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

[SFKingshomer]

Agree. Which is why they've got to go out and get a *healthy* Eichel or a Laine. Someone they can market around and who could bring interest and life back into the franchise. I think everyone here is really underestimating the impact that Laine could bring to the team playing with Kopitar. Add in a Werenski in a blockbuster deal and the franchise is instantly much better while also remaining very young.

Those all seem like pipe dreams. Hell no to Laine unless they steal him. He’s a high priced Michael Ryder at this point.

 

[tomd]

Those all seem like pipe dreams. Hell no to Laine unless they steal him. He’s a high priced Michael Ryder at this point.

Come on. That's a ridiculous take on him.

 

[SFKingshomer]

Come on. That's a ridiculous take on him.

He’s way too risky to give quality assets for and pay that $7.5 million. We don’t need his attitude or lack of work ethic.

 

[Lt Dan]

Come on. That's a ridiculous take on him.

He’s way too risky to give quality assets for and pay that $7.5 million. We don’t need his attitude or lack of work ethic.

SFK is right.

He also isn't the kind of player we need....yet

We need another AA who gives 111% and stands up for his team

 

[SFKingshomer]

SFK is right.

He also isn't the kind of player we need....yet

We need another AA who gives 111% and stands up for his team

I'd be willing to bet Laine is on several teams no trade for list. He has a lot to prove to teams before anyone considers the guy. My guess is he will bounce around to 3 or 4 more teams before heading to Europe. He's a case of too much too soon and buying into his own hype. It's disgusting watching him float around waiting for a pass then bitch about not getting to play enough. Combine that with the video game addiction rumors and the comments that he hates hockey...

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

Vince Dunn? Wow, a below average defenseman who can't stay healthy, that will fix things

 

[SFKingshomer]

Vince Dunn? Wow, a below average defenseman who can't stay healthy, that will fix things

You are going to be so disappointed with this offseason. Teams rarely trade a stud defenseman and the Kings aren't a desired destination. I think anyone expecting huge moves needs to temper their expectations.

 

[Docgonzo]

I’ll go with

Throw big money at Hamilton and fail because he doesn’t want to be on a bad team.

Sign a vet 3/4th liner
One of Coleman/Bellemare/Cizikas/Paquette

Try and trade for Boeser since Vancouver kept Benning.

Finally sign lower Dman like Oleksiak, Cole, Kulikov maybe Larsson.

 

[Lt Dan]

Your all going to lose it when we double dip the Oilers for Nuge and Barrie.

I wouldn't mind Barrie. I am torn on Nuge. He is gonna be expensive AF

 

[SFKingshomer]

It's time for Handzus, Nagy, and Tom Preissing because this team has too many huge holes that will need to be filled internally. The best option is to get a few character vets, play the kids, and hope the culture changes.

 

[BigKing]

In past years I might agree regarding the Lakers & Clippers because there are obvious differences in the two sports but I feel it is different coming out of the pandemic. AEG is first and foremost about entertaining and there is currently nothing entertaining about the Kings. AEG desperately needs to put fans in seats next season. I think AEG can evaluate the organizational talent as well as anyone else and they can see that the team is years away from competing if they continue the "stay the course" path. They can also see that the risk of a Buffalo style implosion is very real if the team continues to muddle along (or worse, regress) and 11 and 8 want out. I think the pressure is enormous to be both competitive and entertaining.

They will continue to push Kopi, Dewey, Brownie and Quickie. They will push the living shit out of Byfield. There will be a pent up demand for going to a Kings game since, even though they suck, most fans will not have attended a game for at least 19 months come opening night.

What's entertaining in hockey is winning. Blake is going to try to add legit NHL talent in an effort to make the playoffs. His moves will be in an effort to be competitive with "entertainment" not factoring in: being competitive is entertaining.

Regardless, the two sports are so different and the pandemic doesn't change that. 1st round picks outside of the Top 10 in the NBA are basically worthless so a Paul George type trade is mostly going to be a death sentence in the NHL. The Lakers trade for Davis only happens because they have LeBron. I mean, I guess the Kings can sell the farm for a few guys if they know that McDavid is going to force a trade to LA for future considerations.

 

[Bandit]

Let's trade a bunch of top assets for a self described pain in the ass winger with questionable motivation who will need to be paid a minimum of 7.5 million... sounds like the kind of shit you consider after huffing bleach.

Also... 2021-21 ??? Are we repeating this year because the last one sucked so bad?

 

[Sol]

Yay for Eichel. Nay for Laine.

 

[Sol]

It's time for Handzus, Nagy, and Tom Preissing because this team has too many huge holes that will need to be filled internally. The best option is to get a few character vets, play the kids, and hope the culture changes.

No Nagy.

But a Handzus yes, and a Preissing yes.

However I dont know how well it would work since Kopitar was already confirmed to be the prodigal child when Handzus came about. We dont have any confirmed child of prophecy in our pipeline yet.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Big fat no for Laine. My max would be 1 year/7.5 million. I don't even think he'll be in the league in 5 years.

 

[BigKing]

Best bet for Laine is a one year deal so he can play hard to get a big contract: you just don't want to be the team giving him the big contract.

He just seems like the worst type of dude to add to the current culture. He seems like a little bitch while Eichel just seems tired of being part of a dumpster fire for six years with no end in sight with the handling of his injury being the straw that broke the camel's back.

I listened to the Spittin Chicklets podcast on the way home from work yesterday since I forgot to listen to their thoughts on Wilson's horrific act of violence. It was great listening to dudes that shared my beliefs on the matter but, then again, that's always nice to hear. Anyways, the main takeaway is that Whitney says he is good friends with Eichel and then all of the guys give their pick for where he ends up: everyone said NYR except for Whitney who said LA.

He didn't claim to have inside info and Eichel doesn't have a NTC but, you know, it isn't far fetched to think it could have come up in conversation between the two at some point.

 

[SFKingshomer]

I’m ok with Laine but Byfield, Turcotte,Vilardi, and Bjornfot are off the table which means it’s not happening.

 

[Butch 19]

It's time for Handzus, Nagy, and Tom Preissing because this team has too many huge holes that will need to be filled internally. The best option is to get a few character vets, play the kids, and hope the culture changes.

what decade is this?!

 

[johnjm22]

I would consider Laine only if it was a low risk / high reward type deal.

Meaning if his value plummeted to the point where he wouldn't be expensive, then I might do it.

 

[tomd]

They will continue to push Kopi, Dewey, Brownie and Quickie. They will push the living shit out of Byfield. There will be a pent up demand for going to a Kings game since, even though they suck, most fans will not have attended a game for at least 19 months come opening night.

What's entertaining in hockey is winning. Blake is going to try to add legit NHL talent in an effort to make the playoffs. His moves will be in an effort to be competitive with "entertainment" not factoring in: being competitive is entertaining.

Regardless, the two sports are so different and the pandemic doesn't change that. 1st round picks outside of the Top 10 in the NBA are basically worthless so a Paul George type trade is mostly going to be a death sentence in the NHL. The Lakers trade for Davis only happens because they have LeBron. I mean, I guess the Kings can sell the farm for a few guys if they know that McDavid is going to force a trade to LA for future considerations.

You take my basketball analogy too literally but my point is that the team could really use a new star. Marketing around 11/8/32/23 won't move the needle at all. Marketing around Byfield is way too premature and is pandering to an audience who could care less about him. Regardless, to even have a sniff at the playoffs the team needs to add a couple of 25-35 goal forwards and a top 4 LHD who can get 10ish goals and anchor the 2nd pairing and play the PP. Those things aren't coming from inside the organization. Getting them from outside is mandatory and even better if you can snag a star who has worn out his welcome elsewhere.

As far as fans coming back, I think the past year has proven to a lot of people that they are more than satisfied to watch the game on their very affordable 65-70" TV and bypass the expense of food, tickets, parking, and gas as well as save the time and aggravation of traffic. That is especially true for a product that is unwatchable to begin with.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Had mentioned him earlier this season and it wasn't met too well.

Was pointed toward some analytics which showed he is not the most reliable guy in his own end of the rink.

I had mentioned the he had played like shit in the 1st half of the season. Not sure how he faired the 2nd half of the season, but it was enough for me to make this face on several occasions:

 

[Bandit]

Best bet for Laine is a one year deal so he can play hard

That's the rub. When has he ever done that?

 

[King'sPawn]

If you want to make a big move for Laine, I suppose I'd do a 2nd and C prospect, like Dudas?

Wouldn't trade away potentially high reward prospects and would "keep Drew happy" by going after a big name.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I’m ok with Laine but Byfield, Turcotte,Vilardi, and Bjornfot are off the table which means it’s not happening.

I trade Vilardi for Laine....but CBS doesn't.....

 

[BigKing]

You take my basketball analogy too literally but my point is that the team could really use a new star. Marketing around 11/8/32/23 won't move the needle at all. Marketing around Byfield is way too premature and is pandering to an audience who could care less about him. Regardless, to even have a sniff at the playoffs the team needs to add a couple of 25-35 goal forwards and a top 4 LHD who can get 10ish goals and anchor the 2nd pairing and play the PP. Those things aren't coming from inside the organization. Getting them from outside is mandatory and even better if you can snag a star who has worn out his welcome elsewhere.

As far as fans coming back, I think the past year has proven to a lot of people that they are more than satisfied to watch the game on their very affordable 65-70" TV and bypass the expense of food, tickets, parking, and gas as well as save the time and aggravation of traffic. That is especially true for a product that is unwatchable to begin with.

How has the past year proven that people are more than satisfied to watch a game on TV? People had no choice. If we are full capacity in October and the crowds are at levels below that of the 2020 Kings, then we can start talking about the impact of the pandemic on future crowds. Hockey is still a sport that is infinitely better in person than on TV and these playoff teams don't seem to have an issue with getting fans in the building right now which further drives home the point that winning = entertainment = ticket sales. It's a more proven equation than even Pride = Passion = Power.

The team could definitely use a new star: it is Byfield. It could be way too premature but he's going to get the push and that push won't be solely due to the "pandering" angle: he's a 2OA pick that is supposed to be the best Kings draft pick in 12 years.

Blake could definitely get a star player in a trade and I do think he will be looking to do so. What we're not agreeing on is the fact that he will be doing that to improve the team's place in the standings v. an effort to sell tickets based on simply having a "star" player. The Kings had a sellout streak of 297 games that ended on 11/8/18 and started in December of 2011. There is a fanbase that will come out to see this team if they are winning but Jack Eichel scoring 80 points a season isn't going to cause some giant buzz around LA. The same audience you say will be pandered to and don't care about Byfield also don't care about Jack Eichel or anybody else; however, if Eichel's 80 point season leads to a playoff berth then you can bet your butt they will start selling out again.

The Kings have way more fans than they did prior to 2012. Not everyone jumped off that bandwagon. They are the people that love all this "add an ie or y to everyone's name" bullshit and vote on Bark Madness. That said, it's always the same in LA if you aren't the Lakers or Dodgers: you've got to win to be relevant. Star power matters here too, of course, but this isn't enough of a hockey town to have an Eichel level player get everyone excited. The only player in the league that could do that right now is McDavid.