Speculation: 2020-21 News/Rumors/Roster Thread Part III

[kingsboy11]

This sounds like Covid

 

[Eagle Fang]

126. Rasmus Kupari, C, Los Angeles
March 15, 2000 | 6-foot-1 | 185 pounds
Previous ranking: No. 130
Skating: Average
Puck Skills: Average
Hockey Sense: Below-average
Compete: Average

I thought Kupari has elite skating and his puck skills were considered really good. It was his hockey sense that was in question. I don't quite get Pronmon's ratings...

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Damn that is goooood.

Quick always rocks the best masks.

 

[Treb]

Let's keep players political affiliation and hearsay rumors out of this thread, okay?

 

[BallPointHammer]

"Unfit to play" replacing "upper body/lower body" ???

 

[Sol]

Oh lord. Quicks positioning. The PTSD... No!!!!

 

[No Name The Nameless]

The team has only 2 rebuilding seasons in the bin, it's far too early to cash in your chips for a player that moves you from bottom five to what? The top teams don't trade their top prospects until the team is actually good. At this point of the rebuild, when there are multiple positions in need of improvement, now's not the time to be impatient. Overwhelmingly the best teams in the league have drafted and developed their best players.

I believe you cash in any opportunity you have to get a early 20's star....assuming the price is right. I think we might be confusing putting chips on the table with going all in.

 

[Lt Dan]

Amadios?

 

[Steve Zissou]

Black & White Scrimmage Recap - McLellan, JAD, Wagner - LA Kings Insider

– McLellan pointed out Matt Luff and Carl Grundstrom as two players who he felt showed well today. Luff had a power-play tally, the eventual game-winning goal, while Grundstrom scored shorthanded. He said that both were players he’s had his eye on, and he felt that both players carried their play over from training camp into today’s scrimmage.

“They were effective in the scrimmage in a number of different areas, whether it was along the boards, around the net, making plays, structurally, trustworthy on the ice,” McLellan said.

 

[FrozenKing18]

Rooting for Grundy! I hope he continues to play well.

 

[Stimpythecat]

Cheering for Tonka.

Tonka.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Cheering for Tonka.

Tonka.

 

[regulate]

I thought Kupari has elite skating and his puck skills were considered really good. It was his hockey sense that was in question. I don't quite get Pronmon's ratings...

He's an above average skater. The rest of the ratings might be fair, but he's feisty compete is underrated. He's not shy in the scrum it up department.

 

[Stimpythecat]

Not sure if you saw it. Regulate said Grundstrom's nickname on the team is "Tonka" because he hits like a truck.

Speculation: - 2020-21 News/Rumors/Roster Thread Part III

 

[redcard]

This sounds like Covid

I'm guessing since they didn't cancel practice completely its more likely a possible exposure issue than it is an actual infection but thats pure wishful speculation on my part.

 

[Sparky206]

You remove the "if" on a couple of those kids with a "for sure" who doesn't turn 23 until after this season. He's in his prime when those guys are ready to contribute.

The "if" players for us are all top 11 blue chips picks, the chances of at least 2/3 of them becoming top 6 players is extremely high. But say you trade turcotte and Vilardi for PLD then Byfield is the 1/3 who busts. You go from 3 players competing to take over the 1C role from Kopitar to PLD being the only option and in 4 years we're back to where we are now with a 1C and nothing else behind him.

If you've got a core and need a good player then sure trade away blue chips for a Carter, but the future core of this team are only 18 or 19 years old. Until that core is established and producing you wait the course, when it is established you make the Carter trade again.

Adding PLD doesn't make Bjornfot or Faber ready to take over top 4 D roles, and your not competing until they are ready.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Not sure if you saw it. Regulate said Grundstrom's nickname on the team is "Tonka" because he hits like a truck.

Speculation: - 2020-21 News/Rumors/Roster Thread Part III

I did, but whenever I see it now I can't help but think of T'Tonka.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

Oof, if those 5 indeed have COVID, things may look real bad for the rest of the roster shortly

 

[TopT]

Zero chance they take the first deal unless it's this summer after Iafallo scores near a 0.75 point/game pace, Kupari blossoms, and that 1st round pick is top 5 for sure.

If PLD is truly available, I can't imagine anyone in our prospect pool being considered untouchable TBH. That might be different if Byfield had gone nuclear at the WJC, but he didn't (and I am a Byfield optimist who is not worried about him). I understand the notion of maximizing lottery tickets by keeping all our prospects, but it sure seems like they want Doughty/Kopitar in top pairing/top 6 roles when we're competitive again. PLD almost assures that in pushing Kopitar to our 2nd line. If we could get PLD by only giving up one of Turcotte, Vilardi, or Byfield, I think you have to consider it.

That all being said, next year's draft has some defensemen we could REALLY use, and Blake would need to do his homework on exactly why PLD wants out. We need to rebuild a culture, not bring in someone who is going to ask for a trade if things go south.

EDIT: I think folks are overlooking that if you trade for PLD right now, you're getting a 1st line center who is cost-controlled at $5M/year for this season and next AND is a RFA after that. That adds tremendous value.

it doesnt, he is not better than Kopitar

 

[No Name The Nameless]

Pronmon’s Under 23 Rankings are out. Prepare your takes:

Ranking NHL’s best under-23 stars: Dahlin, Pettersson or Lafreniere at No. 1?
Ranking NHL's best under-23 stars: Dahlin, Pettersson or Lafreniere at No. 1?

Tier 3: NHL all-star

11. Quinton Byfield, C, Los Angeles
Aug. 19, 2002 | 6-foot-4 | 215 pounds
Previous ranking: No. 10
Skating: Average
Puck Skills: High-end
Hockey Sense: Average
Compete: Average
Shot: Above-average

Byfield moves down to this tier from Tier 2. It’s an incremental change, but one I think is fair. He’s an extremely talented player and works hard, he has been great in the OHL, but he has struggled to be a top player at the international level.

Tier 5: Top-line forward, top-pair defenseman or good starting goaltender



28. Arthur Kaliyev, RW, Los Angeles
June 26, 2001 | 6-foot-2 | 190 pounds
Previous ranking: No. 57
Skating: Below-average
Puck Skills: Below-average
Hockey Sense: Above-average
Compete: Average
Shot: High-end
Kaliyev moves into this tier as he continues to show he can be a top performer wherever he goes because of his tremendous hockey sense and shot, and despite his game lacking speed and physicality. I think he’s going to score a lot in the NHL.

Tier 6: Bubble of top-line or pairing and second-line or pairing

52. Samuel Fagemo, LW, Los Angeles
March 14, 2000 | six-foot | 194 pounds
Previous ranking: No. 32
Skating: Average
Puck Skills: Average
Hockey Sense: Average
Compete: Average
Shot: Above-average
Fagemo hasn’t had the most productive season in the Allsvenskan as a 20-year-old, which isn’t ideal, but he’s still looked very good and shown all the tools I saw last season. I adjusted his slotting a little bit to account for his season.

Tier 7: Second-line forward, second-pair defenseman or starting goaltender


88. Alex Turcotte, C, Los Angeles
Feb. 26, 2001 | 5-foot-11 | 185 pounds
Previous ranking: No. 89
Skating: Above-average
Puck Skills: Average
Hockey Sense: Average
Compete: Above-average

93. Gabriel Vilardi, C, Los Angeles
Aug. 16, 1999 | 6-foot-3 | 201 pounds
Previous ranking: No. 95
Skating: Below-average
Puck Skills: Average
Hockey Sense: Average
Compete: Average

126. Rasmus Kupari, C, Los Angeles
March 15, 2000 | 6-foot-1 | 185 pounds
Previous ranking: No. 130
Skating: Average
Puck Skills: Average
Hockey Sense: Below-average
Compete: Average

Los Angeles defenseman Tobias Bjornfot was removed as questions continue to linger about his offensive upside despite his great skating.

My opinion....he does not know Jack shit and is basing a lot of his ranking off watching a couple games. It's better if he just put out the list and didn't do the write up.

 

[BringTheReign]

it doesnt, he is not better than Kopitar

I agree, but Father Time is unbeaten, and he would eventually. They could be 1A/1B until then, with Kopitar shutting down other teams' 1Cs and PLD feasting on easier minutes.

 

[Reaper45]

Oof, if those 5 indeed have COVID, things may look real bad for the rest of the roster shortly

Could be they’ve been in contact with someone who has it. Like I’ve had multiple guys on my fantasy football team who were out on the Covid 19 reserve list and didn’t end up having it. I imagine something similar will happen with the NHL and I’d like expect them to be brought off rather quickly as well if that’s the case.

 

[robitaillefan]

According to the king of all poo flingers laine wants a trade to either Anaheim or la, where he is willing to sign a extension if traded.

nah, I’m good on that

 

[Telos]

Hopefully, everything is good. It definitely sounds COVID related and almost like a loophole to try to not end up like Dallas after seeing what happened to them, but either which way, every team in the league is going to go through some roster and scheduling gymnastics this year...

I am hoping Gabe and Cal get back sooner rather than later though. Those two especially cannot miss the year.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Screw it; Dubois and Laine.