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

[DoktorJeep]

Laine just moved for PLD. If he was available again, it would be because he doesn’t want to sign with the Jackets long term because he wants to play in certain markets. That may lower his value but not to the point where he moves for scraps.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Laine earlier in his career...

Laine now...

 

[BigKing]

I know Werenski comes up but what if CBJ goes full rebuild? You keep the 24 year old RFA after next season but you trade Seth Jones the 26 year old with one year left before UFA right now.

I know everyone wants 23 year olds and younger and Jones is a RHD but man does he just eat minutes and has been a playoff stud.

 

[unicornpig]

1. Kings will trade for eichel, too much smoke this year involving the kings . Just hope Blake doesn't overpay

 

[tomd]

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.

I'm not going to die on the attendance hill because all my "evidence" is anecdotal. I'm sure that AEG will survey the STH and get a good idea of what the renewal rate might be. That may have already been done. I'd love to know the results of that survey and what the renewal rate is. I'm also sure they've done a lot of internal research into how much attendance across all their events might be affected as the world returns to normal. I'll just say that it's my prediction that if the team is bad come January then there will be a lot of fans dressed as empty seats in the stands. And many of them will be counted as paid. Anaheim has the same issue. Fans in socal will come out for a winner but not a loser (unless it's the Dodgers).

Regarding Byfield, I think the organization will/should be extremely careful about hyping him too early. He was drafted as a project and he could be anything from Jordan Staal to Eric Staal. If I were the marketing department I'd not make him the face of the franchise until he is ready to assume that mantel. Kids have had their careers ruined because they couldn't live up to the hype. "Be careful" should be the organization's mantra. Hyping him this summer seems crazy to me but whatever.

Regarding improving the team, my position is pretty clear that Blake should be (and has said he will be) pretty aggressive in improving the team. The needs are glaring and obvious and so is the promise to make a sincere effort to return to the playoffs. Everyone - including the players - will know when camp opens in the fall whether Blake lived up to that promise. Adding a couple of middle 6 forwards and a 3rd pairing LHD is not going to get it done. I also suspect we'll know how successful he was by seeing how many people on this board hate what he's done.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

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.

The Kings don't need more redundant complementary pieces. If this team doesn't make significant additions, they should move Doughty and completely collapse. Vince Dunn does nothing to advanace the Kings as a contender

 

[KingLB]

The Kings don't need more redundant complementary pieces. If this team doesn't make significant additions, they should move Doughty and completely collapse. Vince Dunn does nothing to advanace the Kings as a contender

Not only that, but you are guaranteed to lose Walker than too!

So it’s the 2nd + Walker for a marginally (if at all, and I’m saying not better) better 3rd pairing D? Terrible.

 

[Reclamation Project]

The Kings don't need more redundant complementary pieces. If this team doesn't make significant additions, they should move Doughty and completely collapse. Vince Dunn does nothing to advanace the Kings as a contender

I'm all aboard the Eichel train, hell I might be the conductor!

If that doesn't happen the Kings need a legitimate top line winger. A 35-45 goalscorer. Not a pseudo top six guy, an elite goalscorer. Don't really care what it costs outside of Byfield. This team's offense is so pathetic and has been so pathetic for so long. They need a huge injection of pure goalscoring.

And before anyone says "hurr durr everyone wants those" please stop. There are dozens of these types throughout the league and I have ZERO confidence the Kings can develop one. Go buy one.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

I'm all aboard the Eichel train, hell I might be the conductor!

If that doesn't happen the Kings need a legitimate top line winger. A 35-45 goalscorer. Not a pseudo top six guy, an elite goalscorer. Don't really care what it costs outside of Byfield. This team's offense is so pathetic and has been so pathetic for so long. They need a huge injection of pure goalscoring.

I couldn't agree more, the Kings desperately need a dynamic goal scorer. I don't care about his 200 foot game, don't care about his "grit", or any of that crap.

 

[ibleedkings]

I'm all aboard the Eichel train, hell I might be the conductor!

If that doesn't happen the Kings need a legitimate top line winger. A 35-45 goalscorer. Not a pseudo top six guy, an elite goalscorer. Don't really care what it costs outside of Byfield. This team's offense is so pathetic and has been so pathetic for so long. They need a huge injection of pure goalscoring.

And before anyone says "hurr durr everyone wants those" please stop. There are dozens of these types throughout the league and I have ZERO confidence the Kings can develop one. Go buy one.

Careful there are some Kings fans on here that are offended that Eichel possibly being a King could happen. I love the "Kings are not ready for a move like that" I mean the Kid is 24 years old and is an offensive stud... lol

 

[SFKingshomer]

The problem is most of these are pipe dreams, Eichel included. Eichel doesn’t make this team a contender and just pushes them into a more competitive possible 8th seed.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

The problem is most of these are pipe dreams, Eichel included. Eichel doesn’t make this team a contender and just pushes them into a more competitive possible 8th seed.

Perhaps, but adding a player capable of producing 70-80+ points might help the team a wee bit and also make it more challenging for opposing coaches to matchup lines. Currently, there is only one line opposing teams ever worry about shutting down.

 

[The Lukeman]

I'm all aboard the Eichel train, hell I might be the conductor!

If that doesn't happen the Kings need a legitimate top line winger. A 35-45 goalscorer. Not a pseudo top six guy, an elite goalscorer. Don't really care what it costs outside of Byfield. This team's offense is so pathetic and has been so pathetic for so long. They need a huge injection of pure goalscoring.

And before anyone says "hurr durr everyone wants those" please stop. There are dozens of these types throughout the league and I have ZERO confidence the Kings can develop one. Go buy one.

Every conductor needs their engineer Lets get some talent

 

[KINGS17]

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.

I am for a 1-year prove-it deal with no NTC. If he proves it, you trade his ass at the deadline and get more young assets and draft picks to be used in future deals.

 

[Mats26]

Josh Anderson was a move we slept on, reminds me of the William's trade.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Travis Konecny is a player I really like, maybe a package deal with Ghost. That would be an interesting deal.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Josh Anderson was a move we slept on, reminds me of the William's trade.

The Kings didn't have a Max Domi to offer, who had 72 points the season prior to the trade.

 

[Mats26]

The Kings didn't have a Max Domi to offer, who had 72 points the season prior to the trade.

Excuses for not moving on good players available for trades are getting lame. Bennett went for a 2nd and prospect, we don't have that eithier? Lombardi made 50 trades before the cup win (Carter being his last one) Blake made 20 so far. No vision on what this team's needs are, we should be looking to add some solid core pieces for the prospects. Feels to me his wait and see approach backfired this year and now he backed himself in a corner to make moves.

 

[KINGS17]

Careful there are some Kings fans on here that are offended that Eichel possibly being a King could happen. I love the "Kings are not ready for a move like that" I mean the Kid is 24 years old and is an offensive stud... lol

...and he wouldn't be available if there were not questions about his health.

Some are legitimately concerned.

 

[KINGS17]

Excuses for not moving on good players available for trades are getting lame. Bennett went for a 2nd and prospect, we don't have that eithier? Lombardi made 50 trades before the cup win (Carter being his last one) Blake made 20 so far. No vision on what this team's needs are, we should be looking to add some solid core pieces for the prospects. Feels to me his wait and see approach backfired this year and now he backed himself in a corner to make moves.

I think Blake's biggest failure to date has been his inability to understand the Kings need some veteran leadership. The Kings have some players with a lot of miles on them, but that doesn't make them leaders.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Excuses for not moving on good players available for trades are getting lame. Bennett went for a 2nd and prospect, we don't have that eithier? Lombardi made 50 trades before the cup win (Carter being his last one) Blake made 20 so far. No vision on what this team's needs are, we should be looking to add some solid core pieces for the prospects. Feels to me his wait and see approach backfired this year and now he backed himself in a corner to make moves.

So who could have Blake offered for Josh Anderson? Didn't Blake trade a 2nd for another prospect who was once highly regarded in Lias Andersson, or does that not count?

You can call it excuses if you'd like, I consider it dealing with reality, unlike some of the people on here who think the Kings should be on every trade.

 

[Mats26]

So who could have Blake offered for Josh Anderson? Didn't Blake trade a 2nd for another prospect who was once highly regarded in Lias Andersson, or does that not count?

You can call it excuses if you'd like, I consider it dealing with reality, unlike some of the people on here who think the Kings should be on every trade.

Only GMs who sleep at the wheel won't be in on a trade like that. Josh would of been a direct replacement of Brown. 1st line RW with size, speed. Said it many times our Pro scouting sucks, and we can't identify which pieces we need and are available until it's too late. Offer up a prospect Madden + picks or Kempe +. We had the pieces. Domi had a 44 pt season before the trade , he is no superstar.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I’m sorry but if Blake traded for a 27 year old RW on pace for 37 points and peddled him as a 1st line winger he would have been absolutely EXECUTED here

People are mad at our 40-50 point players that are younger and here we are begging for a sub-40 guy leaving his production and physical prime? Do you people pay attention to what these players actually are in comparison to ours or is it just ANY move other teams make that make you jealous?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Only GMs who sleep at the wheel won't be in on a trade like that. Josh would of been a direct replacement of Brown. 1st line RW with size, speed. Said it many times our Pro scouting sucks, and we can't identify which pieces we need and are available until it's too late. Offer up a prospect Madden + picks or Kempe +. We had the pieces. Domi had a 44 pt season before the trade , he is no superstar.

You don’t think Columbus looked at Domi’s age and his 72 point season when they traded Anderson for him? How is Madden and picks the same thing as an experienced NHL player who has put up decent numbers? Kempe has never scored 44 points in a season, and he’s definitely not as tough as Max Domi. You don’t think Domi’s style of play is something that Jarmo desired?

Also, Domi produced the same exact number of points as Anderson this season, and funny enough, Kempe put up more points than both.

 

[King'sPawn]

I wish all these hindsight GMs were in charge since after the Kings won the second cup.