2019-20 Kings News/Rumors

[bouncesonly]

Not necessarily. They have to play Tampa in round 2.

But playing Tampa is a bit aladeen.

 

[kings11]

“They still have Trevor Lewis out there. They’ve still got Ben Hutton out there. And they’re going to have an interesting one, which is Jeff Carter. They’re not really looking for ‘D’ but they’re looking for forwards.

“I think they’ve committed. They’ve said we’re keeping our cornerstones Kopitar and Doughty and that’s it. And we’re going to move pieces around them and we’re going to build ourselves up.

“Someone called me today and said there’s definitely interest in Carter. The Kings could increase their return if they’re willing to retain (salary). The biggest question is what does Carter think? Last year he made it very clear he did not want to go anywhere. I’m not convinced he wants to go to Philly, it’s too far, he’s very comfortable in California. But what if it was Arizona? What if it’s somebody around there?”

A note on every NHL team ahead of the 2020 trade deadline - Sportsnet.ca

The Avs maybe?? 2.25 hr flight, really nice city and they're a contender

 

[Fishhead]

I'm ambivalent on who they move, really. Whatever is best for the team.

But... if things start to pan out with the young guys, it would be nice to retain Kopitar. He's not going to be the same dominant guy on the ice, but then again he'd likely be facing 3rd line matchups and not have to log crazy minutes. If he's still viable after his contract and he wants to stick around on short contracts like Thornton did, I'd be fine with that.

If the current crop of prospects falls on their face you just get what you can and move on. I don't think his value is going to change all that much between now and the end of his contract.

 

[Bandit]

I like that deal for the Ducks, Kase's injury/concussion history is frightening (and seriously affects his value in my eyes), and a first in this draft is a big get. Backes' salary doesn't matter as they won't be competing soon and they have the space

Yeah too bad we couldn’t take on Backes for something similar but I’m sure Boston is banking that pick on being number 31

 

[KingsFan7824]

Gonna get shit on for saying this again, but I still think our best option right now would be to move Kopitar. He’s young enough, and there should be some playoff teams out there who could afford his contract.

He’s signed on for 4 more seasons carrying a 10 mil cap hit. He’s 32 and could or could not start to decline soon. We aren’t going to be contenders for 2-3 years in which Kopitar will be 34/35. Vilardi and Turcotte will possibly be our #1#2 centers in a couple years, meaning Kopitar could possibly be our 10 mil cap hit 3rd line center?

We could get a hell of a return for him now, and not risk him declining and being untradable in a year or two...

Be nice!

They very likely could not. There aren't many examples to go by either. Who do you think they could get? What playoff team is affording his contract? Are the Kings retaining 50% for 4 years? Everything we would want for Kopitar is what the other team would need to keep to take advantage of having Kopitar. You don't want to get Kopitar just to turn into the Kings.

Unless you're willing to take back 1, probably 2 bad contracts, maybe 3 if you have to divide it that way, which have term, not just UFA's this year or next, and maybe marginal prospects and just picks, how would you get rid of him? The 22 year old star who is signed at a good hit for the next half decade isn't coming back the other way.

They are very likely stuck with Kopitar, good or bad. There's likely no value to squeeze out of him. At least not greater than whatever value he gives the team on the ice for the next few years. The time to trade him was when the team was in 1st place in 15-16, after a career worst season up to that point in 14-15, or at the 2014 draft, coming off the high as the #1C on the Cup winner. Maybe after 2012, coming off that high. Maybe after not winning in 2013. Before 2012, after 2016, is a no go. There was a window of 4 or 5 years, but most of those years, the Kings were competitive, but that's when you have to trade a guy. It's like with Richards. The Flyers traded him at 26. Kopitar at was 26 in Aug 2013.

 

[johnjm22]

I think the only way you move Kopitar is if you get a return that blows your socks off. That probably won't happen.

I think by the final year of his contract Kopitar will still be a good 3rd line centerman at least.

Potential 2023-24 Kings starting Centers:
Vilardi
Turcotte/Madden
Kopitar
JAD

That looks pretty good down the middle. There's also a possibility the Kings will be drafting a center in the top 5 this year.

 

[KINGS17]

I think the only way you move Kopitar is if you get a return that blows your socks off. That probably won't happen.

I think by the final year of his contract Kopitar will still be a good 3rd line centerman at least.

Potential 2023-24 Kings starting Centers:
Vilardi
Turcotte/Madden
Kopitar
JAD

That looks pretty good down the middle. There's also a possibility the Kings will be drafting a center in the top 5 this year.

Let's hope the King do get a generational talent at center, but if it doesn't happen I wouldn't be disappointed with a top pairing defenseman. I still think building from the net out is the best course of action. Drysdale would be a nice get for the Kings. Just wish he had a bit more size.

Maybe Blake can use some of his 2nd round picks to move up somewhere into the 1st round and snag a defenseman with some size who still is skilled.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

Yeah we should be blitzing Dmen this draft if given a reason to do so.

 

[Rusty Batch]

The only reason anybody on here should want to move Kopitar is if you are firmly of the opinion that the Kings will not be competitive for the following four seasons.

Which is an interesting opinion to have considering this is a hard cap league.

The most value an NHL player will ever have is during their 3 ELC years where they are paid less than 1 mil per season for frequently highly productive seasons. So considering that the Kings currently have an amazing prospect pool that contains a large number of players that will be on their ELC contracts during the next four years it is the Kings responsibility to maximize this window.

It could easily be argued that the next four years is THE BEST cup window that we will have for a very long time.

In order to take advantage of a large number of productive ELC players the Kings have to surround those cheap players value players with good expensive ones in order to have a shot at competing and maximizing our cap.

What you want to stay away from is signing long term players that are still on the books when This wave of prospects hit their second contracts. Which is why Kopis contract is ideal for this team. By the time thesf prospects are coming off their elc's Kopis contract will be ending allowing the Kings to resign their youth.

His contract is not a problem for the future of this team.
If you don't want to compete for the next four years then you are wasting the most valuable contract years of the best prospect pool in the NHL.

 

[KINGS17]

Yeah we should be blitzing Dmen this draft if given a reason to do so.

Yes, from what I have been reading some pretty good ones in the top 50 players or so in the 6-0 to 6-2 range weighing in at around 200 lbs.

Hope Blake remembers the formula.

 

[KINGS17]

The only reason anybody on here should want to move Kopitar is if you are firmly of the opinion that the Kings will not be competitive for the following four seasons.

Which is an interesting opinion to have considering this is a hard cap league.

The most value an NHL player will ever have is during their 3 ELC years where they are paid less than 1 mil per season for frequently highly productive seasons. So considering that the Kings currently have an amazing prospect pool that contains a large number of players that will be on their ELC contracts during the next four years it is the Kings responsibility to maximize this window.

It could easily be argued that the next four years is THE BEST cup window that we will have for a very long time.

In order to take advantage of a large number of productive ELC players the Kings have to surround those cheap players value players with good expensive ones in order to have a shot at competing and maximizing our cap.

What you want to stay away from is signing long term players that are still on the books when This wave of prospects hit their second contracts. Which is why Kopis contract is ideal for this team. By the time thesf prospects are coming off their elc's Kopis contract will be ending allowing the Kings to resign their youth.

His contract is not a problem for the future of this team.
If you don't want to compete for the next four years then you are wasting the most valuable contract years of the best prospect pool in the NHL.

I think you severely underestimate the arrival time of our prospects, and the prospects on the back end are not really all that great. Some good ones, but great ones, I don't think so.

 

[LAKings88]

You guys see all those post of Boston fans debating on whether to trade P. Bergeron?

Nope, I wonder why?

Kopi is a legit first line two way center. Rarely ever injured and always leads the team in scoring.

Guy is a hall of famer who can very much be a key cog on a refitted ‘young’ team.

 

[KINGS17]

You guys see all those post of Boston fans debating on whether to trade P. Bergeron?

Nope, I wonder why?

Kopi is a legit first line two way center. Rarely ever injured and always leads the team in scoring.

Guy is a hall of famer who can very much be a key cog on b a refitted ‘young’ team.

I would be more on board with this sentiment if the Kings had started their rebuild a little sooner, as Boston did.

Pulling the #1 overall out of the lottery could change everything though in that regard. If that happened, then yes contending in three seasons may be a real possibility.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

the prospects on the back end are not really all that great. Some good ones, but great ones, I don't think so.

Um, Bjornfot???

Is he 'blue chip'?? No, probably not... But he's an excellent defensive prospect.

It's so easy to under-value Bjornfot as a prospect because his offensive upside probably isn't as high as many other high end defenseman prospects.. But he's an incredible player. He's 18 years old, playing in NA for the first time, putting up very decent numbers, and is arguably the best defenseman on the Ontario Reign.

I don't know how you consider that 'good' but not 'great'... That's excellent in my book.

 

[KINGS17]

Um, Bjornfot???

Is he 'blue chip'?? No, probably not... But he's an excellent defensive prospect.

It's so easy to under-value Bjornfot as a prospect because his offensive upside probably isn't as high as many other high end defenseman prospects.. But he's an incredible player. He's 18 years old, playing in NA for the first time, putting up very decent numbers, and is arguably the best defenseman on the Ontario Reign.

I don't know how you consider that 'good' but not 'great'... That's excellent in my book.

...and you just made my point. Thank you. If Blake is going to build a contender in three short seasons, he is going to have to find some Mitchell's and Scuderi's out there.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

...and you just made my point. Thank you.

Uhhh, no I didn't and if I did you need to articulate your point better.... You said 'the prospects on the back end are good not great' (paraphrasing).

You can be a great prospect without being 'blue chip'. Hell, you can be an elite prospect without being blue chip. Bjornfot is a GREAT prospect at the very least.

Not trying to nit-pick, just trying to point out that we do have at least one excellent defensive prospect. Do we have a prospect on the back end that is projected to be a superstar #1 NHL defenseman?? No, but that's not what you said. There's a difference between saying 'we don't have a blue chip defenseman in our pool' and saying 'all of our back end prospects are good, not great'. You're welcome.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

he is going to have to find some Mitchell's and Scuderi's out there.

Bjornfot could absolutely be a Mitchell/Scuderi type defenseman... Maybe even (significantly) better.

 

[Ray Martyniuk]

I think the only way you move Kopitar is if you get a return that blows your socks off. That probably won't happen.

I think by the final year of his contract Kopitar will still be a good 3rd line centerman at least.

Potential 2023-24 Kings starting Centers:
Vilardi
Turcotte/Madden
Kopitar
JAD

That looks pretty good down the middle. There's also a possibility the Kings will be drafting a center in the top 5 this year.

I like Vilardi and I'm glad he came back as far as he has to be able to score a couple of points in his debut...but its only one game and long term I see him as a RWinger not a Centre...The Kings are loaded at centre so guys like him,Thomas,Kupari need to be converted to the Starboardside...our weakest area me thinks...Kings will try to convert Kaliyev to the Port-side. Kopitar will be a fixture for the Kings for at least another 5 seasons...as for the Kings picking a centre...that's a possibility if they are choosing 2nd with Quinton Byfield

 

[Rusty Batch]

I think you severely underestimate the arrival time of our prospects, and the prospects on the back end are not really all that great. Some good ones, but great ones, I don't think so.

You don't think Kaliyev, Vilardi, Turcotte, Bjornfot, Fagemo, and Our 2020 1st will be using multiple ELC years by the end of the 23/24 NHL season?

These guys could all not start their NHL career until the beginning of the 21/22 season and still get their three ELC years in during Kopitars contract.

 

[KINGS17]

Uhhh, no I didn't and if I did you need to articulate your point better.... You said 'the prospects on the back end are good not great' (paraphrasing).

You can be a great prospect without being 'blue chip'. Hell, you can be an elite prospect without being blue chip. Bjornfot is a GREAT prospect at the very least.

Not trying to nit-pick, just trying to point out that we do have at least one excellent defensive prospect. Do we have a prospect on the back end that is projected to be a superstar #1 NHL defenseman?? No, but that's not what you said. There's a difference between saying 'we don't have a blue chip defenseman in our pool' and saying 'all of our back end prospects are good, not great'. You're welcome.

I also said prospects (as in plural). The Kings prospectS as a group are not all that great. You get it now?

Who among them, and how many are going to come into the NHL and eat major minutes within the next three seasons? By my reckoning the Kings need at least three. So no, the Kings prospects on the back end will not be in a position to support a contending run in three seasons.

 

[KINGS17]

You don't think Kaliyev, Vilardi, Turcotte, Bjornfot, Fagemo, and Our 2020 1st will be using multiple ELC years by the end of the 23/24 NHL season?

These guys could all not start their NHL career until the beginning of the 21/22 season and still get their three ELC years in during Kopitars contract.

I don't think Kaliyev, Turcotte, or Fagemo will be on the roster next season, and at least one of them probably two, won't be on the Kings roster in the 2021-22 season, and be major contributors. The 2020 1st round pick? Maybe, depends were the Kings end up in the lottery. Let's see how Bjornfot continues to develop this summer and at camp before his name is written in ink on the roster.

 

[Rusty Batch]

I don't think Kaliyev, Turcotte, or Fagemo will be on the roster next season, and at least one of them probably two, won't be on the Kings roster in the 2021-22 season, and be major contributors. The 2020 1st round pick? Maybe, depends were the Kings end up in the lottery. Let's see how Bjornfot continues to develop this summer and at camp before his name is written in ink on the roster.

So why did you say i "severely underestimate the arrival time of our prospects?" Sounds like you think they will likely be using multiple or all of their ELC years during Kopis contract.

 

[KINGS17]

So why did you say i "severely underestimate the arrival time of our prospects?" Sounds like you think they will likely be using multiple or all of their ELC years during Kopis contract.

I think your premise is that each of these players will come in and make and immediate impact when they arrive. Most of them won't be on the scene until Kopitar has only two, or maybe one year remaining on his contract. I don't see the timing working out here, and unlike others I don't think Kopitar is going to be all that effective, especially in the offensive zone during the last couple of years of his deal.

 

[KingsFan7824]

You guys see all those post of Boston fans debating on whether to trade P. Bergeron?

Nope, I wonder why?

Kopi is a legit first line two way center. Rarely ever injured and always leads the team in scoring.

Guy is a hall of famer who can very much be a key cog on b a refitted ‘young’ team.

The Bruins didn't burn as bright as the Kings did for a short time, but they've been better over the long term. Not only do they have a Cup, and two more Finals trips, but they've been a top 5 overall team 4 or 5 times. The couple times they missed the playoffs in the last dozen years, they weren't dead last in the conference. They didn't even need the top pick in the draft to find one of the best goal scorers in the league. There's also the extra $3m the Bruins have because of Bergeron's contract, which allows them to have say Charlie Coyle. Although that could be the price of 2 Cups instead of just the 1.

If the Kings were what Lombardi was trying to build them to be, which was a long term contender, I doubt Kopitar would ever come up, because yeah, he's still productive. Since 07-08, the Bruins have the 3rd best record in the league. The Kings are 19th. Boston has the 2nd most playoff games. 2nd most wins. 4th best win%, 3rd if you take out Vegas. They'll make the playoffs in 11 of the last 13 years.

It's not Kopitar's fault that the infrastructure of the Kings has fallen apart around him. If Kopitar and Bergeron switch teams, and they're the only two variables that are different, we're talking about hoping to get rid of Bergeron.

If the Bruins were 30th, for the 2nd year in a row, there might be more talk of trading a 34 year old Bergeron.

I would be more on board with this sentiment if the Kings had started their rebuild a little sooner, as Boston did.

Pulling the #1 overall out of the lottery could change everything though in that regard. If that happened, then yes contending in three seasons may be a real possibility.

And that's the key. If they don't end up with the elite talent, be it through the #1 pick, or the #4 pick, they can rebuild all they want, and they can have a real GM, and it won't make a difference. There will be a ceiling that they won't be able to break through. Unless they make trades, like Lombardi having to get both Richards and Carter. The likelihood of getting two players like that is probably small. They lucked out that Carter went to the wrong city, and cried his way out. The Kings might be able to get a player like that again, but they likely won't also get Richards. Maybe one or the other. As we saw, just getting Richards wasn't going to get this team anywhere. Not to mention all that, plus missing completely on a top 4 pick, and that didn't end up hurting. It should've though. In any proper rebuild, you can't miss on a #4 pick, and expect to still contend one day.

Speaking of the Bruins, Pastrnak, Marchand, Bergeron, Krejci, Krug, DeBrusk, Coyle, McAvoy, not one of them is a top 10 pick, let alone a top 5. But the Bruins are an exception to almost every rule. Not only has Marchand gotten more productive as he's aged into his 30's, but also exploded offensively only after signing a $6m cap hit contract. That helps keep a window open.

 

[Rusty Batch]

I think your premise is that each of these players will come in and make and immediate impact when they arrive. Most of them won't be on the scene until Kopitar has only two, or maybe one year remaining on his contract. I don't see the timing working out here, and unlike others I don't think Kopitar is going to be all that effective, especially in the offensive zone during the last couple of years of his deal.

My premise is simple, this is a hard cap league. ELC players, particularly highly rated prospects, provide a ton of value in a cap league due to their performance vs contract.

That value means nothing if you waste those ELC years by not spending to the cap to maximize the money you are saving on them.

The trick is not spending money on longterm contracts that will be there years after you sign the second contract of these ELC players.

However it's difficult to convince impact players to sign 3 or 4 year contracts when they can get 8 from someone else. Kopis is perfect for us.