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

[DoktorJeep]

How much longer is Kopitar a #1C? Because Iafallo’s production is tied to riding shotgun to Kopi. Realistically, Anze could continue to score 70-85 pts for 2-3 more years. That will be good enough to keep Vilardi and Byfield below him on the depth chart.

If AI hits the open market, he’ll be looking to maximize his earnings. 3-4 year deals might be offered, which would force the Kings into a bigger decision about the commitment they’re comfortable making.

I think 3 years at $4.75M cap hit is in line with a scenario that keeps him at #1 LW for Kopitar. You would hope for no player rights to restrict trades and I’d overpay to get that if the years was kept to 3 max.

 

[Fishhead]

Iafallo is probably getting around 4.25. He's comparable to Killorn, Palat or Johnson in TB, guys who aren't line drivers but see time on the top line. Johnson is at 5M, Palat is as 5.3, Killorn is right around 4.5M. Keep in mind those numbers are with favorable tax situations, so Iafallo getting around 5M would be his value in a normal year. Who knows what the Covid affect will look like, but 4.5M wouldn't surprise me in the least.

Iafallo is right there with those guys, and TB seems to be having pretty good success with that level of player to supplement their top guys. I don't see why the Kings wouldn't re-sign him. In a few years when some of the top prospects emerge he would be part of a pretty formidable offensive group. The defense is already looking promising.

 

[King'sPawn]

Let's not oversimplify things. It's not about $x million per y points. Kopitar benefits from playing with him as well. Not everyone can hang with him.

 

[AlphaBravo]

If Iafallo's deal is short term (2-3 yrs) the annual rate doesn't really matter since we have so much cap space. I would not give him a long-term deal, as our blue chip prospects may overtake his spot in the top 6, and render him to an expensive bottom 6er.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Let's not oversimplify things. It's not about $x million per y points. Kopitar benefits from playing with him as well. Not everyone can hang with him.

Absolutely. It’s a much more symbiotic relationship than many here are willing to concede. AI is a good f***ing hockey player, not just some passenger, and there’s still the issue of who replaces him if he’s gone.

If Iafallo's deal is short term (2-3 yrs) the annual rate doesn't really matter since we have so much cap space. I would not give him a long-term deal, as our blue chip prospects may overtake his spot in the top 6, and render him to an expensive bottom 6er.

Kind of my point earlier too. It’s not that he’s not worth it, or that we can’t swing moneybags around; we can beat anyone’s offer for AI and offer things they can’t (next to Kopitar). But I would hesitate on term unless it’s a bargain basement cap hit.

If they were to trade him or tell him kick rocks on a contract, though, I could see Turcotte being AI on roids.

 

[Schmooley]

Iafallo is probably getting around 4.25. He's comparable to Killorn, Palat or Johnson in TB, guys who aren't line drivers but see time on the top line. Johnson is at 5M, Palat is as 5.3, Killorn is right around 4.5M. Keep in mind those numbers are with favorable tax situations, so Iafallo getting around 5M would be his value in a normal year. Who knows what the Covid affect will look like, but 4.5M wouldn't surprise me in the least.

Iafallo is right there with those guys, and TB seems to be having pretty good success with that level of player to supplement their top guys. I don't see why the Kings wouldn't re-sign him. In a few years when some of the top prospects emerge he would be part of a pretty formidable offensive group. The defense is already looking promising.

Didnt every team in the league pass on Johnson at 5m on waivers though?
Iafallo picked up his play the past 4 games and is looking like he did in the previous years. Hope he can keep up the intensity. I think hes found an ideal spot on the Kings and they work out a fair deal for both sides. Thinking its going to be 3-4 years at 4.5m.

 

[Papa Mocha 15]

If we're putting a pool together, I'll take AI at 4 years, 4.8 million. He'll be needed for playoffs when the team comes together. He's consistent, forechecks and plays on special teams.

 

[Fishhead]

Didnt every team in the league pass on Johnson at 5m on waivers though?
Iafallo picked up his play the past 4 games and is looking like he did in the previous years. Hope he can keep up the intensity. I think hes found an ideal spot on the Kings and they work out a fair deal for both sides. Thinking its going to be 3-4 years at 4.5m.

Yeah, he's really fallen off. Funny how everyone thought that contract was a steal at the time and bemoaned how TB had the unfair advantage with taxes and such. Now they can't unload it. I guess it just shows that any contract can turn good or bad. Brown went from a lead weight to a guy who is earning his money and then some. It's just hard to predict.

Like mentioned above, it's all about term with Iafallo. 3 years would be perfect, I could handle 4. These are his prime years and it would set him up to cash in at 31 before he starts losing value.

 

[Fishhead]

edit

 

[KingTech]

Iafallo @ 4 million or less is a no brainer sign him now sorta deal. 4 million -4.5 would be a bit much but i would sign him. If he wants any more then this trade him I see him as a 3rd liner in a couple years and any more money is to much.

 

[DoktorJeep]

A replacement for Iafallo one for one is short sighted. The way to look at is that the Kings are spending around $11M next year for first line wings if IA and DB skate with Kopitar. Could that money be spent better?

Would a Laine and Lowry combination for $14M help the club make the playoffs next season at better odds versus what is currently there? It’s incumbent upon management to up the talent level if the goal is to be competitive anytime soon. The best way to move the needle is to pay for players who get you over the hump.

Because if you don’t get internal growth, you risk staying the same or more likely going backwards because of regression, injuries and lack of prospect development.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Sabres fan. Has Blake or someone else close to the Kings said they wouldn’t be interested in an Eichel trade?
Thanks in advance

 

[AzKing]

Sabres fan. Has Blake or someone else close to the Kings said they wouldn’t be interested in an Eichel trade?
Thanks in advance

A trade of assets right now for a guy who is out for the year with a neck injury would be a big no. Necks and Backs are injuries that could wreck a career so he will have to show he can return before anyone ponies up something of major value for him.

 

[KingLB]

Sabres fan. Has Blake or someone else close to the Kings said they wouldn’t be interested in an Eichel trade?
Thanks in advance

Doubt you hear anything “official” as that would be tampering.

A trade of assets right now for a guy who is out for the year with a neck injury would be a big no. Necks and Backs are injuries that could wreck a career so he will have to show he can return before anyone ponies up something of major value for him.

If Buf said we are trading now get your offers in, nobody is backing away because of that right now. Due diligence may be done, but the thought that teams are now afraid of an asset that never hits the market because of this, is overstating the impact of the injury.

 

[BringTheReign]

Crossposted from myself in a previous thread about Iafallo (does not include Toffoli as a comparable but I believe his 4 x $4.25M is another good measuring stick):

I looked up publicly available player similarity data for Iafallo (courtesy of De Lara Analytics), and these were the top 6 names that came up for his career through last season (April 2020).

If you check CapFriendly for these players' contracts signed at a similar age to Iafallo after this season:
Dzingel = 2 x $3.375M
Marleau = 3 x $4.167M into a 2 x $6.3M deal
Janmark = 1 x $2.25M
Bailey = 6 x $5M
Eberle = 6 x $6M

I think Iafallo is a better player than Dzingel, Janmark, and Kahun, and may be as effective though not nearly as productive as Eberle. Bailey is someone I wasn't as familiar with, but looking at his production he looks like a great comparable. Marleau is a funny one because that was so long ago in the early cap era that it almost isn't worth including. It would be cool to see what his comparables are including this season's data, as he appears on track to increase his PT/G total again this year.

Anyways, I think folks here are on the right track as far as Iafallo receiving more than $4M/year. If I'm his camp, I'm looking at that Josh Bailey contract. Their production is pretty comparable.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Doubt you hear anything “official” as that would be tampering.



If Buf said we are trading now get your offers in, nobody is backing away because of that right now. Due diligence may be done, but the thought that teams are now afraid of an asset that never hits the market because of this, is overstating the impact of the injury.

thanks. Rumorville has it that the Kings said they’re not interested, but like you said, no one is saying anything official and players like Eichel never hit the market.

thanks

 

[bland]

There are currently 36 left wings with at least a $5 million cap hit. Only 18 have higher point totals than Iafallo this year, many of which are just a point of two higher. Iafallo is in the top 30 of LW scoring at the moment.

Some of you think it is inappropriate to pay him similarly to Tatar, Schwartz, Marssechault, Meier, Zucker, Niederrieter, Silfverberg, Burakovsky, Foligno, Zuccarello or Drouin?

 

[funky]

I don't mind Iafallo. I don't know who is going to replace Brown.

Kaliyev and his big body and wicked shot. You have one of the best two way centers in the game in Kopitar helping Kaliyev’s defensive deficits and they are about the same speed. Then you have Iafallo going in ahead of them disrupting the Defence, hunting pucks and he too is good defensively. I would like to see that line tried

 

[KingLB]

There are currently 36 left wings with at least a $5 million cap hit. Only 18 have higher point totals than Iafallo this year, many of which are just a point of two higher. Iafallo is in the top 30 of LW scoring at the moment.

Some of you think it is inappropriate to pay him similarly to Tatar, Schwartz, Marssechault, Meier, Zucker, Niederrieter, Silfverberg, Burakovsky, Foligno, Zuccarello or Drouin?

You aren’t wrong. But flat cap may impact ability to get paid like players did 1+ Years ago.

So if you are AI do you go for the certainty of a longer deal? Or try and cash in on a higher cap, and take a 2 year deal, hoping to get his last “big contract” in 2 years.

 

[johnjm22]

Blake has signed a lot of guys to reasonable contracts. Walker, Roy, Toffoli, Pearson come to mind. I suspect he'll try and do something similar with Iafallo.

 

[bland]

Kaliyev and his big body and wicked shot. You have one of the best two way centers in the game in Kopitar helping Kaliyev’s defensive deficits and they are about the same speed. Then you have Iafallo going in ahead of them disrupting the Defence, hunting pucks and he too is good defensively. I would like to see that line tried

My money is still on Vilardi shifting to the RW. It's pretty funny that we were just talking about that last week then sure enough McLellan shifted him to the wing for the past few games.

Vilardi seems ideal for a Kopitar wing spot. Close support, the ability to make plays in tight spaces, doesn't rely on speed to get out of Kopitar's preferred range, good on the cycle. Perfect fit in my opinion.

Still think that when Brown and Carter shuffle off at the end of next year we will see:
Iafallo - Kopitar - Vilardi
Kaliyev - Turcotte - Madden
Athanasiou - Byfield - Thomas
Grundstrom - JAD - Moore
With Kempe in that mix somewhere.

 

[Stimpythecat]

thanks. Rumorville has it that the Kings said they’re not interested, but like you said, no one is saying anything official and players like Eichel never hit the market.

thanks

Welcome to the Kings side if only for a visit.

True that players like Eichel rarely hit the market but as others have said, Eichel is out for the year with a neck injury and most of us here would like to see how he heals from that.

Blake has to be aware of Buffalo's situation with Eichel. As of January, right before the start of the season, Blake mentioned on a video call that the tear down was complete. Blake stated he told his vets that as well.

On 2/22, he told Friedman directly that the Kings weren't going to add. Bernstein who has decent Kings contacts also stated his sources indicated no add for the Kings this season.

We hope things improve for the Sabres. Sabres have a loyal fan base and the Kings went through a similar dark period so we can understand your pain.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Welcome to the Kings side if only for a visit.

True that players like Eichel rarely hit the market but as others have said, Eichel is out for the year with a neck injury and most of us here would like to see how he heals from that.

Blake has to be aware of Buffalo's situation with Eichel. As of January, right before the start of the season, Blake mentioned on a video call that the tear down was complete. Blake stated he told his vets that as well.

On 2/22, he told Friedman directly that the Kings weren't going to add. Bernstein who has decent Kings contacts also stated his sources indicated no add for the Kings this season.

We hope things improve for the Sabres. Sabres have a loyal fan base and the Kings went through a similar dark period so we can understand your pain.

Thanks for the details, appreciate it.

I think that any Eichel trade comes in the off season. That’s work better for everyone.

 

[kingsfan28]

I would be shocked if we see Mcd in the line up next week. I really think after the last 4 games he's proven to be a major liability on the ice. There has to be a better option.

 

[KingTech]

I think its time to consider making the Mac experience a thing of the past. He is fine for the occasional game or 2 but should never be in the lineup back to back. Bring Clague back please or trade for a better physical precence that isnt as bad defensively.