Toggle sidebar

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

  • Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
Status
Not open for further replies.
Johnny Utah said:
Kings need 1 top six forward 1 top 4 D.

If people think we are winning the Cup with Doughty, Anderson, Roy, Bjornfot, and Walker - then they haven't been watching the playoffs.
Click to expand...

I mean once they all have a few hundred NHL games, that might 3/4's of a very good top 4, but unless Dewey goes on to have a second half of a career likened to that of Nick Lidstrom (still an elite player the day he retired), they'll be missing the most important piece.
 
Johnny Utah said:
Kings need 1 top six forward 1 top 4 D.

If people think we are winning the Cup with Doughty, Anderson, Roy, Bjornfot, and Walker - then they haven't been watching the playoffs.
Click to expand...

What results do you expect by adding those things to this team?
 
  • Like
Reactions: kinghock
I could see a scenario where they pick up a mid 20s forward via trade and then maybe an early 30s veteran forward via free agency. One that's a long term solution and then one in the short term.

I just think the losing needs to stop. I'm not saying this team is a stone cold lock to make the playoffs next season, but there needs to be improvement. Just to remind everyone what our opening night lineup was this year:

Iafallo-Kopitar-Brown
Athanasiou-Lizotte-Carter
Kempe-Vilardi-Wagner
Moore-Amadio-Luff

We can't start next season with Blake Lizotte and Athansiou as top 6 forwards next October, we just can't. Now Byfield will more than likely be on the roster next season so there's one guy slotting in and you supplement that with adding 1 or 2 top 6 forwards and drop Brown down to the 3rd line, suddenly the team looks a lot better. I do want to reiterate, I do not think this is a solid playoff team yet regardless of any moves they make because ultimately the team needs to either execute McLellan's system better or he needs to make adjustments to it because whatever progress they made the season before was pretty much all for naught.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dick341 and kinghock
No to Jaden Schwartz. Dude was a shell of his former self this year. Did you guys actually watch him?

We already have Kopitar, Brown, Doughty, and Quick for the mentor roles.

With the flat cap and expansion draft I think Blake will have the opportunity to poach a few of the tweener players who still have some upside rather than catching players on their downturn.

Ollie Weeks said:
I think getting a forward like Killorn out of Tampa would help that. The price could be a lower than normal and those guys are all in full playoff warrior mode, and have been for a few years. Adding that voice to the locker room could start the movement toward accountability.
Click to expand...

Killhorn has a M-NTC btw.
 
bland said:
What results do you expect by adding those things to this team?
Click to expand...

I'd like a low-to-mid 20s winger that can put up 25-ish goals on a consistent basis as that doesn't seem like a short-term solution.

I worry about Byfield playing with good wingers. I feel like Iafallo needs to play with him but I don't know who would be on the right side: I definitely don't want it to be Brown.

I like the idea of Reinhart but I'm not sure what his new contract would cost and I don't know if he is the right character fit as it relates to need on this team. If my forward group is some form of this next year to start, then I feel better about this team than I did this season:

Kempe-Kopitar-Brown
Iafallo-Byfield-Reinhart
Andersson-Vilardi-Moore
x-JAD-x

Toss in the Top 4 of Doughty/Bjornfot/Roy/Anderson and we might see some sort of progress as the season progresses.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ollie Weeks and YP44
johnjm22 said:
Adding two top 6 forwards doesn't make us a playoff team.

It basically just means instead of picking top 5 in the 2022 draft we'd be picking around 10th-15th.

Highly unlikely any big name UFA would come here unless you're ready to vastly over pay.
Click to expand...

I hope LA does not pick top 5 with the current make up of the team. Why do you think they would?
Finished 8th worst this year, should have an easier schedule, and should have more growth from within.
 
  • Like
Reactions: funky and kinghock
The only free agent forwards that would make a difference for us(ovechkin,hall, Landeskog), aren’t gonna happen. Trades it is then…
 
Johnny Utah said:
I ran into Toffoli twice - once at Nobu White Party and once at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

I talked to him the second time - nice guy, but you can tell he loved the off ice life in LA. Better for him to be in a big pressure City.

I am a huge Sheldon Souray fan and he talks about how playing in NJ he was always partying in NY, but when he got traded to Montreal something snapped - putting on that jersey, the alumni always around, the fans, the pressure. He knew if the Habs sucked or lost he couldn't go out around town.
Click to expand...

there is something to be said for that. Look at this year's Habs team. They beat Toronto despite having far less talent, and have not been behind in a game for quite some time. This is all about culture, one that obviously has players who have come from elsewhere up their game. The more I watch, the more I think Danault should be our #1 target even if we need to overpay, and then put a letter on him. As Dean would say, he 'plays the game the right way'. 5 years, $5.5 mm.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Raccoon Jesus
YP44 said:
I hope LA does not pick top 5 with the current make up of the team. Why do you think they would?
Finished 8th worst this year, should have an easier schedule, and should have more growth from within.
Click to expand...
They were 1 point away from finishing 28th OA.

You could've said the same thing after last season: Their point percentage in 19/20 was .457%. Why would they decline? But they did. Their point percentage in 20/21 was .438%.

The last two months of this season they fell apart and had a .341 point percentage. Probably a sign of things to come.

Their 3 most productive players all declined as the year went on in a shortened season. They'll 34, 31, and 36 years old next season. You think they're going to improve?

They have a mediocre at best coach who's already being tuned out by players.

If they go into next season without adding, they'll essentially be depending on improvement from the kids to make up for the decline of their vets. It could happen. But I wouldn't bet on it.
 
Kingspiracy said:
If we pick up two top 6ers arent we are going to lose someone that we dont want to in the expansion draft?
Click to expand...
Of the active roster forwards, point out the ones that would return better than a 3rd round pick in a trade …

I’ll wait.
 
johnjm22 said:
They were 1 point away from finishing 28th OA.

You could've said the same thing after last season: Their point percentage in 19/20 was .457%. Why would they decline? But they did. Their point percentage in 20/21 was .438%.

The last two months of this season they fell apart and had a .341 point percentage. Probably a sign of things to come.

Their 3 most productive players all declined as the year went on in a shortened season. They'll 34, 31, and 36 years old next season. You think they're going to improve?

They have a mediocre at best coach who's already being tuned out by players.

If they go into next season without adding, they'll essentially be depending on improvement from the kids to make up for the decline of their vets. It could happen. But I wouldn't bet on it.
Click to expand...

This is why Blake saying playoffs are the goal for last season is silly because the real goal was hoping to see contributions from young guys but still getting a Top 10 pick.

Blake is already saying playoffs before the draft and free agency v. last year when he is saying it after adding nothing. Again, nobody will hold him accountable if he doesn't add and they don't make the playoffs as it would appear that AEG would be dictating that but, if he means what he says this time, he'll be doing something to make sure that the playoff hopes don't rest solely on improvement from kids.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Token
BigKing said:
This is why Blake saying playoffs are the goal for last season is silly because the real goal was hoping to see contributions from young guys but still getting a Top 10 pick.

Blake is already saying playoffs before the draft and free agency v. last year when he is saying it after adding nothing. Again, nobody will hold him accountable if he doesn't add and they don't make the playoffs as it would appear that AEG would be dictating that but, if he means what he says this time, he'll be doing something to make sure that the playoff hopes don't rest solely on improvement from kids.
Click to expand...
I just don't care what he, management, or ownership says, and I don't understand why people do.

It's corporate speak.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kinghock
johnjm22 said:
They were 1 point away from finishing 28th OA.

You could've said the same thing after last season: Their point percentage in 19/20 was .457%. Why would they decline? But they did. Their point percentage in 20/21 was .438%.

The last two months of this season they fell apart and had a .341 point percentage. Probably a sign of things to come.

Their 3 most productive players all declined as the year went on in a shortened season. They'll 34, 31, and 36 years old next season. You think they're going to improve?

They have a mediocre at best coach who's already being tuned out by players.

If they go into next season without adding, they'll essentially be depending on improvement from the kids to make up for the decline of their vets. It could happen. But I wouldn't bet on it.
Click to expand...

I asked for why and you provided...thank you. I understand your thinking on that now.

If we were to take the last few weeks of a season we would have had insane expectations going into this past year, so not sure if you can use the last two months argument. Especially given the pandemic season and the mental toll on players who have nothing to really play for. Once Carter was dealt this team went ass up.

Yes this season was shortened but it was also compacted and that takes its toll on older players IMO. So although I do not expect improvement I still think Kopitar being a 70-85 point center is not out of reason. Brown I hope to be moved down the depth chart, and Doughty I think looked a bit more like he should this year (until the kings fell out of it).

I think they will add next season and be able to build on this one.

Easier schedule that is not as compact, better slotted players with additions (hopefully), growth from youth. If they do not improve I will be disappointed, and maybe i am setting myself up for disappointment, but I am excited about LA going forward.
 
BigKing said:
I totally get it. I also know what you think he should do this offseason.

What do you think he will actually do?
Click to expand...
I really don't know. I but expect low risk / high reward moves. That's what Blake has done since becoming GM. And we've already seen that with Tkachyov.

The X-factor is AEG. Do they want to spend money? Considering their business has been getting absolutely wrecked for over a year, I suspect not.

Major UFA signings seem unrealistic.

I would think any significant move would be a trade; a young-player/prospect for an equivalent young-player/prospect. Like a Turcotte for Sergachev type deal.

If Blake makes moves to win now, that means he instantly puts himself and Tmac on the hot seat.

I don't think a Doughty trade is as unrealistic as people think.

If they trade the 2022 1st round pick I will be absolutely livid.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom