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

[AzKing]

Explain.

I guess if you consider just building for the future and never really improving the current team on the ice a plan then there's that. There is no balance and no identity. That method is flawed because of the high bust factor with just going youth all the way. This is a team of aging vets and high ceiling kids with nothing much in between.

I can understand not trading for Eichel or Laine. They do have to try and position this team better though and create an identity. Right now it looks just like the vets are riding off into the sunset and they have some good young talent. That's about it.

 

[NikF]

You have to forget about the idea of marrying the incoming youth with an aging Kopitar and Doughty. Maybe you luck out and it happens but 99% of this franchise's focus should be on this being Byfield, Turcotte's etc. team and making plans strictly on that. Forcing the youth core to match an aging Kopitar and Doughty might lead to a botched rebuild altogether. This will be Byfield and Turcotte's team and all focus should be on insulating and supplementing that. The real hard problem is about adding a real #1 blueline option within that young age group. If you find that, then you are looking pretty good relative to contenders in terms of key pieces. Im afraid that Blake and co. might botch it by being focused on bridging the gap between the old core and the new one which might prove to be impossible regardless of the additions. Swallow the pill and suck it up, its going to take a year or two longer than what you think.

 

[SFKingshomer]

You have to forget about the idea of marrying the incoming youth with an aging Kopitar and Doughty. Maybe you luck out and it happens but 99% of this franchise's focus should be on this being Byfield, Turcotte's etc. team and making plans strictly on that. Forcing the youth core to match an aging Kopitar and Doughty might lead to a botched rebuild altogether. This will be Byfield and Turcotte's team and all focus should be on insulating and supplementing that. The real hard problem is about adding a real #1 blueline option within that young age group. If you find that, then you are looking pretty good relative to contenders in terms of key pieces. Im afraid that Blake and co. might botch it by being focused on bridging the gap between the old core and the new one which might prove to be impossible regardless of the additions. Swallow the pill and suck it up, its going to take a year or two longer than what you think.

This is probably correct. Some fans want them to fast track the rebuild to give the vets another crack and I don’t think that’s realistic.

 

[Fishhead]

This is probably correct. Some fans want them to fast track the rebuild to give the vets another crack and I don’t think that’s realistic.

I think that Blake will stick with his plan and try to fill slots ala Lombardi. He's already remarked that the team needs to be a little bigger, and he's right. This team needs two solid SAH types on the blueline, at least one of whom is imposing. I'm not too worried about picking up what is needed, this team has a crapload of assets right now.

If things start happening as the sun sets on Kopitar and Doughty, that's just gravy. I don't think it's a stretch to say both of those guys could play another 5 years, but there is certainly no rush.

 

[kovacro]

Haydn Fleury is a scratch for the Canes’ tonight. Clearly, he’s on his way to the Kings for Walker.

 

[Ray Martyniuk]

The team dropping games the past two weeks has moved me into the trade AI camp. If he wants to be here next year he can come back over summer, might as well pick up a few more assets now so Blake can be a little more aggressive when its time to add.

I'd trade Yafallo right now for almost nothing! If he wants so bad to play with Kopi he can sign for something reasonable. Yafallo is no first liner! Anyone on the Kings can see Yafallo is the beneficiary on the Kopi-Star,Shit-Brown line

 

[Herby]

This is probably correct. Some fans want them to fast track the rebuild to give the vets another crack and I don’t think that’s realistic.

Then Blake made a huge massive mistake in not trading any of the key vets when he had the chance. The goal should be either contending for SC's or building for SC's. If Kopitar, Quick and Doughty aren't in the plans for for either than why wasn't atleast one of them traded along the way to fill the building part. I understand you probably need one to put on billboards to sell tickets, but why both, and certainly why wasn't Carter moved when he had the chance?

Lombardi traded the Kings best player weeks after he arrived for an elite prospect and a 1st round pick. Even though POS and Lewis never set the world on fire it atleast sent the message that we were committed to the building part.

In hindsight, the 2018 season was one of the worst in the history of the franchise, even worse than 2015. Blake pulled fools gold out of his pan and set the rebuild back years.

 

[Ray Martyniuk]

No one is touching Jeff Carter with another year left at $5.2.

The Kings options are to either let him ride off into the sunset after next season or buy him out.

Kings are only paying Carts 2.0 M for next year

 

[Herby]

Kings are only paying Carts 2.0 M for next year

Yes, but his cap hit is $5.2.

Any team that wants to add Carter (and I think that ship has sailed) would likely be looking for him to play a veteran bottom-six role on a contending team. Most contending teams just don't have $5.2 mill in cap space. Even 50% retention would be tricky for some teams. But again, I seriously doubt there is any market for Jeff Carter.

 

[Schrute farms]

Haydn Fleury is a scratch for the Canes’ tonight. Clearly, he’s on his way to the Kings for Walker.

The base of that trade makes a LOT of sense for both the Canes & Kings.

 

[Ray Martyniuk]

No one is taking Quick or Carter. If there were interested parties, they would have been traded long ago, especially Carter. Quick still plays an important role as a reliable backup and he is not that expensive, considering we don't need his cap space. Keep Quick, and buyout or let Carter retire while sitting as a healthy scratch. We don't need his cap space either.

I think both Carts and Quicker get moved...Is that you Carolina...you want Quick sure...

 

[Herby]

Or waive him and assign him to the Manitoba Moose. He refuses to report. Terminate last year of contract.

People always say that teams should do stuff like this, but it never happens. The Kings already have a tough enough time getting people to want to play in LA, screwing over a player who spent 10 seasons with the franchise (many of those being significantly underpaid) to try and get him terminated isn't a good look. A buyout is a clean and fair break for both parties.

Hopefully Carter retires on his own and this is a moot point, but they can't bring him back next season, he's just taking up a spot.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

If the Kings aren't back in the playoffs by the end of the 2023-24 season, they picked the wrong players in the draft.

I am not expecting Kopitar to be much of a factor by then.

True, not just the draft but just about everything went wrong if we’re not in the playoffs by 2023.

 

[SFKingshomer]

Then Blake made a huge massive mistake in not trading any of the key vets when he had the chance. The goal should be either contending for SC's or building for SC's. If Kopitar, Quick and Doughty aren't in the plans for for either than why wasn't atleast one of them traded along the way to fill the building part. I understand you probably need one to put on billboards to sell tickets, but why both, and certainly why wasn't Carter moved when he had the chance?

Lombardi traded the Kings best player weeks after he arrived for an elite prospect and a 1st round pick. Even though POS and Lewis never set the world on fire it atleast sent the message that we were committed to the building part.

In hindsight, the 2018 season was one of the worst in the history of the franchise, even worse than 2015. Blake pulled fools gold out of his pan and set the rebuild back years.

Quick had no value and still probably doesn’t. Kopitar does but not as good because of his age and contract. I doubt he’s tried to move Doughty. Carter should have been moved. I’m sure he’s tried to improve the roster but you need a team willing to trade a top flight defenseman or some scoring help. What do you trade? For anything substantial then you’re talking Byfield, Turcotte, or Bjornfot. He can make smalls changes unless someone falls in his lap.

 

[Schrute farms]

Looked over the remaining schedule to see how much more of this we have left. We have a four game Anaheim Quacks upcoming-- four freaking straight games. Sandwiched in between three games with Arizona. What a turd sandwich.

 

[Reaper45]

People always say that teams should do stuff like this, but it never happens. The Kings already have a tough enough time getting people to want to play in LA, screwing over a player who spent 10 seasons with the franchise (many of those being significantly underpaid) to try and get him terminated isn't a good look. A buyout is a clean and fair break for both parties.

Hopefully Carter retires on his own and this is a moot point, but they can't bring him back next season, he's just taking up a spot.

Trust me I don’t expect it to happen but it’s still an option, however unrealistic it may be. He can’t honestly want to play next season for 2 million when he’s playing the way he is out there so I hope he retires this off-season as well.

 

[unicornpig]

Yes, but his cap hit is $5.2.

Any team that wants to add Carter (and I think that ship has sailed) would likely be looking for him to play a veteran bottom-six role on a contending team. Most contending teams just don't have $5.2 mill in cap space. Even 50% retention would be tricky for some teams. But again, I seriously doubt there is any market for Jeff Carter.

kings wont be close to the cap so his caphit wont matter.

 

[SFKingshomer]

Trust me I don’t expect it to happen but it’s still an option, however unrealistic it may be. He can’t honestly want to play next season for 2 million when he’s playing the way he is out there so I hope he retires this off-season as well.

Yea 2 million is nothing in LA when he should be sitting pretty well financially. He looks like his focus or timing is shot.

 

[KopitarFAN]

Honestly, I think if what they are looking for is a player and they aren't adding anything significant to the deal, we're gonna be very disappointed.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Gabriel Landeskog will be a UFA this summer...

 

[Sol]

Gabriel Landeskog will be a UFA this summer...

Landeskog is 8000 times the man than anyone else on the Kings combined. I'd love to have him on the Kings.

 

[Docgonzo]

Gabriel Landeskog will be a UFA this summer...

Signing a 28 year old physical power forward....what could go wrong.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

Yea 2 million is nothing in LA when he should be sitting pretty well financially. He looks like his focus or timing is shot.

2 million is enough for Carter to buy more surfboards and live well on the beach.

 

[kovacro]

Gabriel Landeskog will be a UFA this summer...

So will Ovi.

 

[King'sPawn]

No problem with trading Iafallo. I'd rather the Kings keep him if they can, but his role can be filled in by another player (like Moore, even if he doesn't have the same production). Kopitar is also skilled enough to carry a line.

Similarly, as other players can fill in the role that Carter was filling before his decline. If they want to trade him to a cash-strapped team trying to make the cap (Arizona), it would be worth pursuing.

I know many strongly have disagreed with me as far as timing. Some of you wanted to trade Carter when he had more value. However, this is where I feel the process is:
- establish a player
- let them play into/develop into a role
- as the player becomes a vet, make the youth challenge to overcome/take the role
- move the player if it's in the player and team's best interest.

This system:
- promotes competition internally
- doesn't force prospects into a role they aren't ready for
- doesn't have the team shopping/overspending on free agents (free agency, imo, is for depth)
- maintains a healthier relationship and reputation between players and the org.

Treating players like mere assets first and foremost, imo, is not how you handle people.