2017 Offseason Thread 4.0 - Free Agent Frenzy Time

[Fishhead]

Here's some interesting old data from the 2010-2011 season. It's the lines Kopi scored points with:

19 points: Penner-Kopitar-Williams
15 points: Brown-Kopitar-Parse
14 points: Brown-Kopitar-Williams
14 points: Smyth-Kopitar-Williams
13 points: Handzus-Kopitar-Williams
13 points: Brown-Kopitar-Smyth
9 points: Brown-Kopitar-Richardson
9 points: Brown-Kopitar-Sturm
7 points: Brown-Kopitar-Loktionov
5 points: Handzus-Kopitar-Brown

and a handful of lower combinations.

Anze played all over the lineup, and produced no matter who he was with.

There's a huge change though after Sutter took over. You will see Kopitar's numbers skyrocket with Brown and Williams, because that's who he was almost always with. More of the same in 2013-14, with Gaborik and Brown rotating on the wing.

I don't think linemates are an excuse for Kopitar, but it's not completely without merit. I think it's more of a case of his game stagnating somewhat as his role became very defined. He was a much more creative player when he was playing with just about everyone at some time.

It's funny, Sutter has the reputation as a blender coach but he's actually the opposite, or he was with the Kings.

 

[deeshamrock]

So why haven't any of the other free agents signed yet ?

There's a long list of them, and a ton of aging D. One less FA, Tyler Johnson signed with the Bolts, 7 yrs, 5M per, good deal for a solid 2C. Now they should be able to get Palat for around the same number .


NHL list of FA's by team, signed and yet to be signed . There's a long list of unsigned players.

https://www.nhl.com/news/free-agency-signings-2017/c-281090126

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I bet Pierre Turgeon, a Lady Byng winner, could beat up Anze Kopitar.

 

[KINGS17]

They're all waiting for Dwight King to make a decision.

First domino!

 

[Martyros]

Every tool except for linemates...

this linemate argument is ridiculous.

It's not like he's had the likes of Ivanans or Oliwa on his wing. He's had Brown, Williams, Gaborik, Penner, Frolov, Lucic, etc. Are those wingers complete trash? Who has Crosby played with throughout most of his career, Kunitz? Not every team has an Ovechkin or Stamkos that can score on every pass you give. The argument about him not being assertive enough to drive to the net to create chances FOR HIMSELF is a valid argument. He's got strength, size, speed, hands. Part of the reason that the Kings won in both those years was being he attacked the net. What makes a player stand above the rest is the ability to take it upon himself to be the absolute difference maker. Kopitar is fully capable of that if he can be more selfish. He plays the game way too safe.

 

[BigKing]

I bet Pierre Turgeon, a Lady Byng winner, could beat up Anze Kopitar.

Probably, but that also means Hrkac Circus would leave Kopitar in a coma after a fight.

 

[deeshamrock]

Its pretty simple... Kopitar had garbage on his wings last year and that dramatically reduced his point totals. People love to hate on the dude here and pretend that who he plays with Should have no impact on his production. That's an ignorant position to take. And yes he generally has mediocre wing talent, but last year was particularly horrific. Not surprised at all that he was only our second highest scorer last year with the garbage he played with.

A lot of things caused him to have a disappointing year but I don't think his wingers were the primary (Dramatically reduced) reason. Rather the opposite, if he felt his wingers weren't producing, he should have taken the initiative , like a #1 center should and shoot the puck, drive the net, get a bit creative and be the driver. He didn't do that. A part of that, the largest part I think, was the combination of the pressure of that big money contract and the burden of the C. Not every elite player is cut out to be captain and I don't agree he's the right choice. He's too passive, Doughty would have been a better choice. But Kopi was Sutter's boy and that gap from when he commented that certain things would have to change for him to sign an extension and Brown being stripped of the C and Kopi anointed with it , was not a coincidence. I think Kopi struggled with that dual burden all year. And Sutter cracked that room 2 years ago and that crack affected him as well as the others.

As for his offense, I don't expect a big change, given his post season comments that he prefers being a good 2 way player, that he feels that is the most important part of his game and doesn't want to change his game to be more offensive. However, I'm hoping the new coach and new offensive coordinator can reason with him. And getting Toffoli healthy will help, he's the best winger on the team, and should be on that top line, that would take pressure off Kopi and provide more offensive zone time and scoring ops. That also gives Pearson on the 2nd line, with Carter, two lines that can score instead of one. I'm curious to see what changes this new coach/staff will provide.

I think we all appreciate Kopi, what he does and has done, but last year, the man in the mirror was the one most responsible.

 

[Rusty Batch]

Amazing how we can probably all agree that last season Kopitar had the worst top line wingers in the league by quite a bit. And yet there are quite a few of you giving me reasons for why that shouldnt negatively impact him...

 

[Basilisk]

Guys, according to this site, we've got $6.5 million in cap space. https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/kings

What's the best use for that $6.5m in cap space?


1) Keep it around until the 2018 trade deadline.
2) A forward
3) A defenseman
4) Other


Thanks!

 

[Rusty Batch]

Guys, according to this site, we've got $6.5 million in cap space. https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/kings

What's the best use for that $6.5m in cap space?


1) Keep it around until the 2018 trade deadline.
2) A forward
3) A defenseman
4) Other


Thanks!

Winger!!!

 

[deeshamrock]

I wonder if the Kings would take a shot at Tatar, who by all accounts is no where near signing.

http://mynhltraderumors.com/nhl-rumors-detroit-red-wings-tomas-tatar-contract-talks/2017/07/10/

He is seeking an LTC in the 5M per neighborhood.

The Red Wings know that Tatar’s deal will likely cost them more than Gustav Nyquist’s $4.75 million per season. Over the past three seasons, Tatar’s 75 goals are more than Phil Kessel (74), Johnny Gaudreau (72) and Jordan Eberle (69)

His comment, that if it goes to arbitration, that 1 yr deal will be his last with the Wings.

Holland's comment

“The player has to make a good deal or the club has to make a fair deal,†Holland said. “If you can’t get a fair deal done, you have to go through the process.â€

He's turning 27 in Dec, and without knowing the numbers, given the rumors that they aren't close, I think maybe Holland is at 4 M and Ritch Winter/Tatar are 5.5 ish.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Anything at the deadline will cost assets the Kings can't afford.

 

[lexlavender]

Wasn't Tatar on a wing with Kopi at World's or am I crazy?

 

[deeshamrock]

Winger!!!

That was the focus of DL and even before the trade deadline, but the top 6 wingers they sought, cost too much in that they didn't have the top young prospect/pieces to offer in return.
I think Luc and Blake would like to upgrade but are in the same boat. Could be they tried but GM"s didn't bite and getting Cammy was a safety net. No risk sign, if they get a legit top 6er, he can slot down on the 3rd line .

 

[deeshamrock]

Wasn't Tatar on a wing with Kopi at World's or am I crazy?

Played together and played pretty well...

 

[Martyros]

Anything at the deadline will cost assets the Kings can't afford.

Not unless it's a 40 year old that no one else wants

 

[kingsboy11]

I wonder if the Kings would take a shot at Tatar, who by all accounts is no where near signing.

http://mynhltraderumors.com/nhl-rumors-detroit-red-wings-tomas-tatar-contract-talks/2017/07/10/

He is seeking an LTC in the 5M per neighborhood.



His comment, that if it goes to arbitration, that 1 yr deal will be his last with the Wings.

Holland's comment




He's turning 27 in Dec, and without knowing the numbers, given the rumors that they aren't close, I think maybe Holland is at 4 M and Ritch Winter/Tatar are 5.5 ish.

I'd be all for Tatar. There are very wingers around the NHL that are still relatively young, around the 5 million cap hit and could be actually be available. Tatar fits the bill for me. Problem is that I'm not sure what the Red Wings needs are right now. Detroit is in a weird spot.

 

[deeshamrock]

Not unless it's a 40 year old that no one else wants

Hey now, Dwight King is only 28....

 

[johnjm22]

Still love the guy. He was far too timid last season. All criticism of his game from last season is warranted.

I agree. He played poorly and so did many other key players.

I don't think timid is the word I would use to describe his play. More like flat, lifeless, lacking a spark.

He and Doughty both look like they're pacing themselves out there. It's something that's pretty common among big minute centerman and defensemen as their careers go on.

 

[Martyros]

I'd be all for Tatar. There are very wingers around the NHL that are still relatively young, around the 5 million cap hit and could be actually be available. Tatar fits the bill for me. Problem is that I'm not sure what the Red Wings needs are right now. Detroit is in a weird spot.

Detroit's need is youth. They need to shed money and dead weight. I'm quite interested in seeing who is going to overpay for Mike Green's services.

 

[Bandit]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/los-angeles-kings-add-pierre-turgeon-assistant-coach/

Kings add Pierre Turgeon as Assistant Coach, specifically as Offensive Coordinator

Happy to have Turgeon, but "Offensive Coordinator" reeks of "how can we sell tickets? I know, let's show them we're serious about fixing the offense!!!!"

 

[deeshamrock]

I'd be all for Tatar. There are very wingers around the NHL that are still relatively young, around the 5 million cap hit and could be actually be available. Tatar fits the bill for me. Problem is that I'm not sure what the Red Wings needs are right now. Detroit is in a weird spot.[/

Yes they are and I think that is part of Holland's reluctance, that they have a bunch of young guys coming up in the next few years and a (then) 30 yr old in the middle of an LTC isn't in their future.

Every time I saw them play, that kid Athanasiou was flying like he had rockets on his skates, and yet didn't get top 6 time usually buried on the 4th line.

 

[Sol]

I want Tater

 

[KingsFan7824]

Amazing how we can probably all agree that last season Kopitar had the worst top line wingers in the league by quite a bit. And yet there are quite a few of you giving me reasons for why that shouldnt negatively impact him...

It's a little bit of everything, including Kopitar himself. Forget his numbers, he didn't play as good. He got hurt in Ottawa, but who knows exactly what that did. We've thought he was hurt before, and then nothing ever came of it. We can speculate all day long, but he was healthy enough to put on the skates, so he has to do something. He owes the Kings nothing, but if he doesn't take every penny he could get, it could've potentially helped him on the ice.

Guys, according to this site, we've got $6.5 million in cap space. https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/kings

What's the best use for that $6.5m in cap space?


1) Keep it around until the 2018 trade deadline.
2) A forward
3) A defenseman
4) Other


Thanks!

It's not going to be a full $6.5m. There are still RFA's to sign.

Happy to have Turgeon, but "Offensive Coordinator" reeks of "how can we sell tickets? I know, let's show them we're serious about fixing the offense!!!!"

Probably doesn't matter what they do at this point, it'll reek of something. How about just let it play out, and see what happens? If it fixes the offense, then they'll sell more tickets. If it doesn't, then they won't. How many casual fans even know what a Pierre Turgeon is? He retired 5 years before the first bandwagon Cup.

 

[kingsfan28]

That's a cop out. His wingers talent level doesn't stop him from driving to the net. In fact, it's the complete opposite. Having less talented wingers should be even more incentive to assert yourself. No excuses for Kopitar's tentative play.

Bingo! The guy looks like he's afraid of the net most night. He'll circle around the net before driving towards it . Then ,pass up a shot in order to make a play that eventually gets stopped before it develops. He's become extremely predictable.