2017 Offseason Thread 3.0

[johnjm22]

If it wasn't for the Toews contract then maybe 8.75M was doable, but after JT signed the writing was on the wall.

 

[head eyes]

A little off-topic, but some advice for people on here that have been having problems with this incredibly slow and resource heavy site:

Disable javascript on this site. A single tab on HFBoards was taking up 350MB of my memory. After disabling javascript it's down to 37MB. No more annoying full page pop-up ads either.

 

[no name]

Interesting....the worst contract is Kopis. DL gave in too much to all of them on term and dollars...one telling thing was "Toffoli took one for the team and took less" That's what he wanted to convey, that TT was a team guy...What I heard was this "I was prepared to go a million more" ...I bet Blake could have got Kopi at 8.75
or so. In a way, it's worse than Brown's or Gaborik's deal, cuz it sets the bar for DD and screws us.

Kopitar already took one for the team. TT will get his money.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Interesting....the worst contract is Kopis. DL gave in too much to all of them on term and dollars...one telling thing was "Toffoli took one for the team and took less" That's what he wanted to convey, that TT was a team guy...What I heard was this "I was prepared to go a million more" ...I bet Blake could have got Kopi at 8.75
or so. In a way, it's worse than Brown's or Gaborik's deal, cuz it sets the bar for DD and screws us.

Based on what? Because in 2014-15, Kopitar was a 2-time Stanley Cup winner, finishes in the top 3 Selke regularly, had led the team in scoring practically his whole career, and arguably could have been a Conn Smythe winner. Many are considering him at the time one of the best centers in the league. And Blake is just going to convince him to take a pay cut?

 

[AlphaBravo]

Based on these recent posts, I have a feeling that this thread is going to turn into a how bad was Dean Lombardi thread. Kopitar's contract is done folks, nothing to see here anymore.

 

[The Tikkanen]

You can want to avoid a ***** defense and improve scoring. They aren't mutually exclusive ideas.

And find a way to rid yourself of Brown and or Gaborik-that's not too much to ask of Rob Blake, is it?

 

[BigKing]

And find a way to rid yourself of Brown and or Gaborik-that's not too much to ask of Rob Blake, is it?

Icing a defense that can be physical has nothing to do with the Brown or Gaborik contracts.

Adding the scoring the team needs? Yes, those contracts are a big roadblock but it can be argued that, at present, the lack of desirable UFAs and a lack of assets to trade to improve scoring without leaving a hole somewhere else is just as much of an issue for next season.

If they didn't have those contracts, sure, they could give Oshie his $6MM long term but that will suck in short order as well.

I've been thinking that Blake was going to pull something "big" but the closer we get, the more I feel like they are going to run it back and just inject youth. Instead of signing a ton of trash at a million a piece or whatever, maybe they get someone that is a decent hockey player in the $3MM range and just hope that the best players on this team don't look like dog **** again and/or get hurt.

They think they can win now but not without Muzzin/Martinez. I don't buy the Voynov whispers but Blake is one scheming son of a ***** so I'm prepared for anything, except for Brown/Gaborik contracts being moved. Those aren't going anywhere this off-season.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

The expansion draft sparked most of the interest/hope. The only other option is to run years off the contracts and hope for players to rebound while trying to dump them every offseason, and push off and minimize the buyout sting when it happens. Because every scenario this team faces revolves around keeping room in 3 years for Doughty.

This is our life now.

 

[Rorschach]

Anyone here who is looking at this year's Penguins team and thinks that it means that the traditional focus on D core and possession hockey is dead will be in for a rude awakening. So many things had to break right for the Pens to repeat this year with how extensive they're injuries were, and much more than just the average "every team has to be lucky to win".

Our D core, as it stands now, is already much better than what the Pen's iced this year.

Agree 100%.

 

[johnjm22]

And find a way to rid yourself of Brown and or Gaborik-that's not too much to ask of Rob Blake, is it?

Don't you think we should wait and see how they do under a new coach before trying rid ourselves of them?

Giving up assets to get rid of them now when we don't have to seems like an unnecessary risk. There's no risk to waiting. If they perform well under Stevens we're in a much better position.

 

[Stimpythecat]

If we get rid of them now by paying a lot of assets, what are we going to do with the cap space? We need to use it otherwise there is no point in getting rid of their contracts. If we're not going to use the space, we might as well keep them and see if they can rebound. Or burn another year off their contracts to make a future dump cheaper.

 

[Mike Carr]

can anybody think of any trades we could do with Vegas to get a player from the available list and who.
Maybe we get a good player with a bad contract like Ryan from Las vegas and give Vegas a Brown or Gaborik plus picks or something
I suppose it depends if Blake fancies anybody - maybe one bad contract for another would help him shake things up

 

[KINGS17]

Kopitar already took one for the team. TT will get his money.

When did this happen? Kopitar was paid very well on his second deal.

 

[KINGS17]

If we get rid of them now by paying a lot of assets, what are we going to do with the cap space? We need to use it otherwise there is no point in getting rid of their contracts. If we're not going to use the space, we might as well keep them and see if they can rebound. Or burn another year off their contracts to make a future dump cheaper.

I think you're right Stimpy. No point in making any moves with Brown or Gaborik unless it improves the team immediately, since we are supposedly in the "win now" mode.

 

[The Tikkanen]

Don't you think we should wait and see how they do under a new coach before trying rid ourselves of them?

Giving up assets to get rid of them now when we don't have to seems like an unnecessary risk. There's no risk to waiting. If they perform well under Stevens we're in a much better position.

I'm assuming a new NHL GM isn't going to just retain the same failed roster from last season. I think you're going to see some big changes to the roster in the next couple of weeks.

 

[KINGS17]

I'm assuming a new NHL GM isn't going to just retain the same failed roster from last season. I think you're going to see some big changes to the roster in the next couple of weeks.

Blake has very few options to make big changes unless he is trading Carter, Toffoli, Pearson, Muzzin, or Martinez.

He can't come in, wave a magic wand, and make all the bad contracts disappear.

Besides, I thought it was all Sutter's fault. It's what the players are implying.

 

[johnjm22]

[NHL2][/NHL2]

I'm assuming a new NHL GM isn't going to just retain the same failed roster from last season. I think you're going to see some big changes to the roster in the next couple of weeks.

I think you're going to be disappointed.

Maybe they'll be one big move, but I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[kings11]

Blake has very few options to make big changes unless he is trading Carter, Toffoli, Pearson, Muzzin, or Martinez.

He can't come in, wave a magic wand, and make all the bad contracts disappear.

Besides, I thought it was all Sutter's fault. It's what the players are implying.

I am all for standing pat especially when you consider that a trade now would be hard to execute considering some of our big name guys had down years...
Wait until the deadline to better determine how good this team is and how much progress some of the youth have made, then decide if a big trade is right....

As guys have stated "IF" any or all of Forbort, LaDue and Gravel take a step or more forward then an Alec Martinez becomes expendable...

This season with a new FO and more lenient coaching staff (CJS helped mold a young Phi team).. the younger guys should be allowed to play more to their strengths; Pearson, Toffoli, Kempe, Brodzinski, Amadio(he's going to force his way) will help determine what direction the club should go...

 

[fsanford]

If we get rid of them now by paying a lot of assets, what are we going to do with the cap space? We need to use it otherwise there is no point in getting rid of their contracts. If we're not going to use the space, we might as well keep them and see if they can rebound. Or burn another year off their contracts to make a future dump cheaper.

A rolling dead cap space is the death of a team. Buying more guys out is not the answer.

You have Doughty coming up for a new deal in 2 years, that is gonna be a big number.

If 1 1st round draft pick rids you of Brown or Gaborik you take it.

Richards cap hit is another 1.5 million for the next 3 years.
We have Matt Greene for another 2 years, at 800K

Heck what happens if Quick falls off the face of the earth? More chronic injuries show up. Its not out of the realm possibility you might be facing another buyout down the road. Anybody think Brown would fall off the face of the earth the way he did? And yet here we are.

Maybe if we had 1 toxic contract you ride it out, but we have several, and that is maybe the biggest problem. Don't think you can afford to have that much dead cap space, year in and year out unless the goal is to become the Coyotes. Then I guess it would not matter

 

[AlphaBravo]

I have a feeling that the best we will do this off season is get Evander Kane, in a trade involving Martinez going to Buffalo and the Kings getting Kane and a draft pick considering Kane only has a year on his contract. Or, Buffalo will let the Kings talk to Kane about an extension and once numbers are figured out, there will be a one for one trade for Martinez.

Other than that, I don't see any other big name coming here. Radulov appears to have already negotiated a contract with Montreal based on rumors, Oshie may end up signing with the Caps, considering how much they value him, and there really isn't any other big name out there in the UFA market.

Blake may also sign one of the low-risk high reward players like Vrbata. Or, he can at least address our 3C problem by signing Bonino (depending on the contract he wants).

From what I am seeing and the general trend in the NHL, there is no way Martinez or Muzzin will fetch us a young top 6 forward. That is just not going to happen.

 

[BigKing]

I have a feeling that the best we will do this off season is get Evander Kane, in a trade involving Martinez going to Buffalo and the Kings getting Kane and a draft pick considering Kane only has a year on his contract. Or, Buffalo will let the Kings talk to Kane about an extension and once numbers are figured out, there will be a one for one trade for Martinez.

Other than that, I don't see any other big name coming here. Radulov appears to have already negotiated a contract with Montreal based on rumors, Oshie may end up signing with the Caps, considering how much they value him, and there really isn't any other big name out there in the UFA market.

Blake may also sign one of the low-risk high reward players like Vrbata. Or, he can at least address our 3C problem by signing Bonino (depending on the contract he wants).

From what I am seeing and the general trend in the NHL, there is no way Martinez or Muzzin will fetch us a young top 6 forward. That is just not going to happen.

Agree with the thinking that a "big name" move would most likely be Kane since he'd be cheaper and only has one year left. Of course, he comes with a host of problems but he is the only known big name that won't cost an arm and a leg.

Bonino seems more in line with "win now". You'd have to be able to get him in the $3MM range but you could plug him in at 3C while retaining all current defensemen. Possible Lewis replacement if he is taken in the ED. If Lewis stays, maybe a 3rd line of Kempe/Bonino/Lewis? Wouldn't be slow, at least.

If you have to give Bonino like four years though, his contract could get ugly.

 

[The Tikkanen]

Blake has very few options to make big changes unless he is trading Carter, Toffoli, Pearson, Muzzin, or Martinez.

He can't come in, wave a magic wand, and make all the bad contracts disappear.

Besides, I thought it was all Sutter's fault. It's what the players are implying.

If you're going to keep the same roster why fire Dean and Darryl? You're paying them not to work for you next season.

 

[damacles1156]

Blake has very few options to make big changes unless he is trading Carter, Toffoli, Pearson, Muzzin, or Martinez.

He can't come in, wave a magic wand, and make all the bad contracts disappear.

Besides, I thought it was all Sutter's fault. It's what the players are implying.

A lot of people are going to be disappointed when the roster plays pretty much the same.

The players make the system, the system doesn't make the players.

Also when people figure out that Sutter wasn't the (only) problem.

 

[damacles1156]

If you're going to keep the same roster why fire Dean and Darryl? You're paying them not to work for you next season.

Coaches and GM's get hired to get fired.

It's all the front office can do really.

The Kings can't do much to roster, other than shuffle players like Clifford etc.

Toxic contracts, poor UFA class, bare prospect pipeline.

 

[damacles1156]

Blake has very few options to make big changes unless he is trading Carter, Toffoli, Pearson, Muzzin, or Martinez.

He can't come in, wave a magic wand, and make all the bad contracts disappear.

Besides, I thought it was all Sutter's fault. It's what the players are implying.

If the Kings miss the playoff's again, John Stevens will be fired. No pressure John.

Which is why (Youth) won't have a long leash like people think. Stevens has to win games.