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

[BigBrown]

This will be the 9th straight year that Buffalo has drafted in the top 8 and that includes a #1 and two #2 (and that doesn't include a #1-#3 pick this year). So drafting high doesn't guarantee anything if your management team is completely incompetent. There's nothing wrong with free agency as long as you get the right guys.

That's what I said. However if the right guys aren't there, and they rarely are for the Kings since they all go to the Rangers or whatever, no move is better than a bad move.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

I like how Luc Robitaille proves my point with his email to the fans. Articulate no plans but the team will contend for cups again!

How much longer are King fans going to be suckers?

 

[tomd]

I like how Luc Robitaille proves my point with his email to the fans. Articulate no plans but the team will contend for cups again!

How much longer are King fans going to be suckers?

Someday (probably soon) the fans will realize how much damage Blake and Luc are doing to the franchise. I'm sure AEG is watching closely as well.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

Fox said during the first Avs tire fire game that it was Kupari's last game because it was his sixth game and they wanted the ELC to slide.

Later on, he said on air that Blake texted him to let him know he was wrong and that Kupari already had too many seasons under his belt. So, yeah, this broadcast team isn't going to go out of its way to question anything...not that I expect team employees to do so on a broadcast.

What I don't like is that Rosen didn't totally bite his tongue when he was the LAKI. He immediately called the Pearson trade resource mismanagement but I doubt we ever get that from whomever is writing for it now.

LAKI was supposed to be independent from the organization, at least that’s how it started when Hammond was writing for the blog, and had no problem questioning DL and his staff. The difference is, DL was a confident guy that did his homework, coupled with knowledge/experience from his previous stops. Plus he was a lawyer so DL didn’t mind arguing or getting into it with reporters or fans that had questions.

Now everything has changed from broadcast to LAKI. We don’t hear much, if at all about what the plan is or the vision these guys have but they have doggie calendars and cupcakes etc. Total opposite of what we had from the previous regime. Sometimes I wonder if Bob watches the games and thinks to himself, what the hell is this?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I like how Luc Robitaille proves my point with his email to the fans. Articulate no plans but the team will contend for cups again!

How much longer are King fans going to be suckers?

You’re overthinking a fluff end of season courtesy email thanking fans. It reads like something composed from their public relations staff. Anyone who reads anymore into this is really reaching to find something to complain about.

Also, Rich Hammond left his post in 2013, because he gave a player rep, Kevin Westgarth, a platform to vent about the CBA negotiations and labor dispute. That is what led to him leaving.

 

[Kudelski37]

Someday (probably soon) the fans will realize how much damage Blake and Luc are doing to the franchise. I'm sure AEG is watching closely as well.

The Kings are just above the cap floor, have lots of picks, the best prospect pool, and have few old players. This is opposite of a damaged franchise. See 2017 if you want to see a damaged Kings franchise.

 

[tomd]

The Kings are just above the cap floor, have lots of picks, the best prospect pool, and have few old players. This is opposite of a damaged franchise. See 2017 if you want to see a damaged Kings franchise.

Yeah, they are in great shape except for a significant lack of talent at the NHL level. No big deal there. Oh, and their best player just initiated the first step towards what could be a trade request. No biggie. I'm sure Luc could spin all that into gold given enough time spent with his PR staff.

 

[Kudelski37]

Yeah, they are in great shape except for a significant lack of talent at the NHL level. No big deal there. Oh, and their best player just initiated the first step towards what could be a trade request. No biggie. I'm sure Luc could spin all that into gold given enough time spent with his PR staff.

Oh no. Drew wants the team to add scoring somehow....just like the fans and the front office want to do. The team has all options available since they aren't in shambles.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Just wanted to stick up for my guy MacD.

Yes, he took a step back this season. The numbers don't lie. He sucked. That said, any of you that want to say the Kings are a playoff team if he didn't play at all have had a lot of air let out of that balloon by seeing this team play like trash without him as well.

Roy in his exit interview saying he gets excited being paired with MacDermid just once again reiterates my point that he is a real character guy on a team that seems devoid of character. He wasn't given the two year contract because he was going to be the key piece of a Cup contender: it was a reward for the work that he has put in for years and because that work is something that Management wants the young guys to see and be around.

Blake never expected contention this year so MacDermid playing a lot of games doesn't matter. I would hope that those crucifying MacDermid can now be at a point where they can see that this team's issue wasn't MacDermid playing instead of Clague but rather that it just isn't good enough top-to-bottom no matter who is playing in place of MacDermid. As a matter of fact, the Kings should have a better draft pick thanks to Kurtis and who cares if they won four more games? They finished 14 points out of the playoffs haha.

Guy has a cap hit of $875,000. We'll see what the off-season brings but I think the Kings will be perfectly fine to carry him again as the #7D that plays maybe 30 games or they send him down and have ZERO problems paying him that $875k to be a total professional and bad-ass down in Ontario. Captain material. I think the latter is a real possibility and, if that happens, there is real value to it and it is completely worth the contract and every goal against that can be pinned on him this past season.

Maybe not but when you're playing MacDermid as a #4 and leaving Clague on the bench...

 

[Little Psycho]

Starts at 0:48

 

[SFKingshomer]

Sure, all things to be discussed in your exit interview or away from cameras. This was ridiculously childish and all part and parcel of the problem here - entitled players using their longterm contracts to leverage out coaches they don't want to play for, and now publicly using that leverage against the general manager to try and maximize TWO players remaining prime years.

Don't understand the need to rebuild Drew? Its because your team failed in 15, 16, 17 and 18 when the team was loaded with veterans and spent to the cap. THAT was your chance.

You were gifted a second chance you didn't deserve when Blake came in and acted against the teams best interests instead of tearing it down right away.

Your team has won one playoff game in 7 years. You aren't good enough to challenge anymore. Your Cup days here are over. Either get on board with what must happen here or be the bad guy and force your way out. Don't demand to be catered to as your frustration mounts. That is not the leadership your team needs from you.

You and maybe if Doughty didn't play like ass alongside his complacent teammates then maybe things would be different. He also didn't give a discount and neither did Kopitar. I never understand players who want max term and money when it takes away from being able to improve the team around them. We need more Tom Brady's in all sports, shit even MacKinnon.

 

[SFKingshomer]

Doughty has value but only if the Kings eat 3-4 million per year which seems unlikely for AEG.

 

[BigKing]

Maybe not but when you're playing MacDermid as a #4 and leaving Clague on the bench...

Playing Clague instead could have them drafting three spots lower. Mission accomplished!!

I've teased it during the season when everyone was mind-boggled by T-Mac's lineup decisions--and Blake's roster decisions--but my tin-foil-hat claim that this guy was icing weaker rosters on purpose isn't so wild if he has complete job security. Now, that doesn't mean he can get away with icing Rymsha in Game 25 but he can dick around with the lines and continue to play MacD as a #4. They can also tell MacD to be aggressive and pinch all of the f***ing time when the dude never did that before because he knows he is slow.

Why not if you are T-Mac? Putting Raccoon Jesus on the "Fire T-Mac" train doesn't mean anything to T-Mac as he collects his $5MM and knows that the final result this year doesn't impact his job security: what matters more is the better assets (lower finish = better 2nd, 3rd round etc.) this season provides to help make his job easier when the results actually matter for him. Five year contract at the start of a rebuild is an insane contract and means he has a lot of rope.

 

[Rusty Batch]

You and maybe if Doughty didn't play like ass alongside his complacent teammates then maybe things would be different. He also didn't give a discount and neither did Kopitar. I never understand players who want max term and money when it takes away from being able to improve the team around them. We need more Tom Brady's in all sports, shit even MacKinnon.

MacKinnon opted for long term security and signed the contract after putting up 52 points in 72 games and being third on his team in scoring. The season before that he put up 38 points in 64 games. A couple years after his contract he blew up and it looks amazing. But it's revisionist history to think he signed that contract as a favor to the team. He opted for long term security over a big payday at a time when he hadn't yet emerged.

 

[SFKingshomer]

MacKinnon opted for long term security and signed the contract after putting up 52 points in 72 games and being third on his team in scoring. The season before that he put up 38 points in 64 games. A couple years after his contract he blew up and it looks amazing. But it's revisionist history to think he signed that contract as a favor to the team. He opted for long term security over a big payday at a time when he hadn't yet emerged.

He's already made the comment that he will take less money on his next deal because he wants to win.

 

[Rusty Batch]

That being said I would not at all be surprised if after Kopi and Doughtys contracts end. That they would be the types to stick around on cheap short term contracts and do exactly what you are hoping they do. Which is one of the reasons why I don't think either one of them should be viewed as unable to continue to provide value to this franchise years from now.

 

[Rusty Batch]

He's already made the comment that he will take less money on his next deal because he wants to win.

Well I'll wait to celebrate him when that happens. But it's cool that he has indicated that.

 

[SFKingshomer]

Someday (probably soon) the fans will realize how much damage Blake and Luc are doing to the franchise. I'm sure AEG is watching closely as well.

You mean setting the team up for future success? You bitch a lot for someone that doesn't give any ideas on what the team should have done with an aging roster, little to no cap space, and no assets to improve. The only course of action was to rebuild and we are in year 2 of it.

 

[bland]

That's what I said. However if the right guys aren't there, and they rarely are for the Kings since they all go to the Rangers or whatever, no move is better than a bad move.

Take a look at this upcoming summer's UFAs.

The right guys are most definitely not there, this is the worst group of free agents in memory. There are a couple of bridge players I would target, buy they are all over 30 and are most definitely not impact players.

But the "sign somebody NOW" crowd doesn't care about fit or structure.

Any impact move will have to come via trade. Trading in the dark is not an advisable strategy, especially since you can't throw a rock without hitting an area of weakness that needs to be improved. You simply don't know what you have yet, and this gap (which will extend into next season) developed because almost all of the top prospects came within the last two drafts. It's just too soon to be certain what needs to be improved MOST.

In my opinion, these are the chips Blake should have in play: 2022 1st and 2nd rounder, Vilardi, Kupari, Clague, Grans, Kempe and Walker. Lots of very good assets to consider moving, many of which would hurt to lose. I love Vilardi, but if you are looking for an impact acquisition, the redundancy of top 6 center options isn't in his favor.

Byfield, Turcotte, Kaliyev, Thomas, Bjornfot, Anderson and Faber are completely off limits.

 

[SFKingshomer]

FA is not an option, it must come via trade or offer sheet. I don't mind making a couple moves but mortgaging the farm for the vets that have failed to show anything in 7 years is beyond idiotic. Drew can claim they want to win all they want but their on ice effort does not show that.

 

[Matt13]

Starts at 0:48

I fell asleep. What did he say?

 

[Kurrilino]

That being said I would not at all be surprised if after Kopi and Doughtys contracts end. That they would be the types to stick around on cheap short term contracts and do exactly what you are hoping they do. Which is one of the reasons why I don't think either one of them should be viewed as unable to continue to provide value to this franchise years from now.

Our best players in every key positions are not able to force their game on any opponent team of the league.
Since years our 1st line isn't able to dominate or even remotely control the game.

I don't see any value keeping those guys around.
If any they show our youngsters what not to do. But this is hardly value.

Same with the coaching staff. Since years and years we have the same kind of guy. No creativity, entering the o-zone at the board, dump in, if winning the corner pass back to defense.
This is not hockey. People played that style 40 years ago.
We need a fresh young unknown coach who knows that a hockey rink has another end beside the own goal.
Someone why skips training units but forced everyone to watch Avalanche games without any end.
This is future hockey, fast aggressive and any player on the roster is able to beat the opponent 1 on 1.
Our recent coach has a history to create nothing else but choking artists, so he is not the answer.

In short, i am sick and tired of Kopitar and Doughty. Trade them would contribute way more to the Kings than having those crying babies around.
The reality is, we are in full swing rebuild mode. We better do not destroy any progress with short term fixes

 

[tbrown33]

Yeah, they are in great shape except for a significant lack of talent at the NHL level. No big deal there.

I mean, it really isnt that big of a deal. They are in a rebuild. Every rebuilding team lacks NHL talent.

 

[KINGS17]

Woulda been the perfect year

As would 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019.

Every step of the way their were opportunities to move out a Stanley Cup winning player to improve the asset pool earlier than it was done.

 

[KINGS17]

That being said I would not at all be surprised if after Kopi and Doughtys contracts end. That they would be the types to stick around on cheap short term contracts and do exactly what you are hoping they do. Which is one of the reasons why I don't think either one of them should be viewed as unable to continue to provide value to this franchise years from now.

Kopitar, maybe. Doughty...I don't see it.