Speculation: 2021-21 LA Kings News/Rumors/Roster discussion

[Damassk]

There is strong rumor in Russia, that Kings have signed Vladimir Tkachyov from SKA (he is UFA this summer in KHL).
Vladimir Tkachyov at eliteprospects.com
Talented player, but I am not sure can he can succeed in NHL with his style of play. Good comparasion - Shipachyov and everybody remember this disaster.
And yes, Oilers tried to sign him few years ago, but contract was rejected by the league.

 

[Fishhead]

Wait wait Bluc went outside the old boys club and also thought out of the box bringing in a MLB guy? I was told that was virtually impossible.

I know we like to laugh at the Kings and their network of old players, and it's certainly there. All teams do this however, and it really has little to do with team success. Look at some of the Avalanche organization:

Joe Sakic - Played for the team
Craig Billington, AGM - Played for the team
Nolan Pratt, Asst. Coach - Played for the team
Curtis Leschyshyn, Scout - Played for the team
Wade Klippenstein, Am. Dir. Scouting - Drafted by Quebec a couple years after Sakic
Henrik Gradin, Scout - Played at Modo with Forsberg
Alexei Gusarov, Scout - Played for the team
Mitch Sakic, Asst. Video Scout - Joe's Kid
Brett Clark, Development Coach - Played for the team
Steven Reinprecht, Development Coach - Played for the team
Brian Willsie, Development Coach - Played for the team
There is also a Battaglia who directs their video scouting, seeing how Bates played in Colorado it wouldn't surprise me if there was a link

If having Brian f'n Willsie as a development coach doesn't screw up your prospects, nothing will

I don't think it's as much to do with an old boys club and doing favors to ex-teammates as much as it is being comfortable and familiar with people.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Many mocked Joe Sakic 5 years ago, myself included. I certainly hope Rob and Luc prove me wrong and are where the Avalanche are in the next 4-5 years!

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I know we like to laugh at the Kings and their network of old players, and it's certainly there. All teams do this however, and it really has little to do with team success. Look at some of the Avalanche organization:

Joe Sakic - Played for the team
Craig Billington, AGM - Played for the team
Nolan Pratt, Asst. Coach - Played for the team
Curtis Leschyshyn, Scout - Played for the team
Wade Klippenstein, Am. Dir. Scouting - Drafted by Quebec a couple years after Sakic
Henrik Gradin, Scout - Played at Modo with Forsberg
Alexei Gusarov, Scout - Played for the team
Mitch Sakic, Asst. Video Scout - Joe's Kid
Brett Clark, Development Coach - Played for the team
Steven Reinprecht, Development Coach - Played for the team
Brian Willsie, Development Coach - Played for the team
There is also a Battaglia who directs their video scouting, seeing how Bates played in Colorado it wouldn't surprise me if there was a link

If having Brian f'n Willsie as a development coach doesn't screw up your prospects, nothing will

I don't think it's as much to do with an old boys club and doing favors to ex-teammates as much as it is being comfortable and familiar with people.

And, fairly, Avs fans were pissed until these guys showed they could do something.

I mean some people will never give Blake any rope no matter what but I'd say the great majority of this forum is a little skeptical--and rightfully--until we get some results.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

There is strong rumor in Russia, that Kings have signed Vladimir Tkachyov from SKA (he is UFA this summer in KHL).
Vladimir Tkachyov at eliteprospects.com
Talented player, but I am not sure can he can succeed in NHL with his style of play. Good comparasion - Shipachyov and everybody remember this disaster.
And yes, Oilers tried to sign him few years ago, but contract was rejected by the league.

At the risk of pissing off the entire forum yet again (RJ is a Xenophobe!), I would be incredibly shocked if 1. this wasn't simply for more leverage for a contract in the KHL and 2. if he came over and did literally anything for us.

 

[The Lukeman]

Wait wait Bluc went outside the old boys club and also thought out of the box bringing in a MLB guy? I was told that was virtually impossible.

I know we like to laugh at the Kings and their network of old players, and it's certainly there. All teams do this however, and it really has little to do with team success. Look at some of the Avalanche organization:

Joe Sakic - Played for the team
Craig Billington, AGM - Played for the team
Nolan Pratt, Asst. Coach - Played for the team
Curtis Leschyshyn, Scout - Played for the team
Wade Klippenstein, Am. Dir. Scouting - Drafted by Quebec a couple years after Sakic
Henrik Gradin, Scout - Played at Modo with Forsberg
Alexei Gusarov, Scout - Played for the team
Mitch Sakic, Asst. Video Scout - Joe's Kid
Brett Clark, Development Coach - Played for the team
Steven Reinprecht, Development Coach - Played for the team
Brian Willsie, Development Coach - Played for the team
There is also a Battaglia who directs their video scouting, seeing how Bates played in Colorado it wouldn't surprise me if there was a link

If having Brian f'n Willsie as a development coach doesn't screw up your prospects, nothing will

I don't think it's as much to do with an old boys club and doing favors to ex-teammates as much as it is being comfortable and familiar with people.

I dont think if a dude played for the team or not is going to determine whether this team is good or not. I'm not a fan of the boys club argument, because that completely ignores whether or not they are qualified for the position, and every hire has been qualified for the position.

 

[crassbonanza]

I'd say those problems are beyond the assistant GM's scope. He previously worked for the London Knights before being hired by the Coyotes, and he likely had many challenges he had to deal with in managing the cap on a team like Arizona.

The Yotes are less than a million under the cap this season, it's not like they are dealing with some internal cap. They are also loaded up with an aging, expensive dcore and a lack of picks due to front office shenanigans. I don't know how someone could get promoted out of that front office.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Edit.

 

[Reaper45]

I mean I would love for it to work out in the Kings favor if he came over and lit it up but I have serious doubts.

 

[The Lukeman]

There is strong rumor in Russia, that Kings have signed Vladimir Tkachyov from SKA (he is UFA this summer in KHL).
Vladimir Tkachyov at eliteprospects.com
Talented player, but I am not sure can he can succeed in NHL with his style of play. Good comparasion - Shipachyov and everybody remember this disaster.
And yes, Oilers tried to sign him few years ago, but contract was rejected by the league.

Good call. As a Russian myself, I hope it goes well.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Free lotto ticket never hurts

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

The Yotes are less than a million under the cap this season, it's not like they are dealing with some internal cap. They are also loaded up with an aging, expensive dcore and a lack of picks due to front office shenanigans. I don't know how someone could get promoted out of that front office.

You do realize that cap figure includes Marian Hossa's contract, yes? And the Coyotes are going to have $30M in cap space this upcoming summer, so I'm not sure if your point of contention really sticks out.

Goldberg joined the Coyotes in 2017 and was let go in 2020, as he was a Chayka hire. The new GM wiped out everyone when he took over. He was with the Coyotes for only three seasons, but his work with the London Knights is what is most impressive.

Go get familiarized with the 2015-16 Knights team that won the OHL championship and Memorial Cup. You might recognize some names on that roster.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[crassbonanza]

You do realize that cap figure includes Marian Hossa's contract, yes? And the Coyotes are going to have $30M in cap space this upcoming summer, so I'm not sure if your point of contention really sticks out.

Goldberg joined the Coyotes in 2017 and was let go in 2020, as he was a Chayka hire. The new GM wiped out everyone when he took over. He was with the Coyotes for only three seasons, but his work with the London Knights is what is most impressive.

Go get familiarized with the 2015-16 Knights team that won the OHL championship. You might recognize some names on that roster.

My point was that the Yotes spent right up to the salary cap, so your point regarding his difficulties in managing their salary cap is moot. It was no more difficult than any other teams. Also, if he was in charge of it, his allocation of cap was done poorly, though I don't think he was and you just threw that in to your comment for some reason.

As to your point regarding the London Knights, his success in the CHL is likely why he got his foot in the door in the first place. However, the Yotes front office left such a mess, I don't see how someone could be promoted out of there. Maybe lateral, but a promotion just seems too much. That front office was horribly run and screwed the Yotes for years to come and every executive holds some blame. I personally don't want anyone from that group to be one of the major decision makers for the Kings.

 

[Schrute farms]

Small guy....wish we could have size + skill (broken record).
Has skill though and Lord knows we need some skill, goal scoring, sniper-ness at the wing. As RJ said -- free lotto ticket. Nothing to lose. BTW, that 2nd clip (penalty shot) is hilarious....never seen that attempted.

 

[YP44]

There is strong rumor in Russia, that Kings have signed Vladimir Tkachyov from SKA (he is UFA this summer in KHL).
Vladimir Tkachyov at eliteprospects.com
Talented player, but I am not sure can he can succeed in NHL with his style of play. Good comparasion - Shipachyov and everybody remember this disaster.
And yes, Oilers tried to sign him few years ago, but contract was rejected by the league.

sounds good to me

 

[YP44]

My point was that the Yotes spent right up to the salary cap, so your point regarding his difficulties in managing their salary cap is moot. It was no more difficult than any other teams. Also, if he was in charge of it, his allocation of cap was done poorly, though I don't think he was and you just threw that in to your comment for some reason.

As to your point regarding the London Knights, his success in the CHL is likely why he got his foot in the door in the first place. However, the Yotes front office left such a mess, I don't see how someone could be promoted out of there. Maybe lateral, but a promotion just seems too much. That front office was horribly run and screwed the Yotes for years to come and every executive holds some blame. I personally don't want anyone from that group to be one of the major decision makers for the Kings.

but Hossa can be on LTIR.
no team in the past 15 years have acquired more cap hit they do not have to pay than Arizona. Take a guy with a good handle on the cap to allow the GM to do that. If LA is looking to weaponize cap space it will be one year too late IMO, but this guy seems to be a guy who would know how to do it

 

[kingsboy11]

This Russian guy is tiny at 5'10 and barely 160. Dude definitely has the skills and could provide something that most of our current forwards do not posses, but I still don't know why we keep dipping into the Russian well. Since Voynov lost his mind, we've had literally zero luck with Russian players since.

 

[KopitarFAN]

Free lotto ticket never hurts

Nailed it.

Worst case: Prokhorkin 2.0
Best case: A moderately productive middle 6 player.

 

[YP44]

This Russian guy is tiny at 5'10 and barely 160. Dude definitely has the skills and could provide something that most of our current forwards do not posses, but I still don't know why we keep dipping into the Russian well. Since Voynov lost his mind, we've had literally zero luck with Russian players since.

can't steal second with your foot on first

 

[crassbonanza]

but Hossa can be on LTIR.
no team in the past 15 years have acquired more cap hit they do not have to pay than Arizona. Take a guy with a good handle on the cap to allow the GM to do that. If LA is looking to weaponize cap space it will be one year too late IMO, but this guy seems to be a guy who would know how to do it

Well, he has only been with the Yotes since 2017, so the stat about the past 15 years is not really applicable. In fact it shows that taking on bad cap hits from other teams trying to be successful is not a particularly unique skill set. If taking on shitty cap hits is the reason why we put him in charge of hockey operations, then I am even more concerned.

 

[King'sPawn]

Looks like Tkachov loves to control the puck in traffic.

For a sniper, he telegraphs his shot, which will make it harder to fool the opposition.

 

[Fishhead]

Looks like Tkachov loves to control the puck in traffic.

For a sniper, he telegraphs his shot, which will make it harder to fool the opposition.

Yeah he probably can get away with that in other leagues, but probably not in the NHL. Dude oozes skill, but he'd get planted with a lot of those moves he does. Try to nutmeg an NHL defenseman bigger than you and you'll just end up on your ass.

You know what though, I thought the same about DeBrincat and look what happened there.

 

[King'sPawn]

Yeah he probably can get away with that in other leagues, but probably not in the NHL. Dude oozes skill, but he'd get planted with a lot of those moves he does. Try to nutmeg an NHL defenseman bigger than you and you'll just end up on your ass.

You know what though, I thought the same about DeBrincat and look what happened there.

That's fair.

And even if you expect a shot, perfect placement can still beat preparation.

Not saying he'll suck. I just expect about 10g, 20a if he's in a top-9 role.

 

[Sol]

If he sucks then he will perfectly fit the mold