The question on the athletic asked about getting a wild card spot next season based on the strength of the prospect pool. I agree with the writer that what is holding the Kings back at this point is old, expensive players who can’t perform to their cap hits.
While next years team projects to climb out of the basement, expecting 92+ points is a long shot. If you had to pinpoint where to improve, it’s pretty clear that the forwards are the weakest part of the roster. One big improvement under coach Todd is shots per game, but that still resulted in the second fewest goals scored in the league. The center men were fairly productive, the wings were the glaring issue.
Given their ages, cap hits and years remaining, Brown and Carter are the obvious choices to try and upgrade. For their ice time, that money should buy you 60+ point players. Those points are the difference when it comes to making a push for the playoffs.
Or the other option is to expect major improvements from a couple guys from a group like Iafallo, Kempe, Wagner, Lizotte, Wagner and Luff. Finding one, let alone two 60+ point players in their isn’t likely. I’m guessing the kings brain trust is hoping they get the extra 120+ points from within that group collectively.
But in the end, I don’t think it’s realistic to find trading partners for Brown and Carter which will bring back enough for the kings to sell it to fans who get overly attached to players. And given their ages, and with Carter, recent challenges staying healthy enough to be in the lineup, it makes sense to wait it out.
Because even if they traded the rest of the vets from the cup teams by next trade deadline, it’s not like the kings suddenly become a team like the Tampa Bay. I’ve resigned myself to the idea that it’s going to be more like 3-4 seasons before this franchise sniffs the playoffs again. It’s the tax bill come due from the cup wins, and we’re all gonna have to keep paying it for the next few seasons.
What gives me hope that the franchise is trying to get things turned around are some of the off ice moves. Prioritizing scouting, drafting and development is always preferred to quick fixes. It’s refreshing to hear Blake come out and admit he placed too much confidence in the Core to get this team back to cup contention, which in itself was a dubious expectation in 2016. And it’s good to see him make moves to rid the roster of dead weight and stop taking half measures like the Phaneuf and Kovalchuk moves.
So with the #2 pick this year, we’re in a similar spot to 2008 is how I’m trying to look at things moving forward.
