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

[YP44]

Totally agree, that buyout would have possibly allowed us to bring back Mitchell, or even offer Iginla the contract Colorado gave him.

interesting that on a recent kings of the pod, DL tried to trade Florida to get Willie back. Would have loved that.

 

[Reclamation Project]

No one mentioning he was a MONSTER in the second Cup run. 14 goals in 22 games. Almost a PPG player that season. You always extend that player.

 

[deaderhead28]

The only way I can wrap my head around it is that they are hoping Seattle prefers Grundstrom or AA over Clague.

Because otherwise I don't know why we wouldn't qualify AA like Hoven claims. If he doesn't fit into the plans for next season there's no reason why you wouldn't qualify him and then try to shop him after the expansion draft once teams no longer have to worry about protecting players. He's certainly got at least mid-round pick trade value.

Or it's simply Clague has fallen out of favor in L.A.


(Edit) The Kraken also have an exclusive window from July 18-21 to interview and potentially sign pending free agents who were left unprotected in the expansion draft. If they sign a player in that window it counts as their pick from that players' former team.

 

[Kudelski37]

Or it's simply Clague has fallen out of favor in L.A.

Seattle can only take so many defensemen by rule. Maybe Blake thinks Seattle will take those dmen from other teams and pick a forward or Quick from LA. Reading the main board, lots of fans seem to think their teams are going 7-3-1 which would leave lots of #4s available.

 

[YP44]

Seattle can only take so many defensemen by rule. Maybe Blake thinks Seattle will take those dmen from other teams and pick a forward or Quick from LA. Reading the main board, lots of fans seem to think their teams are going 7-3-1 which would leave lots of #4s available.

no chance they take Quick..hell i think they would take Wagner before Quick. Lots of good goalies available to them

 

[BringTheReign]

Freidman said that the Canucks are not shopping him but more he was available in a specific trade for a specific player.

Ah, that makes sense. I could see him bringing in a high potential young defenseman.

 

[Mats26]

I am a bit surprised to see Brown's name on the protected list - altruistic sentiment aside, the logic of exposing (a superior version, even, of) him 4 years ago and yet protecting him now doesn't inherently make sense to me. "Somebody has to score goals for this team" - right; why not take a chance that one of the kids can fill that role? You might even get some decent two-way play out of the newbie!

OTOH, they theoretically had better players to protect during the Vegas draft (and Brown's contract had quite a bit more term left at that point), so maybe that's the reason. And looking at the exposed list, it's not like they're (probably) looking at losing the next Luc Robataille (although I still haven't completely given up on Grundstrom, but I just don't think it's going to happen with the Kings). Lastly, they COULD be hoping to use Brown as trade bait to a contender at the deadline - although if he starts this season the way he finished the last one, that's probably a pipe-dream...

Brown can be flipped for picks at the TDL, the other unprotected forwards have little value. It's the only reason I would protect Brown at this point in his career. The flip side is his 6 milllion in cap space freed up can help us net Landeskog if he hits UFA.

With Brown protected AA is still a good option, as Seattle still needs to score and provide some entertainment.

 

[unicornpig]

think the kraken take AA or lemeiux

 

[Kudelski37]

no chance they take Quick..hell i think they would take Wagner before Quick. Lots of good goalies available to them

I was being thorough. Seattle might need to make an odd pick or two to meet the cap floor. Do they only need to be cap compliant starting at the end of training camp?

 

[kovacro]

I was being thorough. Seattle might need to make an odd pick or two to meet the cap floor. Do they only need to be cap compliant starting at the end of training camp?

This is true. Once the protected lists come out, people should give CapFriendly expansion draft tool a go. It's pretty interesting exercise to put the Seattle roster together while meeting the expansion draft requirements. I have a few odd picks just based on projected player availability and meeting said requirements.

Re: cap compliancy, I believe it has to be by opening night but I'll leave that to those in the know to confirm.

 

[kingsfan28]

I actually think the Gaborik deal was very defensible, that was a sign DL knew time was limited and gave term to keep the cap hit down. Unfortunately Gabby's injury history returned, but if he stays healthyish for another two years, no one says a word. Keep in mind he popped in a 27 goal season even pretty hobbled. That's great value.

It just looks like a shit sandwich because the volume of mediocre-to-bad deals because insurmountable, we crossed the event horizon.

Once we crossed and got sucked into the maw, it was spaghettification city for the team.

 

[kingsfan28]

No one mentioning he was a MONSTER in the second Cup run. 14 goals in 22 games. Almost a PPG player that season. You always extend that player.

Getzlaf was such a prick in that series. He took a cheap shot at every goal scorer after they scored when he was on the ice.

 

[YP44]

I was being thorough. Seattle might need to make an odd pick or two to meet the cap floor. Do they only need to be cap compliant starting at the end of training camp?

Have you done the Seattle Expansion draft tool on Cap Friendly? Seattle will have no issues being cap compliant. If not directly from the draft they can pick up LTIR guys like Weber

 

[Schrute farms]

That game 1 tying goal against the ducks does not happen without post-2014 whipping boy Mike Richards. Yes Gabs put that goal in the net with a heck of a goal, but the effort along the boards and pass by Richards was the reason they tied it ....& obviously went on to eventually win the game, series and Cup. Mike Richards -- 2014 SC champion

 

[Sol]

With all the veteran UFA Dmen on the market the Kings should be able to sign one of them.

 

[SFKingshomer]

Mike Reilly is probably the best option.

 

[redcard]

Or it's simply Clague has fallen out of favor in L.A.


(Edit) The Kraken also have an exclusive window from July 18-21 to interview and potentially sign pending free agents who were left unprotected in the expansion draft. If they sign a player in that window it counts as their pick from that players' former team.

No, because Clague's exposed either way. So that wouldn't factor into the discussion of which forwards to keep, unless you would prefer to keep Clague and want to deter Seattle by leaving a few enticing but replaceable forward options available to them.

Not necessarily. The guy went from a potential star to a flop in Edmonton to signing a $1.2 one year deal as a UFA.

I think there is a book out on Athanasiou, and it isn't positive. Last year was his reclamation time, but it didn't go very well. Lots of things to like in his game, but there is something there that casts him in less than positive light.

But he still scored at a 40 point pace through the shortened season. It doesn't matter that he was a potential star, he is a 40 point guy. And 40 point 26 year olds are worth $1.2 mil contracts and have trade value. I don't understand why we wouldn't just give him a qualifying offer and then try to shop him if he's not a fit.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

No, because Clague's exposed either way. So that wouldn't factor into the discussion of which forwards to keep, unless you would prefer to keep Clague and want to deter Seattle by leaving a few enticing but replaceable forward options available to them.



But he still scored at a 40 point pace through the shortened season. It doesn't matter that he was a potential star, he is a 40 point guy. And 40 point 26 year olds are worth $1.2 mil contracts and have trade value. I don't understand why we wouldn't just give him a qualifying offer and then try to shop him if he's not a fit.

Pertaining to Clague - I do not think he fell out of favor. Todd said good things about his last stint - "his reads and defensive play was better than last time". I thought Clague played well and wished he had a chance. I honestly think the Kings want a #1 LHD and the other 2 slots are for Anderson and Bjornfot and that just leaves Clague out. So, not so much out of favor thing. I also think they know they need some size too, and Toby and Anderson are both apx 6'0" 200 and that the #1LHD should be more 6'2" 210 type.

As far as AA...I think they were talking deal - especially when he had that good run and also dropped the gloves a few times - then had that lackluster last 3 weeks. I think at that point, they wanted to seek other options....I truly think they want 3-4 new forwards and that AA is not in the plans. 1. Arvidsson. 2. Byfield. 3. One of: Tkachyev , Kupari, Turcotte, Kaliyev. 4. A new addition' like Reinhart, Bertuzzi, ?

3 to 4 of those certainly leave AA out. I think if his last 3 weeks here, were like his prior month, he may have got a contract.

 

[tbrown33]

AA is an interesting case, as he's definitely a plus player overall and has decent value offensively. But it's pretty clear he's bad defensively and has shown no signs of improving there.

Problem is, and I think this was demonstrated by how long it took him to sign a contract last year — what is his ideal fit on a roster? If he can get back to 18-19 levels, you can justify having him on your 2nd line. But he's too poor in his own end to really fit in on the bottom 6. And not exactly a big contributor on the power play (and nil on the PK).

Very very skilled with the puck, great stick and has tremendous wheels - but if he's not in your top 6 I think teams view him as a bit too much of a liability. And he's not giving you much of anything on special teams other than maybe some PP2 time.

 

[tbrown33]

Keep in mind the Kings also added Tkachyov (Tkachev) who over his past two KHL seasons has scored at a 50+ point pace respective to an 82 game NHL season according to the NHLe calculator.

NHLe Calculator - Frozen Tools

No idea if he comes close to sniffing that in the NHL (who knows what his opportunities will even be with the Kings) but I would take that as a sign that the Kings might be moving on from AA.

 

[BigKing]

View attachment 453413
AA is an interesting case, as he's definitely a plus player overall and has decent value offensively. But it's pretty clear he's bad defensively and has shown no signs of improving there.

Problem is, and I think this was demonstrated by how long it took him to sign a contract last year — what is his ideal fit on a roster? If he can get back to 18-19 levels, you can justify having him on your 2nd line. But he's too poor in his own end to really fit in on the bottom 6. And not exactly a big contributor on the power play (and nil on the PK).

Very very skilled with the puck, great stick and has tremendous wheels - but if he's not in your top 6 I think teams view him as a bit too much of a liability. And he's not giving you much of anything on special teams other than maybe some PP2 time.

He seems like a classic "points on a bad team" dude. Guy played one time for a "playoff team" and vanished.

 

[tbrown33]

He seems like a classic "points on a bad team" dude. Guy played one time for a "playoff team" and vanished.

He's a one dimensional player, but he's very good at that dimension. The other problem is that he's a bit streaky, so when he's not scoring like at the end of last season, he is a huge negative on your roster.

 

[BigKing]

He's a one dimensional player, but he's very good at that dimension. The other problem is that he's a bit streaky, so when he's not scoring like at the end of last season, he is a huge negative on your roster.

Yeah...I don't dislike him. It's in my contract to at least not dislike the guy that finishes 2nd on the team in fighting majors.

Protecting Brown would seem to not be "smart"; however, if the choice is another season or two of AA or Brown retires a King, I'm completely fine with it as it won't matter much on the ice.

 

[johnjm22]

that is crazy ass if true.

If Kaprizov thinks he is worth more than that Guerrin should deal him to Buffalo right now

I mean he scored at a 40 goal pace as a rookie.

He's entering his prime. If you're gonna spend big money on a player, this is the situation to do it.

 

[redcard]

Even taking all of that into consideration, he's still worth the measly 1 year x $1.2 mil it would take to qualify him. There still has to be teams that would be willing to part with a 4th? 5th? to fill out their rosters after the expansion draft. I can accept whatever reason they would have to not protect him in the draft, but all you have to do is offer him what is a very reasonable QO to retain a tradeable asset for another year.