about how the Richards deal was one of the worst in franchise history, and even more than we already do about how many 1st round picks Lombardi screwed up between 2006 and 2010. At least he wouldn't have been around to trade the 2015 and 2016 picks though.

And of course the Kings are more likely to be a black hole team again than not. Most teams are, and most teams aren't truly rebuilding at any given time.

If Doughty chooses to go, I imagine that will force their hand, unless they're bringing in Karlsson. Otherwise, there's no close replacement, and Robitaille won't even be able to convince himself of that, let alone a few thousand customers. If Doughty stays, it buys them time to get into some wallets. Whether they try and re-tool a bit, or integrate whatever marginal young players they may have, or whatever else.
Maybe this is the difference between me and most fans. I don't want the Kings to be like most teams which are also-rans year after year.

I truly enjoyed the rebuilding years leading to contention, because for the first time the Kings had a GM with a plan and Lombardi stuck to it.

The Kings are much more likely to gain more of my financial support if they show me they are actively working a legit plan to get back into contention. I won't lend much financial support to this method of operation.
 
They're kind of in a similar situation like Philadelphia, who hasn't gone through a "rebuild" since maybe they dealt Carter and Richards, but was that really a rebuild? They went on to sign Bryzgalov. They've tried to bring in more players internally, but the same problems continue to haunt that organization, starting in net.

The point is, I think with the core the Kings have, they won't fully commit to a rebuild, but just restock their barren cupboard of prospects and add to it year after year until they come around. They're not going to move Kopitar or Quick or Doughty or Brown, so expect this team to be in the black hole until they find a diamond in the rough and the next Kopitar or Doughty emerges. Which may not be for a long while...
 
I say trade for that other mid tier forward(Maroon, Grabner, ...). If we fail to make the playoffs, you have to look at sending out 2 or 3 of our older players for assets this offseason. I’m looking at Kopitar(someone that could afford him), Brown(would rather hold on to him), Carter, and Martinez on defense. You gotta look at moving Quick even. All of these guys are in their prime or likely exiting their prime soon. Try like hell to resign Doughty.

Build the team around Doughty, Vilardi, Clague, Kempe, Pearson, Toffoli, Peterson, and whatever other assets we acquired in the deal for the players listed above. You can take a shot at signing Tavares if he hits free agency to maybe help fast forward the mini rebuild...
 
If I’m not mistaken I heard it on tv... when they spoke about the Kings and the impact Carter’s return would have they specifically said Achilles injury... unless you heard otherwise ???

It's not his Achilles. If it was, he wouldn't be coming back this season. There was ligament/tendon damage though.
 
If I’m not mistaken I heard it on tv... when they spoke about the Kings and the impact Carter’s return would have they specifically said Achilles injury... unless you heard otherwise ???

It was specially stated by Blake to the media it was not the Achilles, but he did suffer a partial tendon tear that required surgery. The Achilles rumor still lives on message boards however.
 
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I say trade for that other mid tier forward(Maroon, Grabner, ...). If we fail to make the playoffs, you have to look at sending out 2 or 3 of our older players for assets this offseason. I’m looking at Kopitar(someone that could afford him), Brown(would rather hold on to him), Carter, and Martinez on defense. You gotta look at moving Quick even. All of these guys are in their prime or likely exiting their prime soon. Try like hell to resign Doughty.

Build the team around Doughty, Vilardi, Clague, Kempe, Pearson, Toffoli, Peterson, and whatever other assets we acquired in the deal for the players listed above. You can take a shot at signing Tavares if he hits free agency to maybe help fast forward the mini rebuild...


Wrong. Doughty has said a million times that he will not go through a rebuild again and wants to play for a contender. If you trade Carter, Kopitar and Quick, Doughty is guaranteed gone.

Kings have got to try to push to make the playoffs. If they don’t, Kings have to trade Doughty - no other choice available. We will need a young blue chip defense prospect back who is NHL ready. Then you also move out Carter middle of next season when his value builds up again and slot in Vilardi in his spot. It will take us 3-4 years to push for the playoffs after that.
 
3 points out of the playoffs, 5 points out of home ice in the first round, and some fans want us to blow it up so they can fantasize about picks and prospects for the next 5 years.

Can you blame them? Have you watched Kings hockey over the past four seasons?

I get where you are coming from though with regards to the likes of Doughty and Kopitar. Dealing them sends the wrong message to the next generation of stars who come through this team.

Their agents won't forget about that treatment and disloyalty either.
 
3 points out of the playoffs, 5 points out of home ice in the first round, and some fans want us to blow it up so they can fantasize about picks and prospects for the next 5 years.

One playoff game won in the last three years, soon to be four. Last playoff series win was in the Stanley Cup Final in 2014.

You tell me, what's the trend? I suppose people can fantasize about having unlimited cap space and signing UFAs like Tavares or Karlsson, or making ridiculous trades no opposing GM in their right mind would ever make.
 
Can you blame them? Have you watched Kings hockey over the past four seasons?

I get where you are coming from though with regards to the likes of Doughty and Kopitar. Dealing them sends the wrong message to the next generation of stars who come through this team.

Their agents won't forget about that treatment and disloyalty either.

For some when it comes to the players getting paid, it's a business. Then when it comes to a team trading the same players, it's about loyalty.

Hmmm.
 
Some people here were calling for a rebuild after game 3 against San Jose in 2014. Rinse, lather, repeat.
 
Some people here were calling for a rebuild after game 3 against San Jose in 2014. Rinse, lather, repeat.
Well I wouldn't have blamed them for leaning that way.Quick let in what 17 goals in those three games and the team was totally dominated.But you can't compare three playoff games vs 3 seasons of this teams play abysmal play.Three seasons is a good taste of what's wrong not three playoff games for sure.
 
Some people here were calling for a rebuild after game 3 against San Jose in 2014. Rinse, lather, repeat.

Not even close guy. The difference is this team hasn't shown killer instinct the past 3 seasons yet you feel it will magically get better right???
Im an admitted homer, but when it comes to being realistic, you have to look at how the game has evolved and how our personnel can potentially fit with that type/style of play.... regardless of what anyone thinks or feels, its pretty obvious that Vilardi is NHL bound next season unless he suffers another devastating injury. Pearson and Toffoli are both what they are and ever will be... they also happen to be super dependent on Jeff Carter to pose any resemblance of a threat. Muzzin and Martinez are/have regressed do to injuries/mileage/style of play and will only get worse so get what you can for them in a sellers market... While I would move Carter, I wouldn't be mad if he stayed because the way his game has evolved, he's likely to remain a 45-55 point threat for the length of his contract like Jumbo Joe and others...

Just for arguments sake, let assume they sell but keep Carter... they put Gravel and LaDue in full time, Give Amadio the 3C role and move Kempe to LW where his a bigger/better offensive threat. Give Mersch and Bordzinski

Iafallo - Kopitar - Brown
Kempe - Carter - TP/TT
Mersch - Amadio - Brodzinski
Mitchell - Thompson - Lewis

Forbort - Doughty
Phaneuf - LaDue
Gravel - Folin

Quick
Campbell

Keep in mind that some of those holes will be plugged by whatever players we receive and next seasons cap space could be near $18 million..
Tampa Bay wants a Defenseman, ok how about Jake Muzzin for Brayden Point +.. thats TT's replacement
Toffoli for a young defensemen +... or add Martinez and look for a more impactful player from a PO bound team..
 
One playoff game won in the last three years, soon to be four. Last playoff series win was in the Stanley Cup Final in 2014.

You tell me, what's the trend? I suppose people can fantasize about having unlimited cap space and signing UFAs like Tavares or Karlsson, or making ridiculous trades no opposing GM in their right mind would ever make.
IMG_1294.GIF
 
Next year could be:

Kempe Kopitar Brown
Pearson Carter Toffoli
Iaffalo Amadio Vilardi/Brodzinski
Clifford Thompson Lewis
???

DD Muzzin
Phanuef LaDue
Amart Folin

Keep one of Forbort/Gravel trade the other.

Quick
Campbell/Peterson

Or Dahlin :)
 
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Not even close guy. The difference is this team hasn't shown killer instinct the past 3 seasons yet you feel it will magically get better right???
Im an admitted homer, but when it comes to being realistic, you have to look at how the game has evolved and how our personnel can potentially fit with that type/style of play.... regardless of what anyone thinks or feels, its pretty obvious that Vilardi is NHL bound next season unless he suffers another devastating injury. Pearson and Toffoli are both what they are and ever will be... they also happen to be super dependent on Jeff Carter to pose any resemblance of a threat. Muzzin and Martinez are/have regressed do to injuries/mileage/style of play and will only get worse so get what you can for them in a sellers market... While I would move Carter, I wouldn't be mad if he stayed because the way his game has evolved, he's likely to remain a 45-55 point threat for the length of his contract like Jumbo Joe and others...

Just for arguments sake, let assume they sell but keep Carter... they put Gravel and LaDue in full time, Give Amadio the 3C role and move Kempe to LW where his a bigger/better offensive threat. Give Mersch and Bordzinski

Iafallo - Kopitar - Brown
Kempe - Carter - TP/TT
Mersch - Amadio - Brodzinski
Mitchell - Thompson - Lewis

Forbort - Doughty
Phaneuf - LaDue
Gravel - Folin

Quick
Campbell

Keep in mind that some of those holes will be plugged by whatever players we receive and next seasons cap space could be near $18 million..
Tampa Bay wants a Defenseman, ok how about Jake Muzzin for Brayden Point +.. thats TT's replacement
Toffoli for a young defensemen +... or add Martinez and look for a more impactful player from a PO bound team..

You think the Kings could really get Brayden Point + for Jake Muzzin? I love that deal from a Kings perspective, but TB would really have to be desperate for a veteran defenseman to make that deal. If Blake could pull something like this off it would be a huge feather in his cap, and I would be all for it.
 
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