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

[Eagle Fang]

So did they just give up on Lias Andersson already?

Kinda starting to seem that it's leaning that way though I think the Mayor said he's in ONT for a 'conditioning assignment' and should be back with LA soon. I thought he looked pretty good during his first few games then he got scratched. In the few games he played since he was pretty forgettable. I read Wrobo's comments after this most recent Reign game and he said he was unnoticeable. I thought he did ok vs the Gulls. Hit the post which led to the game tying goal. Looked really talkative out there if nothing else.

 

[apadilla]

Andersson should be given an extended period of time to develop in the AHL. Rushing him like the Rangers did helps no one.

 

[Sol]

Man, i kinda don't get what's going on with Blake right now. There's way too many rumors about him trying to pull a move. Too much smoke for there not to be fire. Wonder who they're targeting. I personally don't think the Kings should be adding anyone

 

[DoktorJeep]

The results coming out of the Kings development program leave a couple things to be desired at both NHL and AHL levels when it comes to skill, identity and results.

A lack of overall skill continues to be the biggest issue. Despite an influx of prospect and graduate talent, the level of offensive play hasn’t risen across the board. Ice time is there and the head coaches are saying the right things, but the fact is neither club can be called a fast, skilled team today.

Lost in all the hyperbole about culture is the lack of a coherent identity throughout the lineups. NHL Team media continues to work overtime finding reasons to celebrate players on individual lines either coming out of left field or earning their paychecks. The majority of the lines are all work in progress, which doesn’t speak highly of coaching and evaluation decisions. A few players come into a game knowing their role and expectations, everyone else is living day to day. With the crazy world, management gets a pass when it comes to any particulars. But lost time and sunk costs could add up if this season doesn’t show any Kings / Reign squad where the whole team plays skilled and fast throughout a game.

It feels like the franchise is trying to do everything at once, instead of prioritizing development. Management continues to cater to fans emotionally attached to legacy players by overplaying under performing veterans. Case in point is overvaluing Quicks performance in shut outs versus Petersen who is better more consistently. Maybe if they didn’t have to pay Carter $2M+ to slow down the progress of any kid he plays with, the Kings could splurge and find someone with a better track record than Craig Johnson to be coaching the prospects.

 

[LAKings88]

So did they just give up on Lias Andersson already?

I think Fox mentioned that it is closing in on now or never time for him. I’m still rooting for him.

 

[Stimpythecat]

Man, i kinda don't get what's going on with Blake right now. There's way too many rumors about him trying to pull a move. Too much smoke for there not to be fire. Wonder who they're targeting. I personally don't think the Kings should be adding anyone

I think it's just media guys speculating.

Friedman got it straight from Blake on 2/22 that the Kings were not going to add. Recently Bernstein stated his sources said the same. Also Blake told his vets during training camp that the tear down was complete. He said as much during a video call.

Blake strikes me as a no nonsense GM. He said he had a price for AMart, Muzzin, and Toffoli. First teams to meet it was good enough. So none of that in division trade stigma. From what I've seen albeit only publicly, he doesn't play figurative games like delay a trade to hopefully drive up prices or do the doublespeak that a lot of GMs do.

He's been very consistent.

It’s Good That You Hate Canada. Plus: Turtleneck Tales. | Podcasts - Sportsnet.ca

 

[kovacro]

Just going to leave this here and apologies if it’s been posted previous. Much respect to Mr. Game 7.

This day in Kings history: 2009 - Kings acquire Justin Williams

 

[Fishhead]

The results coming out of the Kings development program leave a couple things to be desired at both NHL and AHL levels when it comes to skill, identity and results.

A valid argument, but it's really only fair to look at players they drafted 3-5 years ago at this point. So maybe 2015-2018? Here's a list:

2015:

Cernak
Dergachyov
Wagner
Schmalz
Reddekopp
Roy

2016:

Clague
Moverare
Eyssimont
Friend

2017:

Vilardi
JAD
Villalta
Anderson
Phillips
Hults
Rymsha

2018:

Kupari
Thomas
Shafigullin
Dudas
Hrenak
Sodergran
Ingham


Skill is definitely not a strength. Vilardi has it. Kupari does, but he was derailed by an injury for a bit. JAD is showing flashes, and I would argue Clague is too. Only two guys with top-end skill potential on that list.

I would say results, though, are damn good. Roy, Anderson, and Clague were all great gets, that might be half our D core for a good long while. Vilardi is panning out, JAD is making strides. Wagner is an NHL'er. 6 of the 24 drafted are already showing they are NHL'ers (7 if you count Cernak who was traded and not really developed). I expect Kupari to be a good player, and Thomas will likely be an NHL'er at least. That's a 35-40% hit of draft/development guys, with potential for more.

The jury is out on identity guys. Thomas by all accounts fits that mold, I see it in Vilardi and JAD as well.

 

[Bandit]

Just going to leave this here and apologies if it’s been posted previous. Much respect to Mr. Game 7.

This day in Kings history: 2009 - Kings acquire Justin Williams

12 years in a blink. Damn.

 

[kingsfan28]

A valid argument, but it's really only fair to look at players they drafted 3-5 years ago at this point. So maybe 2015-2018? Here's a list:

2015:

Cernak
Dergachyov
Wagner
Schmalz
Reddekopp
Roy

2016:

Clague
Moverare
Eyssimont
Friend

2017:

Vilardi
JAD
Villalta
Anderson
Phillips
Hults
Rymsha

2018:

Kupari
Thomas
Shafigullin
Dudas
Hrenak
Sodergran
Ingham


Skill is definitely not a strength. Vilardi has it. Kupari does, but he was derailed by an injury for a bit. JAD is showing flashes, and I would argue Clague is too. Only two guys with top-end skill potential on that list.

I would say results, though, are damn good. Roy, Anderson, and Clague were all great gets, that might be half our D core for a good long while. Vilardi is panning out, JAD is making strides. Wagner is an NHL'er. 6 of the 24 drafted are already showing they are NHL'ers (7 if you count Cernak who was traded and not really developed). I expect Kupari to be a good player, and Thomas will likely be an NHL'er at least. That's a 35-40% hit of draft/development guys, with potential for more.

The jury is out on identity guys. Thomas by all accounts fits that mold, I see it in Vilardi and JAD as well.

Skill was never a priority under Lombardi, it was always character.The 15/16 drafts killed us by trading away the picks. Plus when you don't have the picks, you tend to draft scraps, which is what they did. Blake has drafted skill, we've seen it, but they're only a few years removed from the draft and need to mature.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Just going to leave this here and apologies if it’s been posted previous. Much respect to Mr. Game 7.

This day in Kings history: 2009 - Kings acquire Justin Williams

So many Kings fans were upset with this trade, saying Dean Lombardi traded for an injury prone player, O’Sullivan was supposed to be part of the future, etc. I think those complaints stopped soon after.

 

[Herby]

Skill was never a priority under Lombardi, it was always character.The 15/16 drafts killed us by trading away the picks. Plus when you don't have the picks, you tend to draft scraps, which is what they did. Blake has drafted skill, we've seen it, but they're only a few years removed from the draft and need to mature.

The Lucic trade is one of the worst in franchise history. The Sekera trade not so much, unless DL was going to reach for Debrincat (which had about as much a chance of happening as MacD winning the Norris this year) or Kyrou there is really no one there who would be an impactful member of this team, the bottom half of that 1st round was a graveyard.

2015 was just a complete disaster because according to Futa the Kings were eyeing Barzal with that pick, if the Kings have Barzal right now things are much different. Even if they went in another direction there were so many impactful players in that draft the Kings would likely ended up with a Connor, Chabot or Boeser, all of which would also have filled major organizational holes we have right now.

All to add a player who wasn't going to make a difference in making them contenders and wasn't going to be able to be re-signed, just horrific asset management.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Seems like rumors floating around Eichel still keep mentioning the Kings. lol

 

[Herby]

Seems like rumors floating around Eichel still keep mentioning the Kings. lol

Because people see the Kings roster and the huge void of talent in the age group that Eichel is at plus huge contracts to 30+ players, if the Kings are going to try and win another cup with Doughty and Kopitar it makes sense, especially since Byfield and Turcotte don't seem to be beating down the doors to being impact players at the NHL level anytime soon.

Blake can deny it all he wants but its something that he has to address, whether it is Eichel or someone else. If Byfield and Turcotte are 2 years away from being impact players that leaves Kopitar at 35/36 and Doughty at 33/34.

Its not Blake's fault because he inherited a team with almost nothing in the farm system due to bad trades, and has done a nice job rebuilding it, but the elephant in the room in this rebuild is the age of DD and AK. Trading Byfield and some other assets for Eichel addresses that in a pretty big way, plus you get a decade of a star 1C. It may not happen this season, but in the offseason I think it'll be a different story (if Buffalo chooses to go that route).

 

[No Name The Nameless]

Maybe they should...you know....spend some money. Hard to compete in the NHL when you are not paying to do so.

 

[head eyes]

Kinda starting to seem that it's leaning that way though I think the Mayor said he's in ONT for a 'conditioning assignment' and should be back with LA soon. I thought he looked pretty good during his first few games then he got scratched. In the few games he played since he was pretty forgettable. I read Wrobo's comments after this most recent Reign game and he said he was unnoticeable. I thought he did ok vs the Gulls. Hit the post which led to the game tying goal. Looked really talkative out there if nothing else.

Oh I didn't know he was with the Reign right now. That's good at least.

 

[AlphaBravo]

Seems like rumors floating around Eichel still keep mentioning the Kings. lol

hi curious where you saw this rumor. Is this something recent or the rumors from a feels weeks ago?

 

[kilowatt]

hi curious where you saw this rumor. Is this something recent or the rumors from a feels weeks ago?

It's a rumor insofar as the Kings have the cap space and assets to acquire Eichel. If LA, Detroit, New York, or Ottawa can't trade for him, who could?

I think it started with Elliotte Friedman, who probably got it from the HF Trade Board. From everything Blake (and Lisa) have said, the plan is to continue developing and that's that.

 

[kingsholygrail]

hi curious where you saw this rumor. Is this something recent or the rumors from a feels weeks ago?

NHLN was talking about it tonight.

 

[AlphaBravo]

NHLN was talking about it tonight.

thanks! Fingers cross. I would do Turcotte/Byfield, 2021 1st, and Akil Thomas.

 

[Statto]

Seems like rumors floating around Eichel still keep mentioning the Kings. lol

It’s the same click bait nonsense doing laps. With all the character questions on Eichel I don’t want him anywhere near this roster... I was concerned about his character when I first heard the rumours and then the Buffalo board convinced me. When you have a player that makes it known when he’s unhappy about things it’s not someone I want on the team. I’m certainly not trading character blue chip guys for him, nor do I get why we’d trade to improve a position we already have decent depth in..

 

[kovacro]

So many Kings fans were upset with this trade, saying Dean Lombardi traded for an injury prone player, O’Sullivan was supposed to be part of the future, etc. I think those complaints stopped soon after.

I recall that. Admittedly, I was on the fence over the trade at the time, but I think it worked out ok in the end for us.

 

[AlphaBravo]

It’s the same click bait nonsense doing laps. With all the character questions on Eichel I don’t want him anywhere near this roster... I was concerned about his character when I first heard the rumours and then the Buffalo board convinced me. When you have a player that makes it known when he’s unhappy about things it’s not someone I want on the team. I’m certainly not trading character blue chip guys for him, nor do I get why we’d trade to improve a position we already have decent depth in..

What character issues? I see a player sick of losing and desiring to win on a well managed team. The guy gives it his all on the ice and has that drive Doughty has. An elite center like Eichel rarely is available. I highly doubt any of our prospects will get anywhere near his level.

 

[ibleedkings]

What character issues? I see a player sick of losing and desiring to win on a well managed team. The guy gives it his all on the ice and has that drive Doughty has. An elite center like Eichel rarely is available. I highly doubt any of our prospects will get anywhere near his level.

Well said! People forget Carter was also fed up in Columbus and wanted out.

Eichel is 24 years old and just entering his prime. Blake's not doing his job if he's not considering it.

 

[Lt Dan]

What character issues? I see a player sick of losing and desiring to win on a well managed team. The guy gives it his all on the ice and has that drive Doughty has. An elite center like Eichel rarely is available. I highly doubt any of our prospects will get anywhere near his level.

These are excellent points