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

[Docgonzo]

You don't get a player of Eichel's caliber/age by waiting three years to see if the asset depreciates because then you don't get him.

The Kings would be acquiring a sure thing. That is less of a gamble on their part. One in the hand is worth two in the bush. We're talking much better prospects when comparing Byfield to Paul Ladue but people didn't want to move Paul Ladue for Landeskog because the defensive prospect pool was so thin. Where is Paul now?

There is still a question of cost so I'm not all in on it but I am very interested. This is the 3rd rebuild season, basically. 2019 draft is your first high pick draft (2007 - Hickey) with 2020 being your second one (2008 - Doughty). This one was all set for #3 (2009 - Schenn) but they are a little frisky at the moment. You get the Richards trade two seasons after Schenn so your 2-3 year belief is on track if we want to do an apples-to-apples rebuild comparison. Richards was older, locked up for more years and had already dropped off from his career highs in points. He added a needed element to the team outside of points but I like Eichel's moxie as well. Schenn was considered the best prospect not in the NHL at the time of the trade but definitely hasn't lived up to the hype.

You could be right that Eichel may be too rich at the moment. What did happen after getting that last high pick in Schenn was that DL acquired Smyth in the off-season and picked Williams up at the '09 trade dealdine, jettisoning a supposed building block in O'Sullivan in the latter deal. That team needed veteran leadership that could also play: this one already has veterans that are relied upon to produce so it isn't the same situation. Blake could possibly take more time and not make a move this off-season but that is another season of these vets getting older and possibly less productive. If you have an abundance of prospects--especially at center--and can nab an elite, known quantity that is in an age bridge between the prospects and the vets, you really need to think long and hard about it. The idea of maximizing the remaining years of 11/8 while not giving up the farm is very enticing to me: if you can add Eichel and still maintain a Top 10 prospect pool than that is pretty nice.

Eichel is over a PPG the last two seasons. 94 point pace last year. I think we will all be stoked if any of the current prospects put up a season like that.

The only problem with comparison to the Richards trade is the Kings had a roster entering or in their primes. Right now the Kings have a roster that’s either in their twilight years or not entering their prime. Then only players possibly entering their primes are Kempe.

The problem with trading for Eichel now is if you don’t win in the next couple of seasons and prospect trajectory changes then we end up in the same spot Buffalo is in. Eichel and nothing else much on the roster.

 

[8randyn]

Jack Eichel would be a great add to help develop some of our winger prospects.

Let us not forget that Rasmus Kupari also projects as a top 6 center.

I think at some point you have to do a deal like this as not all of our prospects can mathematically make the team.

 

[bland]

No, thank you.

No need at all to move assets to address what is already the strength of the organization.

The team doesn't need to get better on paper, it needs to time to grow and congeal - that process has barely even started. Defensemen need time to mature, this group has been impressive in that they have shown a lot of competitive spirit, but no, they aren't anywhere near ready for a long playoff run.

Half of the forwards on the current roster won't be here by the time they are ready to compete. You get Eichel now and you improve a little, but your expectations change a lot.

 

[deaderhead28]

We have a 2nd this year [and a few late picks] - then every pick going forward 2022+.

I was thinking more of a roster player going back - asking LA to eat probably half his salary I wouldn't be looking at trying to send nothing back in return. What position would make the most impact right now? We have a surplus of similar high-side/low-side forwards - and one extra LD. Marcus Pettersson (LD) and Brian Dumoulin (LD) are both worth more than Carter even at 50% - but a multi player/pick deal wouldn't be out of the question.

Btw this would not be entirely mutual among Pens fans. We have a healthy portion who won't consider anyone over 25 years old or who can't fly up and down the ice. I think Carter would be a wonderful 3/4C for our club who could help stabilize the bottom 6.

Kings are chasing a playoff spot,I don't see Blake trading Carter.

 

[bland]

The only problem with comparison to the Richards trade is the Kings had a roster entering or in their primes. Right now the Kings have a roster that’s either in their twilight years or not entering their prime. Then only players possibly entering their primes are Kempe.

The problem with trading for Eichel now is if you don’t win in the next couple of seasons and prospect trajectory changes then we end up in the same spot Buffalo is in. Eichel and nothing else much on the roster.

Yeah, this would be nothing like the deal for Richards. That was a team that had plateaued and needed an injection of will and leadership.

This team needs time before it can figure out what, if anything, needs to be addressed. Its like turning the oven up to broil because you want to eat a cake faster.

 

[BigKing]

Yeah, this would be nothing like the deal for Richards. That was a team that had plateaued and needed an injection of will and leadership.

This team needs time before it can figure out what, if anything, needs to be addressed. Its like turning the oven up to broil because you want to eat a cake faster.

I smoke brisket, ribs etc...using the hot n' fast method v. rolling it out at 225 degrees and I still turn out awesome BBQ.

Depending on the cost, I think that would be more apt of a comparison v. baking a cake on broil. I'm speeding things up a bit but still ultimately getting the result I want.

 

[Peter James Bond III]

Yeah, this would be nothing like the deal for Richards. That was a team that had plateaued and needed an injection of will and leadership.

This team needs time before it can figure out what, if anything, needs to be addressed. Its like turning the oven up to broil because you want to eat a cake faster.

Eichei is closer to McDavid than Richards was to Eichel. There's no comparison.

 

[Stimpythecat]

Eichel, Hall, and Skinner have a combined 3 G and 21 A. $27 million cap hits.

Kopitar has 4 G and 17 A by himself. Something has to give with Buffalo. I'm going to watch the Eichel explosion after another year of not making the playoffs. He can't be happy about this.

I don't see him being traded during the season.

 

[bland]

Eichei is closer to McDavid than Richards was to Eichel. There's no comparison.

No there isn't.

Neither of those two will ever be a winner like Richards. Don't spend all your money on rims when the transmission needs repair, unless you want to look good while waiting for a tow truck.

 

[bland]

I smoke brisket, ribs etc...using the hot n' fast method v. rolling it out at 225 degrees and I still turn out awesome BBQ.

Depending on the cost, I think that would be more apt of a comparison v. baking a cake on broil. I'm speeding things up a bit but still ultimately getting the result I want.

Nope. Baking, like building anything with varied ingredients, requires specific things to be done at specific moments. Any fool can throw meat in a cooker, its going to turn out alright. You need to know chemistry to bake correctly.

 

[Peter James Bond III]

No there isn't.

Neither of those two will ever be a winner like Richards. Don't spend all your money on rims when the transmission needs repair, unless you want to look good while waiting for a tow truck.

Eichel is one of the top 10 players in the game and 24. Richards was 26 when the Kings got him and he played 3+ years and could not even score 20 goals or 50 points on the Kings.

Getting Eichel at 24, he has 10 years ahead of him and he will score 30+ goals 4-6 times on the Kings and be all the leader Richards was, if not more. Teams would not be able to
match up too well, having Kopitar and Eichel. Vilardi could have less pressure and excel at #3.

The great 'character' Richards had? He was caught transporting 'something illegal' across a lake into Canada and some heard there was more to it and they tweeted 'ICKY' and the ones who knew more were shocked. It had to be pretty bad. Richards does not compare to Eichel. Not even close

 

[Piston]

Nope. Baking, like building anything with varied ingredients, requires specific things to be done at specific moments. Any fool can throw meat in a cooker, its going to turn out alright. You need to know chemistry to bake correctly.

Love your metaphors, lol. The thing is, Buffalo is desperate. They have not made the playoffs in forever, their second highest paid player is a healthy scratch one of their top D-man is lost for this season and possibly much of next. Looking at Cap Friendly, there is only four teams that can fit Eichel's contract- Ottawa does not like to spend, NJ has banked its future on Hischier and Hughes and Detroit has few if any assets to offer. Not saying we can get Eichel for free by any means, but we may be overestimating the price. After all, Buffalo's new GM has to do 'something". Blake can afford to sit back and wait. If the price was palatable, ie. keeping Byfield, Bjornfot, Anderson and Kaliyev, one should not rule this out, fancy metaphors notwithstanding .

 

[ibleedkings]

Love your metaphors, lol. The thing is, Buffalo is desperate. They have not made the playoffs in forever, their second highest paid player is a healthy scratch one of their top D-man is lost for this season and possibly much of next. Looking at Cap Friendly, there is only four teams that can fit Eichel's contract- Ottawa does not like to spend, NJ has banked its future on Hischier and Hughes and Detroit has few if any assets to offer. Not saying we can get Eichel for free by any means, but we may be overestimating the price. After all, Buffalo's new GM has to do 'something". Blake can afford to sit back and wait. If the price was palatable, ie. keeping Byfield, Bjornfot, Anderson and Kaliyev, one should not rule this out, fancy metaphors notwithstanding .

I think the Kings need to consider it even if Byfield is the centerpiece.

 

[DoktorJeep]

I think Skinner moves before Eichel, most likely to the Wild for Parise. Unless Eichel goes public with a trade request, I don’t see Buffalos GM making that move.

And if Eichel does get shopped, I don’t think the asking price is centered on futures. His team will want two established forwards back at a minimum. And the Kings offer of Kempe and Iafallo won’t cut it without throwing in serious futures like a non protected first and one of Byfield or Turcotte.

It would be a four for one trade. Doesn’t make sense to me for a rebuilding team. If this was a playoff team, maybe, but it’s too soon to make that call. And in an asterisk season, it could be very short sighted.

 

[No Name The Nameless]

No, thank you.

No need at all to move assets to address what is already the strength of the organization.

The team doesn't need to get better on paper, it needs to time to grow and congeal - that process has barely even started. Defensemen need time to mature, this group has been impressive in that they have shown a lot of competitive spirit, but no, they aren't anywhere near ready for a long playoff run.

Half of the forwards on the current roster won't be here by the time they are ready to compete. You get Eichel now and you improve a little, but your expectations change a lot.

You are acting like Eichel is a 30 year old rental. Assuming the price is not overly outrageous adding him will be part of the future.

 

[Peter James Bond III]

Eichel is more like a '24 year old, markedly better skating Kopitar'

 

[Bandit]

Eichel has 2 goals. He can’t do it in Buffalo, don’t know why we think he’d be able to get it done here with what’s left after we trade half our prospects to acquire him. Do. Not. Want.

 

[bland]

You are acting like Eichel is a 30 year old rental. Assuming the price is not overly outrageous adding him will be part of the future.

I know exactly who Eichel is, and its the wrong move. Its hitting fast-forward on a process that has just barely started. Nobody else is ready to play at that level, and it will cost a ridiculous amount of talent to get to a place you are already heading to. Its just desperate fans wanting shiney toys.

The Kings will only be able to make a small number of the two, three, four assets for one. Its just premature to do it now for anyone, much less to strengthen an area that is already ridiculously strong.

And lets get serious here, the last week here has been awfully rosey, but this is a very young and very inexperienced team. They are going to lose a bunch of games, likely several losing streaks, and the feel good story of Old Man Brown is only going to last for a little while. Its how these things work. The support isn't here yet, its just showing flashes of what it is capable of.

The most important aspect to any winning team are cost-controlled assets that support the core group. They are a currency used to strike when needed, to fill in missing pieces.

This team is still in, or possibly just ending the phase of collecting future assets. You don't spend that much of your currency on supporting 30+ year old players. The Kings have no idea what they have yet, and have no idea what they will need to support it. The strength of this organization is what will happen 3+ years from now, and trading 3 or more top assets for anyone is just flat out stupid management.

 

[No Name The Nameless]

I think Skinner moves before Eichel, most likely to the Wild for Parise. Unless Eichel goes public with a trade request, I don’t see Buffalos GM making that move.

And if Eichel does get shopped, I don’t think the asking price is centered on futures. His team will want two established forwards back at a minimum. And the Kings offer of Kempe and Iafallo won’t cut it without throwing in serious futures like a non protected first and one of Byfield or Turcotte.

It would be a four for one trade. Doesn’t make sense to me for a rebuilding team. If this was a playoff team, maybe, but it’s too soon to make that call. And in an asterisk season, it could be very short sighted.

Turcotte, Laffalo, Kempe and a first? I'm all for it.

 

[Bandit]

I know exactly who Eichel is, and its the wrong move. Its hitting fast-forward on a process that has just barely started. Nobody else is ready to play at that level, and it will cost a ridiculous amount of talent to get to a place you are already heading to. Its just desperate fans wanting shiney toys.

The Kings will only be able to make a small number of the two, three, four assets for one. Its just premature to do it now for anyone, much less to strengthen an area that is already ridiculously strong.

And lets get serious here, the last week here has been awfully rosey, but this is a very young and very inexperienced team. They are going to lose a bunch of games, likely several losing streaks, and the feel good story of Old Man Brown is only going to last for a little while. Its how these things work. The support isn't here yet, its just showing flashes of what it is capable of.

The most important aspect to any winning team are cost-controlled assets that support the core group. They are a currency used to strike when needed, to fill in missing pieces.

This team is still in, or possibly just ending the phase of collecting future assets. You don't spend that much of your currency on supporting 30+ year old players. The Kings have no idea what they have yet, and have no idea what they will need to support it. The strength of this organization is what will happen 3+ years from now, and trading 3 or more top assets for anyone is just flat out stupid management.

Nailed it.

 

[No Name The Nameless]

I know exactly who Eichel is, and its the wrong move. Its hitting fast-forward on a process that has just barely started. Nobody else is ready to play at that level, and it will cost a ridiculous amount of talent to get to a place you are already heading to. Its just desperate fans wanting shiney toys.

The Kings will only be able to make a small number of the two, three, four assets for one. Its just premature to do it now for anyone, much less to strengthen an area that is already ridiculously strong.

And lets get serious here, the last week here has been awfully rosey, but this is a very young and very inexperienced team. They are going to lose a bunch of games, likely several losing streaks, and the feel good story of Old Man Brown is only going to last for a little while. Its how these things work. The support isn't here yet, its just showing flashes of what it is capable of.

The most important aspect to any winning team are cost-controlled assets that support the core group. They are a currency used to strike when needed, to fill in missing pieces.

This team is still in, or possibly just ending the phase of collecting future assets. You don't spend that much of your currency on supporting 30+ year old players. The Kings have no idea what they have yet, and have no idea what they will need to support it. The strength of this organization is what will happen 3+ years from now, and trading 3 or more top assets for anyone is just flat out stupid management.

Again, I think you are acting like trading for Eichel would be do or die to the rebuild. He would be PART of the solution. Whether you trade those cost controlled assets today or tomorrow you will never trade them for a better player, under contract at age 24.

Byfield +. Sure. Turcotte, young roster players? Sure. If the cost is Byfield, turcotte, young roster player and more then no thanks.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

Depends on the price for Eichel and you could set up the team with a 1/2 punch with Eichel/Byfield for ten years.

Depends on where Blake is comfortable, personally wouldn’t give up more than three assets for Eichel.

 

[DoktorJeep]

Turcotte, Laffalo, Kempe and a first? I'm all for it.

It’s not a competitive package. A team like Detroit could offer Larkin, Mantha plus and beat out that Kings offer. Florida would move Barkov, Montreal would package Drouin and Suzuki for a guy like Eichel.

 

[Bandit]

Again, I think you are acting like trading for Eichel would be do or die to the rebuild. He would be PART of the solution. Whether you trade those cost controlled assets today or tomorrow you will never trade them for a better player, under contract at age 24.

Byfield +. Sure. Turcotte, young roster players? Sure. If the cost is Byfield, turcotte, young roster player and more then no thanks.

Eichel will be 25 this year. In 3-4 years when our prospects are ready for a deep run he will be entering the age where people start throwing dirt on his corpse.

 

[Peter James Bond III]

T

Eichel has 2 goals. He can’t do it in Buffalo, don’t know why we think he’d be able to get it done here with what’s left after we trade half our prospects to acquire him. Do. Not. Want.

And 11 assists, for 13 pts in 15 games. Taylor Hall was NHL mvp and has 1 goal there and -10. The team is a mess.
He had 16 more pts than Kopi last year, was 10th in NHL scoring and his 9 GWG were only behind Pastrnak and Draisaitl. 4 more than McDavid.
351 pts in his first 370 games and just entering his prime.

2019‑2020 NHL Scoring Leaders

These 7 cannot all make the Kings and play at the same time: Byfield, Turcotte, Thomas, Kaliyev, Madden, Fagemo, Kupari. It does not mean you
just deal 3 or 4....but at some point, a few will be traded. You cannot depend that a player like Eichel will be available for a trade, when you're ready
to deal. The actual chances of getting someone 90% as good as he is, at 24, with a good contract, will probably not be possible.