Speculation: 2019-20 News/Rumors,Roster thread Post Deadline

[Ziggy Stardust]

Dave Taylor always coveted a big center. He drafted Olli Jokinen, Dave Steckel, Brian Boyle, etc., acquired Jozef Stumpel then Jason Allison, attempted to acquire Eric Lindros, Chris Gratton and Keith Primeau... so it would make sense that they had Kopitar ranked high on their list, likely followed by Martin Hanzal (who went six picks later).

 

[BallPointHammer]

All right everyone, start prepping the voodoo rituals and ceremonial shrines to the hockey gods. Imagine how salty the main boards would be if we ended up with LaFreniere after they watched the NJ, NYC, and Chicago jump past everyone last year.

Come the 2020 NHL draft Alexis LaFreniere will become a Los Angeles King! Damn the odds say the hockey gods. The franchise of Purple and Gold will welcome its newest phenom as the quest for Lord Stanley's Cup continues.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Dave Taylor likes his centers big.

 

[Rorschach]

If Kopitar was the highest rated player left by Central Scouting than, yes, he probably takes him. Taylor seemed to generally go off of that or very close to it.

This is true but more importantly, if this is Taylor, this also means Al Murray. And Murray had Kopitar at #2 OA, if I recall. For sure Taylor picks Kopitar unless he’s drafting Crosby.

 

[BringTheReign]

This is true but more importantly, if this is Taylor, this also means Al Murray. And Murray had Kopitar at #2 OA, if I recall. For sure Taylor picks Kopitar unless he’s drafting Crosby.

I've been happy with our drafting since that '05 draft, but I've been impressed with how well Al Murray has done in Tampa. His work is amplified by their patience in developing players in the AHL, but they've found some incredible value in the draft with Murray looking over things.

 

[Rorschach]

I've been happy with our drafting since that '05 draft, but I've been impressed with how well Al Murray has done in Tampa. His work is amplified by their patience in developing players in the AHL, but they've found some incredibly value in the draft with Murray looking over things.

Yes, I thought the exact same thing and it really makes me wonder...

...what changed in LA? I think it was ownership. Murray goes to a team with more stable ownership and front office and suddenly has lots of drafting and scouting success. LA switches to a stable and robust owner and then the front office is switched out (DT to DL), then the team becomes a top notch organization with the highest of expectations.

Strong ownership is extremely underrated.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[BringTheReign]

I'd love to see us sign Edmundson or target Dunn if St. Louis is up against the cap. I'd also be completely fine with Hutton returning, but I think the latter two players would be upgrades who could grow with the team.

 

[RocketKing]

I'd love to see us sign Edmundson or target Dunn if St. Louis is up against the cap. I'd also be completely fine with Hutton returning, but I think the latter two players would be upgrades who could grow with the team.

For sure. The Cap is going to play havoc with Teams Rosters this year. Could help us get a really good player.

 

[No Name The Nameless]

It's so nice hear real rumors

 

[AlphaBravo]

A veteran left-handed D makes sense. I am sure Bjornfot will be rotating in and out of the line up back and forth from AHL. 2021-22 we should be pretty good on D, and likely won't need a rental.

 

[Steve Zissou]

I'd love to see us sign Edmundson or target Dunn if St. Louis is up against the cap. I'd also be completely fine with Hutton returning, but I think the latter two players would be upgrades who could grow with the team.

Yup, and I'd rather not rush the kids.

Also...

 

[cyclones22]

There's plenty of time available to rotate Tobi, Clague and Macdermid on the left even if a Hutton or Edmundson is signed. I love what I've seen from Mikey and he certainly looks the part so far, but I imagine that there are going to be spells where he's going to need to sit and watch or go to Ontario for seasoning. I would expect 50 NHL games, but if he plays 70+ games next season, that means the Kings hit a home run with him which is what we're all hoping for. I'm really interested to see who TMc pairs with Drew. You know he wants Tobi. Let's see if he can earn his way to that spot.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Some options for next season:

- Put Kaliyev at RW along with Kopitar and Iafallo

- Slide Brown down to play with Grundstrom and either Carter, Amadio or Prokhorkin (depending on who’s healthy and performing well)

- Keep Vilardi with Kempe and Frk, and Lizotte with Wagner and Moore.

 

[LAKings88]

Carter out for Kings if season resumes because of core injury

 

[AlphaBravo]

Carter out for Kings if season resumes because of core injury

Hopefully he is ready when the season starts. He was pretty good this season, and will be a good vet to transition the youth.

 

[FrozenKing18]

Come the 2020 NHL draft Alexis LaFreniere will become a Los Angeles King! Damn the odds say the hockey gods. The franchise of Purple and Gold will welcome its newest phenom as the quest for Lord Stanley's Cup continues.

The Lakers?

 

[Sparky206]

Some options for next season:

- Put Kaliyev at RW along with Kopitar and Iafallo

- Slide Brown down to play with Grundstrom and either Carter, Amadio or Prokhorkin (depending on who’s healthy and performing well)

- Keep Vilardi with Kempe and Frk, and Lizotte with Wagner and Moore.

Will be interesting, the kempe lizotte and Wagner line was dynamic through parts this year, the production wasn't necessarily there but the shifts in momentum certainly were.

Could you imagine a frk - vilardi - kaliyev line with vilardi just feeding those two bombs, wouldn't want to be a goaltender

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

The quality of the games they’re replaying on FSW from 2014 are so bad, I can’t watch it. You can find a better quality version on YouTube.

 

[KopitarFAN]

Based on the UFA market as far as left shots go, the trade route seems a lot more likely. I don't look for Anderson or Bjornfot to be offensive dynamos, so maybe that's what they are looking for from that mystery left shot? Heck, if the draft takes place in October and they are picking ~7th, maybe that's what they dangle out there to try an get better without selling off everything?

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

The quality of the games they’re replaying on FSW from 2014 are so bad, I can’t watch it. You can find a better quality version on YouTube.

Yah, I don't get it....it's like they cheaped out in paying NBC for the HD feeds. So strange.

 

[BigKing]

Blake had a PC today where he talked about numerous topics. Rosen and Hoven have details on it.

For me, obviously, the big takeaway is all of the Big Mac love. I hate to say I told you so but I actually do not hate it at all. This is still a man's game and a dime a dozen, average defenseman that only carries a "good skating" attribute does not yet trump a guy that is an absolute stud in the locker room and has the other team talking about "look out for this guy" before the game.

While the argument has never been between Hutton and MacD--and I don't hate Hutton--the point is that Hutton is what he is and has zero special skills and is not a guy a winning team will roster. You simpletons that have been screaming for someone from Ontario to play over MacD just don't get it: if you can develop MacD to a point where he isn't a total liability, he is an extremely valuable--and cheap--asset. There aren't a lot of killers left in this league but MacD is a guy who will hit you at the blueline and you won't see the ice for three weeks after.

It's like some of you weren't around for the good years. Actually, it's more like you were here but you were the ones that always took a shit on Matt Greene because he took some penalties and wasn't Paul Coffey.

Anyways, I've talked about MacD's intangibles--especially how hard he works--and how he is a perfect guy for where this team is at. They can afford to give him ice time; it would be a real bonus if the Kings had a legit #6 that is also in the running for Heavyweight Champ and could also change the complexion of a playoff series with one hit.

I don't like Blake, as is duly noted, but I've pretty much been on board since the Muzzin trade: today's commentary makes me feel a lot better that he gets "it".

 

[BallPointHammer]

The Lakers?

The Kings original colors (1967 NHL Expansion) were purple and gold. Same as the Lakers since Jack Kent Cook owned both teams and The Forum.

 

[tny760]

You simpletons that have been screaming for someone from Ontario to play over MacD just don't get it: if you can develop MacD to a point where he isn't a total liability, he is an extremely valuable--and cheap--asset. There aren't a lot of killers left in this league but MacD is a guy who will hit you at the blueline and you won't see the ice for three weeks after.

he's not a liability at all and that stuff drives me crazy too

people seem to think you just grab 6 top pairing D in a salary capped league and obviously that doesn't happen. he's a great 3rd pairing guy who has the ability to PK. can't ask for anything more for <$1M

 

[Statto]

.

Could you imagine a frk - vilardi - kaliyev line with vilardi just feeding those two bombs, wouldn't want to be a goaltender

Maybe on the pp but 5/5 that’s horrible balance, 2 guys that are average skaters (Vilardi/Kaliyev) and two that are not known for their defensive play (Frk/Kaliyev). If you leave Kempe there instead of Kaliyev it drastically improves the make up of the line and we have already seen that Frk, Vilardi and Kempe can play together. I think you let them pick up from where they left off.

Kaliyev is an interesting one for next year. He’s too good for Junior, but has fundamentals he needs to improve to make the NHL. The current shutdown does give him (and others) a great opportunity to work on conditioning, so he can improve that but the rest of it requires ice time.

I don’t see Kaliyev playing a bottom 6 role, it just isn’t him. His skill set is all offensive and he’s never going to be a great 2 way forward, but offensively he could end up our best player one day. So if he makes the NHL next year the only spot for him on day one IMO is on Kopitar’s right side as he will need a good defensive centre that can also get the most out of his offensive skill set. He has the talent, but is he going to be ready? Given the Covid situation I’m not confident but maybe it would be worth a gamble. He won’t play with Vilardi (certainly not initially) and the other options are probably between Carter, Turcotte and Lizotte. You could make a case for Carter but his game isn’t reliable enough IMO to play alongside a rookie with some big questions about his defensive game. So if they give him a 9 game look it would have to be alongside Kopitar for me. Trying him with Kopitar and Iafallo would be a good balance and would be the best chance for Kaliyev to stick. His minutes could still be managed by having Brown step up as required, given his natural understanding with Kopi, so Kaliyev can still be protected easily when he has inevitable issues with tough match ups etc. It would be a gamble but if it works the pay off would be huge.

I personally don’t think he makes the NHL next year, except maybe the first 9 games. However IF he does I think it’s because he hits it off with the skipper. I love the kid and I think he has serious potential but they really need to make sure they handle his development very carefully.