2017 Offseason Thread 3.0

[WHOneedsSOX]

I don't think it will happen and I hope it doesn't, but it's doable. Buying out Greene adds $1.67M this year, taking them to $7M, they lose McNabb or Lewis to VGK and they are at $8.75M to $9M. RFAs Shore, Andreoff, Gravel, LaDue and Mersch fill-out the roster for ~$4M, leaving around $5M. This doesn't account for the cap going up some seemingly insignificant amount (less than the full 5%, should they decide to kick in the inflator) or the money saved by going with Campbell over Zatkoff (about $290K).

I'd be shocked if the Kings didn't sign a backup goalie. Can't rely on Campbell and Zatkoff all season if Quick goes down again.

 

[HowDareYou]

ryan miller for cheap ?

 

[Legionnaire]

Hi Ryan!

 

[KopitarFAN]

I'd be shocked if the Kings didn't sign a backup goalie. Can't rely on Campbell and Zatkoff all season if Quick goes down again.

Or conversely, can they rely on any backup to do what Budaj did (if need be) that they should spend any money of consequence? I doubt it. Maybe if you go to a team that has too many bodies (Dallas) and get them eat the full 50% (yes, I realize that's still $2.25M) but if you're gonna do it you might as well get a guy who we know can do it, especially with a pretty good team in front of him.

ryan miller for cheap ?

Probably a better option than what I just suggested.

 

[AlphaBravo]

I wouldn't mind signing Budaj as Quick's backup. Budaj cannot handle a full season starter role, but as a backup, he is solid enough to play 20-25 games. Zatkoff, on the other hand, was a dumpster fire and couldn't be counted on to give us one good game. If Quick gets injured again, then Blake will have to make an immediate trade for a capable starter or another goalie that can split time with Budaj instead of waiting until the trade deadline like last year.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

Or conversely, can they rely on any backup to do what Budaj did (if need be) that they should spend any money of consequence? I doubt it. Maybe if you go to a team that has too many bodies (Dallas) and get them eat the full 50% (yes, I realize that's still $2.25M) but if you're gonna do it you might as well get a guy who we know can do it, especially with a pretty good team in front of him.



Probably a better option than what I just suggested.

Well they won't have a tandem as good as someone like Pittsburgh had with Murray and Fleury or even the Kings with Quick and Jones in 2014 but someone to hopefully keep them afloat like this season until Quick comes back. The Kings defense and system is good enough for a good goalie to put up above league average #'s. It just can't be someone who's going to tank the team like Zatkoff. Hopefully someone like Nilsson, McElhinney, Kinkaid, or Condon can be a quality backup giving the Kings 20 games while putting up league average #'s.

 

[KingsFan7824]

So they sign Oshie to a long term deal at around $5M or more. What cap room does that leave the team with ifvthey wish to add another top 4-5 dman, a backup goalie, and to re-sign others or upgrade at center depth?

All things considered, Oshie makes no ****ing sense.

They're not going to cover every base, so it's a matter of what do you think gives you the best chance to adapt to your own weaknesses. In 2012, Penner scored 7 goals heading into the playoffs. Not what would normally be called a 2nd line winger on a Cup champion. I'm pretty sure we couldn't wait for him to leave in March of 2012. In 2013, they have to go with an unknown in Muzzin because Mitchell, Greene, and Martinez were hurt for all, most, or a decent amount that season. In 2014, both Mitchell and Regehr are out in the 2nd round, and they advanced with what I can only assume was an "oh my god, Greene and Schultz have to play" scenario.

Is there a 4-5 dman to get? Is there a backup that will be cheap enough? Is there a center that will take X amount to play on the Kings? They can't do too much. There's only so much cap unused. It's going to be a choice of this or that, not both right away. It's going to be this guy has to go to get what we need over here, not both right away. The young and cheap players, as usual, have to do something. Muzzin and Martinez both had $1m cap hits for the 2nd Cup. That allowed for the depth of Mitchell + Regehr + Greene.

Whatever Blake ends up doing, the vets will have to produce, and the young guys will have to contribute consistently. Which is the same case with what will soon be 30 other teams. It's the same thing the Kings have been through for years. The only difference is the old guys are more expensive than they used to be, and there's no Kopitar or Doughty in the young guy category.

 

[dman3474]

For a backup goalie I would like to grab one of the guys out of Buffalo, they'd be cheap and would actually have a decent D in front of them.

I don't see any players that are UFA's that would make a significant difference and wouldn't break the bank trying to sign while getting younger and adding more skill... What are the chances that Blake wants to make a big splash and offer sheets someone?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[KopitarFAN]

https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2017/06/latest-salary-limits.html

Summary of the article above. (tweet requires subscription)

 

[johnjm22]

According to Mirtle, should the NHLPA use the entire 5% the cap would sit somewhere around $77.5MM, a large increase from last season.

https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2017/06/latest-salary-limits.html

 

[KINGS17]

We'll see if Mirtle or Brooks is closer to being right.

I see no incentive for the rank and file "average" NHL player to be in favor of employing the escalator clause. All it does is cost him money.

And the $77.5M figure? LMAO! All it proves is the guy can do math and multiply 73 x 1.05, and get close to the right answer.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

We'll see if Mirtle or Brooks is closer to being right.

I see no incentive for the rank and file "average" NHL player to be in favor of employing the escalator clause. All it does is cost him money.

And the $77.5M figure? LMAO! All it proves is the guy can do math and multiply 73 x 1.05, and get close to the right answer.

That was literally just the "what if" they invoke the full escalator projection, it wasn't made as a statement of imminent action. Guess you've got your wagon so hitched to the Brooks comments...reality is likely somewhere in between. Though I generally agree about the average NHLer using the escalator, especially with the escrow beatings they've taken lately.

 

[johnjm22]

We'll see if Mirtle or Brooks is closer to being right.

I see no incentive for the rank and file "average" NHL player to be in favor of employing the escalator clause. All it does is cost him money.

The Player's Union doesn't always work in the best interest of the rank and file.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

We may find out by Saturday, as the league is awaiting the NHLPA's response whether or not they will use the escalator, and at what percent.

 

[tsanuri]

That was literally just the "what if" they invoke the full escalator projection, it wasn't made as a statement of imminent action. Guess you've got your wagon so hitched to the Brooks comments...reality is likely somewhere in between. Though I generally agree about the average NHLer using the escalator, especially with the escrow beatings they've taken lately.

The escrow beatings as you called them are just a function of the current CBS. And the agents know it. I'd say the players know it. But it's PR to cry about it.
Every player and agent negotiates the contact on the cap when the midpoint is the revenue they receive. And as more and more teams approach the cap the larger the escrow will get.
Anything under 15% and they really should be ok. Unless they seem to think the league should be growing at 15% a year. Which is unreasonable and unlikely.

And even if the cap stays flat it would mean revenue went up by the escalator last year. Which if I remember right they used 2.5%. Not great growth but still growth.

 

[The Tikkanen]

I'm surprised nobody has suggested Bernier for backup goalie.

 

[BigKing]

I'm surprised nobody has suggested Bernier for backup goalie.

More use to us as a sleeper cell agent that sabotages rivals Cup hopes from the inside.

I think Chicago needs a back up with Darling gone.

 

[KINGS17]

The Player's Union doesn't always work in the best interest of the rank and file.

Every team's rep gets a vote, and it is not unlikely that within each team they take a vote and the rep votes based on the wishes of the majority.

The NHLPA executives don't have a say.

RJ is right it may not be flat, but I wouldn't count on it being much more than the 2% or so it went up last season. The players gave up over 15% of their paychecks to escrow this past season.

 

[Stimpythecat]

I don't like the buyout of Greene.

After vegas takes someone (lewis probably) to sign our RFAs and get to the 22 man roster, we should have about $2.5 million in cap space. If that Mirtle report is accurate, another $2 million cap increase gets us to $4.5 million.

Should we sign a UFA winger, someone is going down to Ontario off the roster (unless we go with 23 roster players). That gets us to around $5.5 million or so for the winger.

Greene can be buried for $1,025,000. That gets us to $6.5 million. A buyout would only get us $1,666,667 which is only $641,667 more but there is that $833,333 cap hit in 2018-2019. More cap space this upcoming season at the expence of a higher cap hit the following one. We may not need that extra $641,667.

We have until June 30 to buy out Greene. Hopefully we won't need to use that extra cap space from a buyout and can go with sending him to Ontario instead.

If we need the contract spot then I can see having to do it. But I'd rather wait to see if we really need the space.

 

[kingsfan28]

I'd be shocked if the Kings didn't sign a backup goalie. Can't rely on Campbell and Zatkoff all season if Quick goes down again.

Yeah, I'm with you on this one. They will def go with someone with experience and I wouldn't be shocked if it was Miller. The dude has made his money, and would probably think about taking a little less to play here, seeing how how he's married to an actress.

 

[kingsfan28]

I'm surprised nobody has suggested Bernier for backup goalie.

Probably too expensive after a solid season with the Ducks. He still wants to be a no 1.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

Yeah, I'm with you on this one. They will def go with someone with experience and I wouldn't be shocked if it was Miller. The dude has made his money, and would probably think about taking a little less to play here, seeing how how he's married to an actress.

It makes sense if he's willing to be a backup which he probably is at this point of his career anyways. Also probably depends on how much Stevens plans to use the backup. Hopefully around 20 games if the situation permits it.

 

[Winger23]

I would spend the minimum on a back up goalie. If quick goes down for any length of time the season is toast anyhow. In a cap crunch you can't afford to plan the roster based on what ifs due to injury.

 

[Dog as Man]

I don't like the buyout of Greene.

After vegas takes someone (lewis probably) to sign our RFAs and get to the 22 man roster, we should have about $2.5 million in cap space. If that Mirtle report is accurate, another $2 million cap increase gets us to $4.5 million.

Should we sign a UFA winger, someone is going down to Ontario off the roster (unless we go with 23 roster players). That gets us to around $5.5 million or so for the winger.

Greene can be buried for $1,025,000. That gets us to $6.5 million. A buyout would only get us $1,666,667 which is only $641,667 more but there is that $833,333 cap hit in 2018-2019. More cap space this upcoming season at the expence of a higher cap hit the following one. We may not need that extra $641,667.

We have until June 30 to buy out Greene. Hopefully we won't need to use that extra cap space from a buyout and can go with sending him to Ontario instead.

If we need the contract spot then I can see having to do it. But I'd rather wait to see if we really need the space.

Ontario player/coach?
Greene knows how to train. What it takes.
Could be symbiotic.