2017-18 Kings News/Rumors/Tidbits

[KopitarFAN]

What time is the first round? I swear to christ of Blake (and Luc) do some asinine trade for patches at the cost of more speed/youth I'm going to be pissed. Hes done fine as a GM so far but his leash is very short.

430 PST

Can't, I believe you can't verbally commit til the 25th

Kovalchuk is different (as I understand it), because his rights aren't held by another NHL team, he can commit at any time.

 

[johnjm22]

They need both but it appears priority #1 is LW. There are competent 3C's available via free agency.

Who?

Competent maybe, but we need a really good 3C. Someone who is good defensively, can win face offs, chip in occasional offense and good enough on the PK to remove Kopitar from the number 1 PK unit. Hayes would be perfect.

Kopitar's ice needs to be under 20min per game. Preferably around 18min per game. It will make him a much more effective player.

Management doesn't agree so it doesn't matter.

 

[KopitarFAN]

Darren Dreger‏Verified account @DarrenDreger
Sounds like Carolina is inching closer to moving Jeff Skinner. 3 teams believed to be in the mix in the late stages of discussions.
---------------
Pierre LeBrun mentioned the Kings interest in Skinner, but waiting on Kovalchuk, we'll see.

 

[BigKing]

Will Blake blink first?

Seems like Kovalchuk is the preference but if he drags his feet, Blake could miss out on other targets.

The only thing we know for sure is that BigKing is constantly refreshing this site instead of working.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

Darren Dreger‏Verified account @DarrenDreger
Sounds like Carolina is inching closer to moving Jeff Skinner. 3 teams believed to be in the mix in the late stages of discussions.
---------------
Pierre LeBrun mentioned the Kings interest in Skinner, but waiting on Kovalchuk, we'll see.

Is there any word what Kovalchuk is looking for in terms of $$?

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Will Blake blink first?

Seems like Kovalchuk is the preference but if he drags his feet, Blake could miss out on other targets.

The only thing we know for sure is that BigKing is constantly refreshing this site instead of working.

LOL you and me both, luckily my only work now involves praying that a truck gets down to temp in the next hour or so lol

 

[johnjm22]

Vilardi > Tkachuk, Zadina, Kotkaniemi. He was the #1 player in all of junior last year and still 18 years old. If he was born 30 days later, he would be selected 2 or 3 tonight.

Yep. This is the part that people over look about Vilardi.

To put it into perspective, Nolan Patrick is almost an entire year older than Vilardi. Zadina and Vilardi are nearly the same age. Zadina is 3 months younger.

Everyone drafted ahead of Vilardi was older than him.

If anything, Vilardi is undervalued/underrated.

 

[go4hockey]

Yes, I think so also.



But what happens if his FO% doesn't improve? You can't be a full time center in the NHL when you're sub 40% on the dot, or even sub 45% for that matter.

The thing about this is face offs can be taught and we have some good peeps (Stoll) to help with this. Either way the organization see him more a center than a wingerat this point. That’s why they are working hard to land a winger.

 

[BigKing]

If face offs could just be taught, everyone would be really good at it.

He's starting at such a low baseline that it would be shocking if he is ever close to 50%.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

If face offs could just be taught, everyone would be really good at it.

He's starting at such a low baseline that it would be shocking if he is ever close to 50%.

Umm....faceoffs can absolutely be taught...not sure what you're getting at....that's just...weird to me to think that faceoffs are a natural ability

 

[LAKings88]

I just don't see Kempe as a center, but I do think he prefers handling the puck. Makes some sense I guess.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I just don’t see the Kings landing Kovalchuk if there’s that much interest from other teams.

I’ve been a Kings fan for way too long to expect them to land their desired big fish in free agency. I don’t see how: 1. we can outbid the other teams, and 2. we’re a more attractive contender.

Kings are gonna be the bridesmaid once again with Kovalchuk. I’ll be truly shocked if he signs with us.

 

[BigKing]

Umm....faceoffs can absolutely be taught...not sure what you're getting at....that's just...weird to me to think that faceoffs are a natural ability

Advanced calculus can also be taught but it doesn't mean everyone can be good at it.

His base line is horrible so his natural face off ability is substandard.

It's like, people tried to make Shaq a better free throw shooter but he still finished at a 52% clip.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Advanced calculus can also be taught but it doesn't mean everyone can be good at it.

His base line is horrible so his natural face off ability is substandard.

It's like, people tried to make Shaq a better free throw shooter but he still finished at a 52% clip.

What are you thinking his baseline is....

 

[YP44]

Given 4 teams interested in Kovalchuk have to think it is 3 year deal worth at least $5M per. That could be very ugly.

Given 3 teams interested in Skinner I am guessing the acquisition cost there will be high as well. If there was some sort of guarantee Skinner to re-sign I think that would be my preference.

 

[YP44]

I just don’t see the Kings landing Kovalchuk if there’s that much interest from other teams.

I’ve been a Kings fan for way too long to expect them to land their desired big fish in free agency. I don’t see how: 1. we can outbid the other teams, and 2. we’re a more attractive contender.

Kings are gonna be the bridesmaid once again with Kovalchuk. I’ll be truly shocked if he signs with us.

Thing is it came down to LA and New Jersey last time with him. He likes the idea of LA for some reason.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

I just don’t see the Kings landing Kovalchuk if there’s that much interest from other teams.

I’ve been a Kings fan for way too long to expect them to land their desired big fish in free agency. I don’t see how: 1. we can outbid the other teams, and 2. we’re a more attractive contender.

Kings are gonna be the bridesmaid once again with Kovalchuk. I’ll be truly shocked if he signs with us.

Think it depends on his wife. If she wants to live in LA then that could push him towards signing here. Hope Kopitar made a stop in LA and showed Kovi around LA and where they all live.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

Advanced calculus can also be taught but it doesn't mean everyone can be good at it.

His base line is horrible so his natural face off ability is substandard.

It's like, people tried to make Shaq a better free throw shooter but he still finished at a 52% clip.

Doesn't mean he can't get better at it though. Kempe will never be a >55% guy I would bet but he could get to 45-47% which is adequate. Lots of examples of guys better themselves at things.

Andre Drummond was a career 38-39% free throw shooter before this past season. He was at 60% this season because he worked on it. Same with DeAndre Jordan. Career <45% guy who shot 58% this year. Shaq didn't improve because he didn't give a shit.

Faceoffs are a teachable skill. Some obviously will get better at it than others but he can and will improve. How much, who knows.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

Think it depends on his wife. If she wants to live in LA then that could push him towards signing here. Hope Kopitar made a stop in LA and showed Kovi around LA and where they all live.

It was reported - I do not know if was fact - that when Kovalchuk was here, he stayed at Jim Foxes.

 

[deeshamrock]

The Kings (by prior reports) were one of those teams.


Darren Dreger‏Verified account @DarrenDreger 26m26 minutes ago
Sounds like Carolina is inching closer to moving Jeff Skinner. 3 teams believed to be in the mix in the late stages of discussions.

 

[Seventyx7]

Given 4 teams interested in Kovalchuk have to think it is 3 year deal worth at least $5M per. That could be very ugly.

Given 3 teams interested in Skinner I am guessing the acquisition cost there will be high as well. If there was some sort of guarantee Skinner to re-sign I think that would be my preference.

I'd rather take the Ilya risk for 2-3 years at $5-6M per (and give up nothing but cap space) than lose big time assets for MaxPac or Skinner, then have to re-sign them for $7x7.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

The Kings (by prior reports) were one of those teams.


Darren Dreger‏Verified account @DarrenDreger 26m26 minutes ago
Sounds like Carolina is inching closer to moving Jeff Skinner. 3 teams believed to be in the mix in the late stages of discussions.

The Penguins and Blues are the other two interested parties according to LeBrun.

 

[KINGS17]

The best trades are usually the ones other GMs don't know about. The prices stay reasonable that way.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

It was reported - I do not know if was fact - that when Kovalchuk was here, he stayed at Jim Foxes.

Yeah, I saw Fox Tweet that out but have no idea if it's true or he's just joking.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Think it depends on his wife. If she wants to live in LA then that could push him towards signing here. Hope Kopitar made a stop in LA and showed Kovi around LA and where they all live.

I think a lot of the wife stuff is bogus. This is 2010 all over again. Back then, Kovi’s wife loved LA and wanted to live here yadda yadda.

I’ll believe it when I see it. In 2010, Kovalchuk used LA as a bargaining chip against New Jersey. He never had any intention of coming here back then. I don’t think he does now.