Im not sold on Blake yet , having Futa waiting in the wings gave me some peace of mind. really dont want him to go but I think he deserves to be GM somewhere
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Sure, spread the money around and get depth using the money ball approach then find your team in a self imposed purgatory when your not good enough to compete for a cup but not bad enough to rebuild through the draft...
You keep mentioning money ball but when the hell has it ever worked??? Your delusional if you think then right choice would have been to trade Kopitar or try and move Doughty.. those guys are pillars/building blocks of a team.. is the contract long and hefty, absolutely but also necessary. K17, i really like some of your comments but you're also way too quick to pout about how Kopitar and his $10 salary cost us a playoffs spot but forget to mention the real reason the Kings won those cups was because of extraordinary goaltending by Jonathan Quick and one of if not the BEST defensive corps in the last 20-25 years... maybe even top 5-10 ever...
You want to know the real cause of our teams demise....
1- Willie Mitchell, Rob Scuderi, Robin Regher, Matt Greene all got old and we failed to replace them as any team would find it difficult to.
2- Mike Richards and Jarrett Stoll played and grinded they're bodies into dust for the sake of winning those 2 cups and then were shells who were kept too long
3- Dustin Brown and Marian Gaborik have returned .15 cents on the dollar for their contracts.. Although Brownie looks like he could be headed toward a 45-50 pt total really soon, he looks rejuvenated and Gabby got dinged pretty bad in an off season tournament which he has no business playing in considering his age ad injury history..
4- Our prospect pipeline hit a few years of futility but the kids that were brought up this season plus the kids arriving next give me plenty of hope especially being able to see them play in person down in Ontario...
Derek Forbort-- for all the bust talk he looked really good next to DD and looks like he still has more to give
Paul LaDue-- looked extremely poised with the puck in all situations.. small sample size but good upside
Kevin Gravel-- work in progress but playing on the bottom pairing will help his development
Adrian Kempe-- Elite speed but struggled a bit though he's one to watch next season
Jonny Brodzinski--buzzed his few games in the NHL, didn't look out of place
Nic Dowd-- started hot then crashed but 22 pt is ok for a 3C but he should get 30-35pt w/experience
Michael Amadio-- Our diamond in the rough, looks like he's our future 3C at the moment but could potentially be a 2C with his untapped offensive potential
Michael Mersch-- slow footed grinder with hands and finds himself at the place to score important goals same as Jonny B
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Little Psycho
Registered User
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
I do think any GM would have had issues with what happened with us after 2014. Reminds me of losing Palffy, Allison, Deadmarsh for nothing. When older guys age out/move on, you lose something for nothing. When a star physical player who is a legend for his intangibles fades out of the league within two years, you lose something for nothing. When a star d-man self-deports, you lose something big for nothing. When you try to plug those holes because the team is still in a championship window and those plugs walk, you lose something for nothing. It is what it is, but a lot of 'somethings' became a lot of 'nothings' really quickly, whatever philosophy you subscribe to.
AlphaBravo
Registered User
Our demise was a natural part of time and parity in the league. The teams that used to suck got better like Calgary and Edmonton, making it harder for us to get into the playoffs. Vet players that were critical to our two cups got old and are no longer with the team. There were also some unforeseen circumstances which happens based on time and have to be dealt with.
The way I see it, the lifespan of being a contender is as follows. First, you draft good players and you have these good players on a cheap deal (the entry level contract). Second, you surround these young players with good vets that have playoff experience. Third, once your young players have some experience and the vets are still playing well, you go deep in the playoffs.
It is during this third step that you have to win the cup because afterwards, you reach the fourth step, which equals the young players in their late 20s and early thirties who got their fat contracts, the vets are now washed up, and during steps 1 through 3, the team did not have a top 10 draft pick because they did not tank.
Every team in some form or shape goes through these steps. We are basically early in our fourth step now from my perspective.
The way I see it, the lifespan of being a contender is as follows. First, you draft good players and you have these good players on a cheap deal (the entry level contract). Second, you surround these young players with good vets that have playoff experience. Third, once your young players have some experience and the vets are still playing well, you go deep in the playoffs.
It is during this third step that you have to win the cup because afterwards, you reach the fourth step, which equals the young players in their late 20s and early thirties who got their fat contracts, the vets are now washed up, and during steps 1 through 3, the team did not have a top 10 draft pick because they did not tank.
Every team in some form or shape goes through these steps. We are basically early in our fourth step now from my perspective.
Reclamation Project
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Reaper45
Registered User
I like the post and ill try and organize a chart based on your 4 tier system...
TIER 1... Draft well and cheap players on ELCs
Adrian Kempe,21--Micheal Amadio,21--Jonny Brodzinski,24--Micheal Mersch,25--Kale Clague,18--2017 1st rounder,18--Jacob Moverare,18--Matt Roy,22--Chazz Reddekopp,20
TIER 2... Vets
Anze Kopitar,29--Jeff Carter,33--Drew Doughty,27--Jake Muzzin,28--Alec Martinez,29--Jonathan Quick,29--Dustin Brown,32--Marian Gaborik,35--Trevor Lewis,30--MAtt Greene,33
TIER 3... Rookies - 4 years players w/experience
Tyler Toffoli,25--Tanner Pearson,24--Derek Forbort,25--Kevin Gravel,25--Paul LaDue,25
I think we're in a prolonged step/tier 3 were some the of kids and rookies are the same age and most have the ability to be plugged in immediately and compete... I expect Kopiatr/Toffoli to be paired and put up all-star number and the same goes for Carter/Pearson..Kempe/Kopitar/Toffoli--Pearson/Carter/Brodzinski
Our season will depend on the health of Jonathan Quick and the continued development of Forbort/LaDue/Gravel.. if those two areas take a leap forward we'll be in for a deep playoff push... However, if certain guys decline further then it'll be time to blow it up and i mean deal everyone..AK,DD,JC,TT,TP,DB,MG,AM,JM...all our vets
Basilisk
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I'd say odds are pretty good he ends up there.
I don't know. If I'm Buffalo, I hire Lombardi, with the condition that Sutter is NOT the coach ever. Dunno why they've hesitated.
AlphaBravo
Registered User
Good input to the framework. I agree with your assessment. To add, I think the Kings could go back to step 3 with some creativity. We are stuck with Brown and Gaborik, so proposing ways to get rid of them is futile for now. Kopitar is also staying put because he has a no movement clause and it is almost impossible to replace a number 1 center. Trading Carter is arguable, but I would keep him because its also hard to find a legit no. 2C (arguably no. 1C on most teams).
Our biggest advantage is that we did not make the playoffs this year and have a top 11 pick in this year's draft, which will give us a young, cheap and hopefully productive and skilled forward.
We should look to add to that pick by getting one or more 1st rounders or prospects. We can start by trading one of Martinez or Muzzin for another top 10 pick, assuming any team with a top 10 pick would make that trade. Use that pick to draft a young defenseman or young forward. Or we can trade Martinez or Muzzin for a young forward prospect.
I would also suggest trading one of Pearson or Toffoli. These players are going to command about $5 million a piece, and if we sign them both we will basically have the same team as last year and hardly any cap space to sign a UFA. With the 1st rounder in exchange for Toffoli or Pearson, we will get a cheap young player that could be just as good (obviously the forward may not reach Toffoli or Pearson potential, but risky moves have to be made in the cap world).
Also, with the money we save in not signing one of Toffoli or Pearson, we could try to sign Oshie in the off season, who in my opinion is better than both of them. Oshie will come at a steep price, but with $5 million saved from Toffoli or Pearson and if we dump Lewis, we will have enough to sign him.
The end result will be a Oshie, Pearson or Toffoli, and two more 1st round prospects on the Kings, in exchange for Pearson or Toffoli and Martinez or Muzzin.
Maybe they asked Lombardi to explain the Bishop trade and were concerned by his 7-hour answer.
The Butcher
Mammoth Mooseknuckles Hockey
KingsFan17
Registered User
Luc was on ESPN radio this afternoon. For those who missed it here's the biggest takeaways.
"we have maybe a 5 year window to win a cup."
"Looking to change the philosophy a little going forward. Keep what we're doing well but bring in new voices and hire a very specific type of offensive guy to help Stevens."
"Dean groomed Wilson and Hexy who are doing well so we're excited about him grooming Blake."
When asked why the team didn't make the playoffs "there were some things behind the scenes that i cant get too into but we definitely need to address the pace of the game. Look at teams like Edmonton and that's the direction we need to move on the offensive pace of the game."
"we have maybe a 5 year window to win a cup."
"Looking to change the philosophy a little going forward. Keep what we're doing well but bring in new voices and hire a very specific type of offensive guy to help Stevens."
"Dean groomed Wilson and Hexy who are doing well so we're excited about him grooming Blake."
When asked why the team didn't make the playoffs "there were some things behind the scenes that i cant get too into but we definitely need to address the pace of the game. Look at teams like Edmonton and that's the direction we need to move on the offensive pace of the game."
BigKing
Blake Out of Hell III: Back in to Hell
We just need to suck for 11 years and draft at the top every year until we hit on a generational player and other great players to support him.
I mean, look at teams like Edmonton.
Jesus Christ. Lot easier said then done.
Reclamation Project
Cut It All Right In Two
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Reclamation Project
Cut It All Right In Two
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WHOneedsSOX
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Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
I like this summary. Very brief, and to the point. Team lifecycle of the cap world.
I'm glad I wasn't the only one that latched onto that
...wait, ESPN still has a radio station? Enjoy it while you can!
tny760
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seems like a lot of teams talk about edmonton when they talk about playing with speed, i think a better team to model after is nashville in its current state
outside of the blue line there's not a lot of star power on that team but top to bottom solid, and most importantly every last one of them has bought in, they swarm pucks like no one else
there's "being fast" and "playing fast" and i think the thing i noticed most is the kings are not "playing fast".. think i've said it here before, they were "getting to the spot" under sutter instead of making plays. too bound up by prevention.
all that said i'll eat my hat if this team comes out as flat as they did last season now that they're out from sutter's grasp
Reclamation Project
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Trashcan, trashcan blocking the locker room door, who's the biggest excuse maker in the Kings core?
tny760
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and talking about hockey without a societal/racial/sexual narrative?? big wigs must have forgot about them
AlphaBravo
Registered User
Its obviously Sutter. Players were taking shots at him subtly during post-season interviews. He is a great coach, but his welcome wore out after so many years. I don't think it had anything to do with players having disputes among themselves.
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