2017 Offseason Thread 5.0 Summer Doldrums

[Sol]

I don't know why it reminded you of MS either. Nothing to do with it in the slightest.

Don't lie homie.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

But the Kings staff did their homework, they wouldn't draft a player that high if they felt he was a risk due to injury. I loved everything I read about him, starting last Feb. I think the Kings have themselves a stud in the making at center for the near future.

I think that's my real qualm and I've provided evidence that highly-thought-of players don't often drop that significantly even with much more public information of repeated and/or significant injuries (Patrick, Galchenyuk).

I don't think it's absurd to be concerned in general, but I do think it doesn't need to be overstated yet.

 

[YP44]

The injury didn't concern me as much as the verbage of 'flare up throughout the summer', which I hoped didn't mean it was chronic. Throughout, is the curve ball. If it flared up once, that should have been it, take care of it? Esp a back issue, that was my concern, not missing camp.

in this article , which was Pre Draft, he mentions the back injury as minor, but said he felt he would be good to train over the summer. But that isn't how it panned out. And I guess he felt playing with it in the Memorial Cup was worth the risk, you might not get that chance again. ANd getting 'banged up' didn't help.

http://www.thewhig.com/2017/06/16/staying-calm-within-the-storm




But the Kings staff did their homework, they wouldn't draft a player that high if they felt he was a risk due to injury. I loved everything I read about him, starting last Feb. I think the Kings have themselves a stud in the making at center for the near future.

if it weren't for the injury maybe he would not have fallen to the kings. Can't steal second with your foot on first.

 

[BigKing]

if it weren't for the injury maybe he would not have fallen to the kings. Can't steal second with your foot on first.

Can't get thrown out or picked off with your foot on first either.

I love the upside and am not arguing the pick; however, back injuries for a big kid like this are frightening.

 

[The Tikkanen]

The important question is the definition of the word this. Pretend that what doesn't matter? Nobody knows how bad the injury will be. Is it good news today? No, but we don't know if it's necessarily bad news in the big picture, so is it worth getting worked up over?

Although yes, since everything the Kings have done since winning the Cup on Friday the 13th has turned to crap, either instantly or over time, this will probably be no different. But, like you said, at that point it's just part of the normal Kings history.

As a long time fan I'm not interested in going back to that type of Kings hockey. This offseason has been seriously confusing, a bought out Cammy added, ticket prices raised and they enter the season with a huge amount of cap space (which can be used at any time). That said to me regardless of this summer the question is what is this Kings team? I can read an argument and buy that this is a lottery team. I can also read they will bounce back and be contenders as the West seems to have lost a lot of goals. A 102 point team? You'd need the perfect storm but I really didn't have expectations for the 2012 team either. I really have no idea what kind of team this is, if that cap space is filled with a big trade it becomes much more clear. Maybe as a fan I've become more entitled, I want to see a Cup contender before the season starts which is why I'm not a GM and just a guy who watches hockey on TV.

 

[KINGS17]

I think the Kings will finish in the 60-point range.

 

[KINGS17]

You guys are hilarious . People get injured all the time and heal. It's why girls don't play the sport .

Nothing to worry about he will be a great player for us down the line . Stop panicking

Wow, pretty sure if you were employed by Google you would be fired.

 

[SlimCharles]

Happy birthday to Rogie!

 

[YP44]

As a long time fan I'm not interested in going back to that type of Kings hockey. This offseason has been seriously confusing, a bought out Cammy added, ticket prices raised and they enter the season with a huge amount of cap space (which can be used at any time). That said to me regardless of this summer the question is what is this Kings team? I can read an argument and buy that this is a lottery team. I can also read they will bounce back and be contenders as the West seems to have lost a lot of goals. A 102 point team? You'd need the perfect storm but I really didn't have expectations for the 2012 team either. I really have no idea what kind of team this is, if that cap space is filled with a big trade it becomes much more clear. Maybe as a fan I've become more entitled, I want to see a Cup contender before the season starts which is why I'm not a GM and just a guy who watches hockey on TV.

The biggest question mark to me is why buy out Greene when the cap space is not used. Demote him to the AHL with the agreement he would not report. Then the team is off the hook on him next year. He could still become a scout or whatever he is now.

 

[YP44]

Can't get thrown out or picked off with your foot on first either.

I love the upside and am not arguing the pick; however, back injuries for a big kid like this are frightening.

True but you will never win another cup just playing cautiously. Need to take calculated gambles. So far I have no reason to doubt he is not a good one.

 

[BigKing]

True but you will never win another cup just playing cautiously. Need to take calculated gambles. So far I have no reason to doubt he is not a good one.

Again, I'm not bashing the pick. I think the question that has to be asked is:

With the Kings weak prospect pool and aging core, could they afford to gamble with their first top pick since 2009 or is it that they couldn't afford to play it safe for the same reasons?

 

[Sacha Baron Corbin]

Again, I'm not bashing the pick. I think the question that has to be asked is:

With the Kings weak prospect pool and aging core, could they afford to gamble with their first top pick since 2009 or is it that they couldn't afford to play it safe for the same reasons?

Who should they have taken then?

 

[Kingspiracy]

The biggest question mark to me is why buy out Greene when the cap space is not used. Demote him to the AHL with the agreement he would not report. Then the team is off the hook on him next year. He could still become a scout or whatever he is now.

Yeah seems a bit weird. Perhaps they had a trade or signing that fell through.

 

[BigKing]

Who should they have taken then?

I assume the next player on their board with said player most likely not having medical red flags.

Obviously he was the best player on their board even with the injuries and, again, I'm not saying they shouldn't have drafted him. With the lack of top-flight prospects in the system, should they have played it safer?

It's like drafting Gronk in a fantasy football league.

 

[KingsFan7824]

As a long time fan I'm not interested in going back to that type of Kings hockey. This offseason has been seriously confusing, a bought out Cammy added, ticket prices raised and they enter the season with a huge amount of cap space (which can be used at any time). That said to me regardless of this summer the question is what is this Kings team? I can read an argument and buy that this is a lottery team. I can also read they will bounce back and be contenders as the West seems to have lost a lot of goals. A 102 point team? You'd need the perfect storm but I really didn't have expectations for the 2012 team either. I really have no idea what kind of team this is, if that cap space is filled with a big trade it becomes much more clear. Maybe as a fan I've become more entitled, I want to see a Cup contender before the season starts which is why I'm not a GM and just a guy who watches hockey on TV.

My working theory is that management/ownership has had the same questions since losing to SJ in 5 relatively quiet games. They went all in with Sekera the year before, then Lucic, Versteeg, took a chance on Lecavalier, and they got 1 playoff win. Also including a blown division title in the 2nd half of the season. I don't think Lombardi thought he could re-sign Lucic, whether he offered him a contract or not. Or, he at least didn't didn't go out of his way to do everything possible to do it.

Since that loss, management has taken a wait and see approach to the roster, because they can't trust them anymore. So we get the 1 year stop gap free agents. It doesn't matter who is brought in, if Kopitar is going to score 12 goals. The guys making all the money have to show that they're worth investing in again, otherwise it's time to keep the picks, and ride out some of these bad contracts. Then the whole Doughty thing, which will determine the direction of the franchise. If he's gone, then sell off anyone you can get rid of. If he stays, then there's some extra time to re-tool the team.

 

[King'sPawn]

Again, I'm not bashing the pick. I think the question that has to be asked is:

With the Kings weak prospect pool and aging core, could they afford to gamble with their first top pick since 2009 or is it that they couldn't afford to play it safe for the same reasons?

This is assuming he fell because of injuries. By all accounts, he fell because of poor skating.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Again, I'm not bashing the pick. I think the question that has to be asked is:

With the Kings weak prospect pool and aging core, could they afford to gamble with their first top pick since 2009 or is it that they couldn't afford to play it safe for the same reasons?

You're assuming a lot with that, though. You're assuming they're gambling, not making an educated pick. You're assuming the reason he dropped was because of injuries, not skating. You're assuming that the Kings were ill-informed enough that they made a 'bad pick' in spite of evidence they either did (ignorance) or didn't (stupidity) have. You're assuming that the Kings are better off with Necas or Suzuki than Vilardi. Like for all I've argued against you, I'm with you that a nagging back or hip injury in a young 18 year old isn't good--but to be writing him off as a bad pick or a gamble already when it's pretty freaking normal for people to miss training camp is rough.

And even assuming all of that is true--could the Kings afford to NOT GAMBLE on hitting a home run, given so many complaints around here about not hitting big in the draft recently? Like, why would you NOT shoot for a top-3 talent in a draft where pretty much every pick is flawed?

 

[BigKing]

Just asking the question re: risk for debate purposes.

I believe the injuries played a factor. I don't believe everything I hear, especially from a Rob Blake management team ;-)

Guess it's all one in the same though: his skating is a major problem since he can't even get out on the ice.

 

[King'sPawn]

Just asking the question re: risk for debate purposes.

I believe the injuries played a factor. I don't believe everything I hear, especially from a Rob Blake management team ;-)

Guess it's all one in the same though: his skating is a major problem since he can't even get out on the ice.

Why do you feel injuries played a factor when not one independent scouting service brought it up?

It was brought up he missed a chunk of the season due to injury, but I have yet to see one report anywhere that it factored into his ranking or dropping?

It's not some PR control by Rob Blake. There's no report suggesting as much anywhere.

 

[BigKing]

Logic?

 

[King'sPawn]

Logic?

So all the scouting services and pundits universally talked about everything regarding Vilardi's game except his health. The Kings also knew he would have a back strain but decided not to talk about it either for PR control.

That's logical?

 

[deeshamrock]

This is assuming he fell because of injuries. By all accounts, he fell because of poor skating.

That's the consensus from what I read, although I wouldn't call his skating poor, just not speedy. Players who have injuries (or illness ) in the their draft year can drop, it happens. He's quick rather than fast, esp in the offensive zone he can pounce on pucks and is almost impossible to move. He causes problems with defenders because he's quick and smart.

Kings took the best player available and I think they hit a home run. And excellent puck handling forward who has a great shot, great vision and high IQ. He has skill and grit, he fights hard for every inch of ice and the puck

And his skating technique isn't a surprise, every scout that saw him was aware of his entire game and it's why he was a high draft choice. Skating he can work on, some of the stuff that set him apart, drive , tenacity, leadership, IQ, vision, etc, you can't learn. You have 'it' or you don't. His favorite player, who he models himself after is John Tavares. Sometimes you just get lucky and the Kings did when he dropped into their lap.

 

[Stimpythecat]

I love the vilardi pick. Every analyst that I have seen talk about him has said the Kings got a steal. He's the perfect fit for the kings and the kings have no one like him in the farm system.

His skating can improve. He's working on it or he was before this setback. He's a young 18. It's not like he's an overager. No need to rush him. Let him get 100% healthy.

 

[The Tikkanen]

You can't say Vilardi is a home run before he plays a game in the NHL. I know this is HF and all and any young player is God but let the guy develop, earn a roster spot and produce at the NHL level before you grade him. First and foremost the Kings need to get the guy a competent personal trainer.

 

[deeshamrock]

You can't say Vilardi is a home run before he plays a game in the NHL. I know this is HF and all and any young player is God but let the guy develop, earn a roster spot and produce at the NHL level before you grade him. First and foremost the Kings need to get the guy a competent personal trainer.

Actually, what I said is "I think" they hit a home run and as this is a forum for Kings fans to express their thoughts, I can say that. You don't have the corner on what opinions can be stated.