Speculation: 2021-21 LA Kings News, Rumors, Roster discussion part V

[kingsfan]

I'm fine with trading Vilardi, Kempe, etc for a defenseman but who's trading a decent defenseman nine days into the season? I figure we'll try to stay in or close to a playoff spot until the deadline and then deal for a mid-tier rental.

 

[johnjm22]

Indeed but to be fair, look at the all dead money and waste

Dead Money
Carter 2,636,363
Phaneuf 1,062,500
Richards 900,000

Waste
Maata- 3,333,225

That's almost 8 mil
I should probably count AA in there too which brings it to 10.6 mil

Quick and Brown are also not (currently) earning their contracts.

This year still needs to be a big step forward and other than the first game it has been business as usual

How is Brown not earning his contract?

28g, 52pts pace last year. Lead the team in goals.

3pts in 3 games this year.

Cap hit is 5.8M.

 

[kingsfan]

I'm not a Blake fan at all, but two things I'll give him credit for is drafting and having the cap set to have a lot of hits coming off each year, which allow us room to resign guys or add to the payroll. Some of them we'll have to spend money to replace, but Brown, Edler, Maatta, Carter and Anthansiou come off the cap this year and combined they are $18 million.

 

[kingsholygrail]

I'm not a Blake fan at all, but two things I'll give him credit for is drafting and having the cap set to have a lot of hits coming off each year, which allow us room to resign guys or add to the payroll. Some of them we'll have to spend money to replace, but Brown, Edler, Maatta, Carter and Anthansiou come off the cap this year and combined they are $18 million.

I wasn't aware we were struggling with the cap.

 

[tkb81]

I wasn't aware we were struggling with the cap.

not right now we aren't ... but if it all works out like its supposed to, the whole neighbourhood knows you , and they will expose you ... haha dont where i was going with that when the slim shady lyric popped into my head haha

 

[kingsfan]

I wasn't aware we were struggling with the cap.

I wasn't aware I said we were.

 

[KingTech]

I wonder if anyone will be recalled for tomorrow game against Dallas. Hoping one of Frk or Jad but doubting it.

 

[BringTheReign]

Pending UFA LD of note next year:

• Hampus Lindholm (28)
• Morgan Reilly (28)
• Will Butcher (27)
• Ryan Murray (28)

Pending RFA LD of note next year:

• Scott Perunovich (23)
• Rasmus Sandin (24)
• Alexander Romanov (24)
• Nicolas Hague (24)
• Libor Hajek (24)

I don't think there's a perfect match with any of these LD. There's the age-match issue with some, and the trade for potential rather than proof with others. I also think Clarke might be the type of talent who could get a legitimate shot at making the team next year. Even though he's a RD, he definitely brings the dynamism we're missing.

If you extend the search out to just 25 & under LDs as potential trade targets (with a dose of reality in terms of who teams might actually trade for cap reasons or for a need of other blue-chip prospects we have), you get:

• Gustav Forsling (25)
• Mikhail Sergachev (23)
• Sam Girard (22)
• Erik Brannstrom (20)
• Zac Jones (19)

Slim pickings, though there are other, sexier names like Chychrun, Hanifin, etc. but I don't think the teams would listen to offers on them. I think out of all of these "realistic" names, I'd prefer Hague, Sergachev, or Jones. Hague and Sergachev could be cap casualties, and they bring size and snarl. Jones is running into a deep, young Rangers D-Corps with Fox, Miller, and Lundqvist already there.

 

[kingsfan]

Butcher is the exact kind of buy low UFA asset I can see Blake go for if we're in the playoff picture at the deadline. Not saying I like that, just that I can see Blake going for an asset that would cost around what Butcher would cost. He's not going to dump a ton of assets in a trade this year. I expect any big move to be at the draft.

 

[DoktorJeep]

Pending UFA LD of note next year:

• Hampus Lindholm (28)
• Morgan Reilly (28)
• Will Butcher (27)
• Ryan Murray (28)

Pending RFA LD of note next year:

• Scott Perunovich (23)
• Rasmus Sandin (24)
• Alexander Romanov (24)
• Nicolas Hague (24)
• Libor Hajek (24)

I don't think there's a perfect match with any of these LD. There's the age-match issue with some, and the trade for potential rather than proof with others. I also think Clarke might be the type of talent who could get a legitimate shot at making the team next year. Even though he's a RD, he definitely brings the dynamism we're missing.

If you extend the search out to just 25 & under LDs as potential trade targets (with a dose of reality in terms of who teams might actually trade for cap reasons or for a need of other blue-chip prospects we have), you get:

• Gustav Forsling (25)
• Mikhail Sergachev (23)
• Sam Girard (22)
• Erik Brannstrom (20)
• Zac Jones (19)

Slim pickings, though there are other, sexier names like Chychrun, Hanifin, etc. but I don't think the teams would listen to offers on them. I think out of all of these "realistic" names, I'd prefer Hague, Sergachev, or Jones. Hague and Sergachev could be cap casualties, and they bring size and snarl. Jones is running into a deep, young Rangers D-Corps with Fox, Miller, and Lundqvist already there.

Nice write up. Girard is an intriguing option. He’s 3.5 years younger than Walker, and has almost double the NHL games. He’s paid a lot, $5M for 6 more years, but he has 3x+ the points of Walker.

 

[BringTheReign]

Nice write up. Girard is an intriguing option. He’s 3.5 years younger than Walker, and has almost double the NHL games. He’s paid a lot, $5M for 6 more years, but he has 3x+ the points of Walker.

Agreed. I think Girard makes a ton of sense. We'd need to pair him with a mean SOB though, as though I think his playoff struggles last year were exaggerated, he definitely can be exposed by an ultra-physical forecheck. That's why Hague or Sergachev would be nice, as they both have size and attitude.

I could for sure see a scenario where Walker goes to COL in the trade along with picks and prospects to help them save cap while still getting a solid, third pairing puck-mover. Byram slides up in their lineup, and voila, both teams are happy.

 

[johnjm22]

I really don't know what the Kings should do at this point.

The whole organization on and off the ice feels stale right now.

I don't know how you fix that.

 

[DoktorJeep]

The losses have been one goal games, so that’s not the end of the world and in some lights could be seen as an improvement. The optics make it hard to see the team turning things around. But I can see how that is a viewpoint the fans are attuned to, but has no real bearing on the players attitudes.

Depth scoring is something that could be effective with just 1 extra goal a game. So between Danault and Vilardi’s lines, they need a goal on any given night. And it looks like they can get there.

The gap is with the defense. Doughty’s production is wrapped up in Kopitar’s minutes, so he’s not going to help the bottom six forwards. It’s really on Walker to make the difference for at least the rest of the road trip.

 

[Brodeur]

Butcher is the exact kind of buy low UFA asset I can see Blake go for if we're in the playoff picture at the deadline. Not saying I like that, just that I can see Blake going for an asset that would cost around what Butcher would cost. He's not going to dump a ton of assets in a trade this year. I expect any big move to be at the draft.

I wouldn't recommend Butcher, he's a liability at even strength and he wouldn't command PP time over Doughty. His rookie year looked great because of the point production when the Devils didn't have any other PPQB options, but he was sixth among our D in regular ice time since we had shield him. His ice time increased and his defensive holes became more apparent.

We had to eat a chunk of Butcher's deal and give up a 5th rounder just to offload him for nothing.

Brannstrom might be a more interesting reclamation project. Maybe the Kings could get him for a forward prospect who's a bit buried (Madden/Thomas/Pinelli).

 

[BringTheReign]

I really don't know what the Kings should do at this point.

The whole organization on and off the ice feels stale right now.

I don't know how you fix that.

I had this moment listening to a podcast the other day when the Kings were listed among teams like Ottawa, Anaheim, and New York in terms of trying to push a youth movement. I think what's stale is that around the league folks are talking about us as if we're playing the kids like those other three teams, but we're really not.

Anaheim and Ottawa have really thrown their kids in the deep end, and even though not all of it has worked out (Steel, Mahura, Logan Brown), they've been exciting because of the promise shown (Tkachuk, Zegras, Norris, Batherson, Drysdale). New York has done the same with much more mixed/worse results in Lafreniere, Miller, and Kakko.

I think it feels extra stale this year because everyone is talking about our youth movement like it's here when in reality it's still at least another year away in turns of being comparable to the above teams with actual youth movements. I think part of that is just having players who had longer development curves (Byfield being most prominent), another part being bad luck (Vilardi back injury, Turcotte/Kupari/Clarke/Madden illnesses/injuries), but a lot of it is just roster blockage where we have guys who are definitely NHLers but are all slotted in too high like Kempe, Iafallo, AA, Lizotte, Anderson, etc.

There's also the fact that Anaheim and Ottawa are now being led by their next generation, whereas we are still led by Kopitar and Doughty. Even though those two are playing great, it's not as exciting as it would be comparably to see Byfield or Vilardi or Clarke exploding to the top of our goals-points leaderboards.

 

[kingsfan]

Girard is underpaid for a defenseman of his ilk on the market and is just 23. I doubt he'd move at all, but if he did it's after the season and it'd cost a lot more than Walker and some picks.

 

[kilowatt]

I'm talking about the DAMN FANCLUB.

What fanclub though? You're just making shit up. No one was excited about him in the first place. No one is a Todd f***ing McLellan fan. I think the warmest response about TM that you'll get here is that we're stuck with him so get used to him and that at least he's better than WD.

Seriously, if you're that adamant that there's some TM fan club, call out specific people. But you can't, because it doesn't exist, and you just want to feel smarter than some fictitous faction of fans on this forum for some reason.

Yawn.

 

[johnjm22]

I had this moment listening to a podcast the other day when the Kings were listed among teams like Ottawa, Anaheim, and New York in terms of trying to push a youth movement. I think what's stale is that around the league folks are talking about us as if we're playing the kids like those other three teams, but we're really not.

Anaheim and Ottawa have really thrown their kids in the deep end, and even though not all of it has worked out (Steel, Mahura, Logan Brown), they've been exciting because of the promise shown (Tkachuk, Zegras, Norris, Batherson, Drysdale). New York has done the same with much more mixed/worse results in Lafreniere, Miller, and Kakko.

I think it feels extra stale this year because everyone is talking about our youth movement like it's here when in reality it's still at least another year away in turns of being comparable to the above teams with actual youth movements. I think part of that is just having players who had longer development curves (Byfield being most prominent), another part being bad luck (Vilardi back injury, Turcotte/Kupari/Clarke/Madden illnesses/injuries), but a lot of it is just roster blockage where we have guys who are definitely NHLers but are all slotted in too high like Kempe, Iafallo, AA, Lizotte, Anderson, etc.

There's also the fact that Anaheim and Ottawa are now being led by their next generation, whereas we are still led by Kopitar and Doughty. Even though those two are playing great, it's not as exciting as it would be comparably to see Byfield or Vilardi or Clarke exploding to the top of our goals-points leaderboards.

I definitely think having a young player "hit' feels exciting.

When Kopitar came in as a rookie and started scoring right away, things didn't feel stale even though the team sucked.

When Vilardi came in at the end of 19/20 and started producing right away, along with Roy playing excellent and the Kings winning some games, things didn't feel stale. But since then, the on ice product has moved side ways.

I guess what creates the feeling of staleness is not seeing any progress. It's the same old guys the team is relying on night in and night out. We're still waiting for some new blood to establish themselves.

We're 3 games in, and surprise! Kopitar, Doughty and Brown are leading the team in scoring.

 

[Sol]

What fanclub though? You're just making shit up. No one was excited about him in the first place. No one is a Todd f***ing McLellan fan. I think the warmest response about TM that you'll get here is that we're stuck with him so get used to him and that at least he's better than WD.

Seriously, if you're that adamant that there's some TM fan club, call out specific people. But you can't, because it doesn't exist, and you just want to feel smarter than some fictitous faction of fans on this forum for some reason.

Yawn.

I actually looked up in 2 minutes and found these 4 people make comments about him not being fireable just yet.


Nevertheless since you seem like you have time on your hands, go read the Todd Maclellan comments in the offseason right before the preseason I'm sure you can find more.

I'm gonna delete the names because I don't want to name drop people and cause an argument. If they want him as coach they should just speak up themselves.

 

[kingsfan]

What fanclub though? You're just making shit up. No one was excited about him in the first place. No one is a Todd f***ing McLellan fan. I think the warmest response about TM that you'll get here is that we're stuck with him so get used to him and that at least he's better than WD.

Seriously, if you're that adamant that there's some TM fan club, call out specific people. But you can't, because it doesn't exist, and you just want to feel smarter than some fictitous faction of fans on this forum for some reason.

Yawn.

I'll call myself out then.

 

[Gjwrams]

What fanclub though? You're just making shit up. No one was excited about him in the first place. No one is a Todd f***ing McLellan fan. I think the warmest response about TM that you'll get here is that we're stuck with him so get used to him and that at least he's better than WD.

Seriously, if you're that adamant that there's some TM fan club, call out specific people. But you can't, because it doesn't exist, and you just want to feel smarter than some fictitous faction of fans on this forum for some reason.

Yawn.

I agree. I've read no one say TM "That was great hire". What I do see is "Well Luc and Blake aren't going to take him out back and put one in the back of his head until they need to". So until they think he is stifling the growth of the kids, he is going to be here until they need to make a move. I don't think he is stifling the kids. The kids just haven't taken their spot. The kids haven't forced Rob to say "Sorry Kempe/Iafallo, you gotta go because Kaliyev or Fagemo are too damn good and need to take your spot" It hasn't happened. Is there some Waiver stuff going on? sure, but neither Kaliyev NOR Fagemo have shown they are better then Kempe or Iafallo at this point and until they do they'll stay here. Hell Vilardi hasn't even shown that yet. The Kings are going to ice an NHL roster....not an AHL one, even if the NHL one isn't great!

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I'm not gonna waste my time digging up which poster said which, I know it might seem crazy to you, but i have other stuff to do, and if you did too, you'd probably understand why I don't care about such a stupid suggestion.


Nevertheless since you seem like you have time on your hands, go read the Todd Maclellan comments in the offseason right before the preseason.

There was more than a handful of people who thought firing him was not enough rope yet.

He's right though, you're arguing against a strawman.

There's a whole hell of a lot of grey area between "fire Todd McLellan into the ocean" and "Todd McLellan's immediate family" but I haven't seen any stronger endorsement than "we're stuck with him for now" this entire offseason.

I'm on your side here but you don't need to yell at an imaginary audience to make your point. Well, you can, but at least point out they're imaginary, since you can't argue with real posters.

 

[BringTheReign]

Girard is underpaid for a defenseman of his ilk on the market and is just 23. I doubt he'd move at all, but if he did it's after the season and it'd cost a lot more than Walker and some picks.

Agreed, but COL will need to re-sign or replace Burakovsky, Kadri, and Keumper after this season with an eye to a monster deal for MacKinnon one year later. Swapping Byram full-time on his ELC plus Walker at a lower cap hit could help them manage that transition, but yeah, Girard won't be cheap.

 

[BringTheReign]

I definitely think having a young player "hit' feels exciting.

When Kopitar came in as a rookie and started scoring right away, things didn't feel stale even though the team sucked.

When Vilardi came in at the end of 19/20 and started producing right away, along with Roy playing excellent and the Kings winning some games, things didn't feel stale. But since then, the on ice product has moved side ways.

I guess what creates the feeling of staleness is not seeing any progress. It's the same old guys the team is relying on night in and night out. We're still waiting for some new blood to establish themselves.

We're 3 games in, and surprise! Kopitar, Doughty and Brown are leading the team in scoring.

Well said. I still remember watching Kopitar's debut. I literally got "Kopitar #11" added to my blank jersey the day after.

I'm hoping that once Andersson is back we see the Tkachev-Vilardi line takeoff again. It's frustrating that both of them have struggled without Lias, but chemistry is tricky. It's only been 3 games, we'll see.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I agree. I've read no one say TM "That was great hire". What I do see is "Well Luc and Blake aren't going to take him out back and put one in the back of his head until they need to". So until they think he is stifling the growth of the kids, he is going to be here until they need to make a move. I don't think he is stifling the kids. The kids just haven't taken their spot. The kids haven't forced Rob to say "Sorry Kempe/Iafallo, you gotta go because Kaliyev or Fagemo are too damn good and need to take your spot" It hasn't happened. Is there some Waiver stuff going on? sure, but neither Kaliyev NOR Fagemo have shown they are better then Kempe or Iafallo at this point and until they do they'll stay here. Hell Vilardi hasn't even shown that yet. The Kings are going to ice an NHL roster....not an AHL one.

The sucky thing is that the Kings are in purgatory. Guys like Iafallo and Kempe are excellent complementary players who cannot carry an offensive load by themselves; Kaliyev, Fagemo, et. al. are (arguably) excellent scorers who cannot carry play at an NHL level quite yet. In theory--you could roll out, say, Kempe-Iafallo-Fagemo (or as we saw Vilardi-Kalivey-Tkachev) and it would be an excellent balance, but we aren't there yet--instead of being good at both it's not-nhl-average at both. As of yet, that is.

I'd be all for an Iafallo-Danault-Kaliyev line to jam things up right now and turn that 3/4 of the shot and scoring attempts into 2/3 of the shot and scoring attempts but actual points.