Speculation: 2020-21 LA Kings News/Roster/Rumors Discussion Part VI

[KopitarFAN]

Eichel is a move you make when you're a playoff team looking to take the next step. Trading for him now would be like LA trading for Richards before Doughty came aboard. I'd rather see them re-sign AA, grab a decent middle 6 guy with some grit, and trade for a PP defenseman like Ristolainen.

While this is accurate, I fully expect Blake to swing for the fences because the higher-ups are done waiting. Just hope it's a young-ish player who is signed beyond next season.

 

[SFKingshomer]

While this is accurate, I fully expect Blake to swing for the fences because the higher-ups are done waiting. Just hope it's a young-ish player who is signed beyond next season.

Source? I haven't seen anything that mentions that. There's also been a rumor that Laine wants to play in LA but I haven't seen any truth to it. He would be significantly cheaper but a big risk.

 

[KopitarFAN]

Source? I haven't seen anything that mentions that. There's also been a rumor that Laine wants to play in LA but I haven't seen any truth to it. He would be significantly cheaper but a big risk.

Start with just putting 2 and 2 together, AEG lost billions of dollars over the last 14 months, what better way to boost ST sales than adding a star or 2? Does that mean Eichel? No, I have different ideas.

The Mayor & Dennis Bernstein have been saying the same thing, but in more general terms, the roster is going to look very different.

 

[SFKingshomer]

Start with just putting 2 and 2 together, AEG lost billions of dollars over the last 14 months, what better way to boost ST sales than adding a star or 2? Does that mean Eichel? No, I have different ideas.

The Mayor & Dennis Bernstein have been saying the same thing, but in more general terms, the roster is going to look very different.

The good news is they're full of assets and cap space at the perfect time due to expansion. As long as it's not some idiotic move like Turcotte for a 29 year old with 1 year left on his deal.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Any chance we see a Turcotte, Fagemo, Kaliyev etc up in the last 3 games or so? Just curious if they are going to let them dip their toes in, has anyone heard anything?

 

[kingsboy11]

Any chance we see a Turcotte, Fagemo, Kaliyev etc up in the last 3 games or so? Just curious if they are going to let them dip their toes in, has anyone heard anything?

We've used our last call up on Kupari, so those 3 will remain with Ontario till their season is done.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

We've used our last call up on Kupari, so those 3 will remain with Ontario till their season is done.

Ok, appreciate it...

 

[Bandit]

You keep saying that you're ok with someone lying to you. I've never met an honest person say they are ok with that. Something to think about...

First of all, no one is "lying to me". Blake does know me from a pack of chewing gum.

Second, as I've said before and you continue to ignore, the Kings are selling a product. If you blindly believe the salesmen and ignore the evidence in front of your own eyes I don't know what to tell you, you're gonna be forever disappointed.

Finally this is a hockey team, it's not life & death. If you keep acting like you're being betrayed and mortally wounded by Blake & co. you're just gonna continue to have a really bad time.

 

[TruKingFan]

The real question for me is whether Blake and TM can build a winning team. Grade A prospects - check. Cap space - check. Most of the roster has been turned over aside from the "core". What else is there to do?

 

[BigKing]

I think the expectation for next season is that the youth already on the team will continue to develop as they get more comfortable at the NHL level. This is your Vilardi/Byfield/JAD/Bjornfot/Anderson. I put Byfield in as it is a formality that he'll be on the opening night roster. They are comfortable with Kopitar/Doughty/Roy/Kempe/Iafallo/. Here is a skeleton lineup based on just who I think is looked at as part of the long-term plan while not worrying about expansion draft stuff:

19-11-x
9-55-x
x-13-x
x-28-x

8-33
3-44
x-x

This isn't a "next year" lineup but just the guys that I feel are "for sure" dudes beyond next season barring any trades. So when it does come to next year, how do they get better? Going to be real interesting to see if Blake goes for a homerun in an Eichel or if he goes for something smaller--yet still significant--that allows him to keep more of the current prospect pool. I feel it is more of the latter and that's why I feel this year's 1st round pick is in play and is it can be used in place of current prospects already being groomed in the system. Blake's rebuild and DL's aren't the same but you can look at the Ryan Smyth and Williams trades and see that DL didn't push all of his chips in but he did move O'Sullivan and a 2nd for Williams and moved Quincey for Smyth. We can say that isn't much now but Quincey just put up 38 points at 23 years old while playing 21 minutes a night. O'Sullivan was also 23 and was an expected part of the long-term plan. I thought h was having a down year that season but he was actually trending for a better year than the one prior but he fell off a cliff once he hit Edmonton.

I don't believe in sitting on every prospect. Part of accumulating so many of them is to be able to deal from a position of strength. I'd like to see something in the way of an established NHL scorer and/or that Top 4 D get added this off season to accompany Byfield's first full season and, what I expect, the eventual introduction of Kaliyev and others.

So when I look at Buffalo, I think I really like Reinhart. Slot him in at RW and he takes care of a top line X on the right side as a long-term solution and is in the age range (25...26 in November) where the Kings are really lacking. The situation in Buffalo is why you keep your powder dry. I don't know the cost, but it would be less than Eichel but you'd be hedging on some of the prospect risk going back the other way while still getting a legit NHL player. Would most likely still allow for an even bigger swing at something later on since there would be more assets and cap space than in an Eichel deal.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

From Friedman's 31 Thoughts:
31 Thoughts: What caused the 'disconnect' between Eichel, Sabres

Anze Kopitar’s 1,000th point went too far under the radar. Here’s what’s really impressive about it: During his career, Los Angeles is 28th in goals scored, with 2,997. That’s 120 more than 30th-place New Jersey. The future Hall of Famer had to squeeze more out of the offensive rock than most. Pittsburgh, by the way, is first with 3,601.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I don't necessarily want it to happen but one more interesting thing to getting Eichel and signing Dougie is having just about a perfect age stratification on the roster

Prob wouldn't be enough but is the most I'm willing to give up

Vilardi, Kupari/Fagemo, Walker, 2021 1st, 2nd, 2022 2nd for Eichel

Kempe-Kopitar-Brown
Turcotte-Eichel-Kaliyev
Iafallo-Byfield-Moore
Andersson-JAD-whocaresi'mdrawingblanks

Bjornfot-Doughty
Anderson-Hamilton
Clague (haha) - Roy

I'm still very much in favor of just seeing what we've got but I can see a world in which AEG is pushing for an expedited timeline and I think this would make @tomd happier at least

 

[KINGS17]

That’s the rub, what’s the point of keeping the aging core (Doughty, Kopitar, quick etc) around if they aren’t going to compete anytime soon? If Blake thinks this team has a shot at the playoffs next season, he will probably make a move for Eichel. I also think AEG will be pressuring him to do it, and Eichel won’t be the only move for Blake.

Either way, Luc/Blake tenure is at a tipping point. This summer will be very interesting.

This was a mistake made at various points in time, which cannot be corrected now. We don't need Blake compounding these mistakes by trading away any players which may become part of a new core in the hopes of making the playoffs just to get blown out in the 1st round.

 

[ru4reals]

I don't necessarily want it to happen but one more interesting thing to getting Eichel and signing Dougie is having just about a perfect age stratification on the roster

Prob wouldn't be enough but is the most I'm willing to give up

Vilardi, Kupari/Fagemo, Walker, 2021 1st, 2nd, 2022 2nd for Eichel

Kempe-Kopitar-Brown
Turcotte-Eichel-Kaliyev
Iafallo-Byfield-Moore
Andersson-JAD-whocaresi'mdrawingblanks

Bjornfot-Doughty
Anderson-Hamilton
Clague (haha) - Roy

I'm still very much in favor of just seeing what we've got but I can see a world in which AEG is pushing for an expedited timeline and I think this would make @tomd happier at least

The funny thing is that might not be enough and what Buffalo wants for Eichel. I'd do that in a heartbeat but anything for Eichel starts with Byfield and I'm sure the Kings are not going to trade Byfield for anyone not McJesus.

 

[Sleeping Dog]

If you want to dump salary (Quick/Maatta), I think that is worth Kupari. You shouldn't be paying Quick that much to be a backup for 2 seasons.

The Kings are not a cap team, so JQ’s cap hit ($5.8m) is of no consequence. His salary of 3m & 2.5m isn’t too bad for a backup, especially with what he did for LA during his career. If we trade him, it won’t be for cap reasons.

 

[BigKing]

The funny thing is that might not be enough and what Buffalo wants for Eichel. I'd do that in a heartbeat but anything for Eichel starts with Byfield and I'm sure the Kings are not going to trade Byfield for anyone not McJesus.

They aren't dealing from a position of strength though so I think that he can be had while excluding Byfield; however, Vilardi is not enough as the centerpiece. If it gets done without Byfield, then it's going to be Turcotte.

 

[Schmooley]

Would love to see Eichel on the Kings but I dont think he is what they are looking for right now.
I think they go after Ristolainen, Sanheim if they dont think Clague will make the cut, and try to buy low on Laine and stick him next to Byfield.
If these types of moves fail then they will dumpster dive in free agency again.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

This was a mistake made at various points in time, which cannot be corrected now. We don't need Blake compounding these mistakes by trading away any players which may become part of a new core in the hopes of making the playoffs just to get blown out in the 1st round.

Yes it was a mistake, but there’s still time to get something of value if you do not believe this team is a playoff contender next season, and maybe not in 2022-23. You are just spinning your wheels at that point, we have cap space and can retain salary if need be to get assets in return.

I don’t think Blake/Robitaille will do it but hypothetically if you acquire Eichel, that makes Kopitar or Byfield expendable to fill other holes on the team. If Blake is going to go after Eichel, he needs to find his Stoll/Greene/Williams aka glue guys. Another reason to watch the playoffs this year, Blake will be watching to see who can help because Eichel isn’t going to carry the entire franchise and it’s a risk to count on unproven players.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

If the Kings are trading prime assets it's needs to be for an offensive LD or a scoring winger under 25. A healthy Eichel would obviously be a nice get, but his neck injury is frightening, and he doesn't fill either of the biggest potential holes on the roster.

And obviously Byfield is off the table regardless

 

[Martyros]

I'd go for Reinhart. RFA with the likes of not wanting to extend with Buffalo, plus he is not considered an elite talent...could come much cheaper than an injured Eichel.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I'd go for Reinhart. RFA with the likes of not wanting to extend with Buffalo, plus he is not considered an elite talent...could come much cheaper than an injured Eichel.

Makes a lot more sense to pursue Reinhart as well. He’s 25, has scored 20+ goals in five of the last six seasons (and would’ve hit 30+ goals if the past two seasons weren’t cut short), and he’s a top line RW, which the Kings desperately need.

If Kopitar and Brown are attached at the hip, then give Vilardi or Byfield a competent winger who can put the puck in the net.

 

[Matt13]

Start with just putting 2 and 2 together, AEG lost billions of dollars over the last 14 months, what better way to boost ST sales than adding a star or 2? Does that mean Eichel? No, I have different ideas.

The Mayor & Dennis Bernstein have been saying the same thing, but in more general terms, the roster is going to look very different.

I don't think AEG losing billions equate's to them necessarily swinging for the fences.

According to hockeydb, the average attendance in 18-19 was 18,001 to 19-20 which was 16,916 which could be a flawed number because of Covid. On average lets say they can sell tickets at $75 a pop, AEG is only really looking at an extra $3,000,000 in home game revenue if they create a better team and get those numbers back up to the 18,000 mark.

Not knowing how many people have given up ST, etc, you can only guess, but I would say that AEG would actually be saving millions by not spending money and even having 15,000 a night show up on a lower payroll. However, I doubt that to be the case as people are dying to spend money and get out. Most people aren't hardcore fans and will still attend regardless of how bad we think the Kings are.

I've never know AEG to really want to win hockey games.......soccer, that's a different story.

 

[SFKingshomer]

Reinhart would be a good add but Turcotte or Vilardi are probably the cost.

 

[Reaper45]

Reinhart would be a good add but Turcotte or Vilardi are probably the cost.

2 2nds and Thomas instead.

 

[kilowatt]

Reinhart would be a good add but Turcotte or Vilardi are probably the cost.

I'm not paying that for Reinhart ¯\_(ツ)_/¯