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

[Stimpythecat]

3 game win streak.

 

[Telos]

I would like to see Bjornfot with Doughty when he returns. I like Anderson and all, but they seemed like a great match with what limited time they played together the other year and with Bjornfot's progress, I think he should get a look as a #2.

 

[kinghock]

I would like to see Bjornfot with Doughty when he returns. I like Anderson and all, but they seemed like a great match with what limited time they played together the other year and with Bjornfot's progress, I think he should get a look as a #2.

I do not think Anderson should be playing at #2.
He should be ok at #4 at best.

 

[FSL KINGS]

I do not think Anderson should be playing at #2.
He should be ok at #4 at best.

Could play Maatta at 2 instead!

No problem with Edler, but Kings could use a long term fix on LD.

 

[brakeyawself]

You’d think with the league being fully vaccinated, that we could move past benching players for shoddy tests, but here we are.

Thankfully, there isn’t a whole lot to play for this season.

Can't do that because the jab isn't 100% effective. Have to keep testing. For the sake of the rest of the team and everyone around. They could still be asymptomatic carriers, even with the jab. It's not like regular jabs.

And I am sure they get better, more accurate tests than the average low-fi variety.

 

[brakeyawself]

I'd love to get Chychrun but Yotes will ask for Turcotte, Toby and a 1st just to start. Man that's a steep price to pay but might just be worth it.

Could afford it if that were actually enough, but I don't think it is. Really, there's no way Kings end up keeping all of Byfield, Turcotte, Vilardi, Kupari, Madden, JAD, Pinelli etc... And while Toby looks like a very good young Dman, he's probably not irreplaceable.

With the way Kupari has looked too, I would feel a bit better about moving a guy like Turcotte at this point. Byfield probably the only real untouchable out of that group of young centers. Whether they were going to move to the wing or not.

Anyway, Chychrun is about as close to untouchable as a player can get. Yotes won't be moving him. I think it would actually take more than would probably require Clarke + one of Turcotte, Vilardi or Kupari, + a 1st round pick or even 2. Heck, they might also want one of Tka, Kaliyev or Fagemo.

 

[Fat Elvis]

Love Bjornfot and think he's still going to get better. Showing flashes of offense paired with steady defense. Kid really could be a phenomenal #3.

 

[Fat Elvis]

And another thing. Lemieux needs to be in the line up every night. His reaction to Arty's goal and Kopitar's shootout miss are priceless. Definitely is earning his playing time.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

And another thing. Lemieux needs to be in the line up every night. His reaction to Arty's goal and Kopitar's shootout miss are priceless. Definitely is earning his playing time.

Lemieux definitely needs some playoff games to live up to papa's rep, dude is a time bomb ready to pop in a walkoff when no one expects it by just doing the right hockey things

 

[BigKing]

I go back to last year and Kopitar's 1,000th point and he looked like the happiest dude on the team yet he'd only been here for a month or whatever. He looked the most pumped after one of the wins over the weekend and then you have his reactions last night.

On what has been a very robotic team for years now, his energy and enthusiasm are greatly needed. To a similar degree, Arvidsson brings that energy as well.

 

[kilowatt]

Love everything Lemieux brings to this team.

 

[Schrute farms]

I go back to last year and Kopitar's 1,000th point and he looked like the happiest dude on the team yet he'd only been here for a month or whatever. He looked the most pumped after one of the wins over the weekend and then you have his reactions last night.

On what has been a very robotic team for years now, his energy and enthusiasm are greatly needed. To a similar degree, Arvidsson brings that energy as well.

Bingo -- at the least, you can immediately tell that the dude CARES.....like we do as fans...living & dying with the ups and downs of the game. Passion -- something sorely missing the past few years with a lot of the Kings.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

I go back to last year and Kopitar's 1,000th point and he looked like the happiest dude on the team yet he'd only been here for a month or whatever. He looked the most pumped after one of the wins over the weekend and then you have his reactions last night.

On what has been a very robotic team for years now, his energy and enthusiasm are greatly needed. To a similar degree, Arvidsson brings that energy as well.

Danault as well. His line is working like crazy every night and they’re getting rewarded with big goals at big moments. They look like they’re having fun.

 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

More on the Kings from ESPN (also talks about the Sharks and Ducks). The basic thrust (for those that don't have ESPN+): The offseason additions, combined with spirited play from a few of the youths, seemed to galvanize Kopitar and Doughty; and then the later got hurt, and, in the immediate aftermath, expectations for the team were lowered. Still hopeful that some of those youths can find statistical success, though:

State of the NHL's California teams: Finally, some hope for the Sharks, Kings, Ducks (espn.com)

 

[regulate]

Tkachev and Turcotte recalled to the Kings. Clague and Strand sent to ONT. Athanasiou off of IR. Some paper moves here with the first four players listed.

 

[BringTheReign]

Potential lineup with Doughty and Byfield back anyone? Plug in Grundstrom as well given that there will always be injuries (apparently Andersson got hurt again last night unfortunately).

Arvidsson - Kopitar - Kaliyev
Kempe - Danault - Iafallo
Vilardi - Byfield - Brown
Lemieux - Kupari - Moore/Athanasiou
*Grundstrom/Lizotte

Bjornfot - Doughty
Clague - Roy
Edler - Anderson

Petersen
Quick

EDIT: I forgot Brown.

 

[lexlavender]

Just a reminder that the "#2 damn" isn't always the 2nd dman on the top pair, but could be the dman who anchors the second pair. In that sense, I could honestly see Bjornfoot do both.

 

[Fat Elvis]

Potential lineup with Doughty and Byfield back anyone? Plug in Grundstrom as well given that there will always be injuries (apparently Andersson got hurt again last night unfortunately).

Arvidsson - Kopitar - Kaliyev
Kempe - Danault - Iafallo
Andersson - Byfield - Vilardi
Lemieux - Kupari - Moore/Athanasiou
*Grundstrom/Lizotte

Bjornfot - Doughty
Clague - Roy
Edler - Anderson

Petersen
Quick

I know I've been harping on Brown this season, but he's still on the roster. He definitely needs to be dropped down the lineup though.

 

[tny760]

lemieux-kupari-AA kinda strikes my fancy, lias getting hurt again right after getting promoted is a serious bummer though

boy are there a lot of moving parts here right now between the injuries, cap, and covid list..

 

[TwzKing]

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Lias getting hurt again is a serious bummer

I hope this isn't a Frk thing where it gets dragged out all season

 

[redcard]

Tkachev and Turcotte recalled to the Kings. Clague and Strand sent to ONT. Athanasiou off of IR. Some paper moves here with the first four players listed.

Even if paper transactions, not seeing the idea here. Doesn't save any money, best i can come up with is rewarding the forwards with 1 day of NHL salary before sending one or both back down? We only have 5 defensemen on the roster so Clague and Strand have to be back up tomorrow. Or maybe Strand stays down and Durzi comes up, since its almost been a month since Strand cleared waivers if we're ever going to send him down it has to be now.

 

[BringTheReign]

Even if paper transactions, not seeing the idea here. Doesn't save any money, best i can come up with is rewarding the forwards with 1 day of NHL salary before sending one or both back down? We only have 5 defensemen on the roster so Clague and Strand have to be back up tomorrow. Or maybe Strand stays down and Durzi comes up, since its almost been a month since Strand cleared waivers if we're ever going to send him down it has to be now.

From my understanding it's aimed at:

• Extending Clague and Strand's waiver exempt status (which goes away with >10 games or >30 days on the NHL roster unless they are moved back to the AHL roster in between)
• Ensuring we're as close to the cap as possible when moving Doughty to LTIR (which increases the amount of cap space/cap relief that accrues as the season goes on)

It's not just saving money now, it's increasing space later in the season due to the complicated way cap space accrues especially related to LTIR. Also, yes, Clague and Strand will be recalled (barring Durzi getting a shot since he's played well in Ontario as you mention).

 

[FrozenKing18]

Bummer about Lias

 

[bmr]

Check this out:

NHL’s top five lines in xGF (expected goals) according to @EvolvingHockey:

1. Kempe - Danault - Iafallo | 5.29
2. Arvidsson - Kopitar - Brown | 5.1
3. Gaudreau - Lindholm - Tkachuk | 4.97
4. Drouin - Dvorak - Anderson | 4.93
5. Ovechkin - Kuznetsov - Wilson | 4.88