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.
SFKingshomer said:
The initial plan was to retool but that didn’t work because the team was complacent and they started a rebuild about 2.5 years ago. Much like Chicago, they’re handcuffed with 2 huge contracts that are tough to move. The Hawks have had their draft picks arrive sooner and they lucked out on Kubalik wanting to play there. The plan now is to acquire some talent in the age range the Kings are lacking to insulate the kids and play meaningful games down the stretch. I don’t think they’re going to go all in and abandon the long term goal of winning a cup or two.
Click to expand...

You just described a team that will finish in the black hole. Is that what you want?
 
tomd said:
You just described a team that will finish in the black hole. Is that what you want?
Click to expand...

For one year, I'm okay with it. We're banking on our top prospects becoming impact players over the next two seasons. Byfield, Vilardi, Turcotte, Kaliyev, and Kupari need to become top players for this team. Maybe one can miss, but one needs to reach Kopitar levels too, otherwise this team has no future.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kinghock
SFKingshomer said:
Then why trade for other teams headaches like Eichel, Reinhart, Jones, Laine etc? That is the complete opposite of a culture shift. They should do minor moves on vets with character to show the kids how to be pros and work hard. The big moves will come once they know what they have in the system. It would be idiotic and shortsighted to trade any of the kids at this point unless they have soured on them.
Click to expand...

Who said I wanted to make big trades? We are not one player away from the playoffs but if a legit young player is available for the right price go fo it.

But since you asked:
We need a gritty top 6 forward with size\skill - Hyman
We need a goal scorer - Hoffman, Tatar, Saad
We need a bottom 6 vet - Calvert, Coleman
We need a #6/7 Vet D man that can clear the crease - Savard?
We need a legit top LD: I would pay some assets here only but it will be for a young core player.

Will UFAs sign in LA, that is the concern.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kinghock
Blake can take his shot on any potential seattle pick. Any teams going to take a 3rd or 4th for a player that's going to get taken away for free. We have the expansion slots available to protect any forward that we trade for.

Then pickup a player that's left on the outer by the cap, a toffoli habs type deal. Overpay slightly to get a 3-4 Yr term.

Sending away 21 year old first round picks is fools gold, they are the players that push your roster from average to excellent as they improve. Blakes goal needs to be to provide a roster for this season that gets the team to the edge of the black hole. Then as the top 10 prospects filter in over then next 2 years they take the team from black hole to contender as they find their feet and improve.


You'll never build a contender from big trades, they cost too much and deplete you of the guys who can make you a contender.Of every team left in the playoffs 80% of their top teir players were drafted so you need to develop them and give them the foundation to succeed. This off-season is when Blake builds a foundation.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kinghock
There's no one "right" way to fix the Kings. They can trade the first + for a young established star to create a more talented young core while the old core is going into supernova. The old core is pretty irrelevant right now.

You can keep the course and get talent through the draft and HOPE the players pan out or you can pay a premium for one that is actually established. Both are good options.

Kings need help and we don't have an amazing super star yet.
 
SFKingshomer said:
I want them to change the culture before adding a star from the outside. They also need to see what they have in prospects as their higher end guys are teenagers. Is Eichel a culture changer or is he a great player on a bad team?
Click to expand...

Wait...you want to change the culture by losing for another year or two? Losing only begets more losing. The smart thing to do is bring in culture changers AND talent. An Eichel (or similar player) acquisition means the organization is serious about changing the culture from losing to winning. Isn't that a better environment to incorporate younger players into?

People don't seem to realize (or don't care) that if the team sucks in 21-22 it is going to create a Buffalo style atmosphere. Is that worth picking at 5-10 in the draft instead of 15-20?
 
tomd said:
Wait...you want to change the culture by losing for another year or two? Losing only begets more losing. The smart thing to do is bring in culture changers AND talent. An Eichel (or similar player) acquisition means the organization is serious about changing the culture from losing to winning. Isn't that a better environment to incorporate younger players into?

People don't seem to realize (or don't care) that if the team sucks in 21-22 it is going to create a Buffalo style atmosphere. Is that worth picking at 5-10 in the draft instead of 15-20?
Click to expand...

How is bringing in a guy like Eichel who hasn’t shown he can lead a team changing the culture? All he’s done is quit on a team and hope for a trade by ignoring team doctors. I want the team to grow together like Kopitar, Doughty, etc. did and they were fine with losing early.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kinghock and KingsOfCali25
SFKingshomer said:
How is bringing in a guy like Eichel who hasn’t shown he can lead a team changing the culture? All he’s done is quit on a team and hope for a trade by ignoring team doctors. I want the team to grow together like Kopitar, Doughty, etc. did and they were fine with losing early.
Click to expand...

That's the great part...Eichel (or someone similar) doesn't need to be the "man". 11, 8, and 23 are here to do that. The point is to add talent and culture. And note that I'm not stuck on Eichel...but the Kings need a difference maker to add to the lineup. Eichel is a rare available talent if he is healthy. And - like Toffoli, Martinez, Muzzin, et al - I have no doubt he'd be a star player in a new environment.

As to the team growing together, you (and many others) are missing the main point. The team isn't made up of 20 year olds growing together like Edmonton in the 80s. That is just not the reality of this team. The reality is that the top players on the team are over 30. There is a huge talent gap between them and everyone else on the team. Either you trade 11 and 8 or you build the team around them for the next 3-5 years. Those are the two options. You just can't ignore that reality. Rebuild as needed after they retire? Sure, no problem.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mats26 and ibleedkings
I'm not a black hole proponent, but I don't think that it's necessary to have top picks every year to build a winner. From the Kings cup teams, Doughty was the only really high pick. Schenn did contribute in his own way at #5, but obviously wasn't part of the team directly. What's interesting is a lot of the impact guys like Kopitar, Carter, Brown, Williams, and Richards were all either black hole or later first rounders. Saavy trading played a huge part of course, but it's not like they were tanking. They were really crappy for two years from 06-08, but that was it.

After '08 they traded for Stoll/Greene and grabbed Williams for O'Sullivan. With Doughty emerging things turned around quickly. We don't have a vet like Lubo to trade, but we do have the assets to move for some younger players if it's the right fit. I see this season as similar to the 08-09 Kings campaign where they started making building trades to mold the roster. The opportunity is there for something similar.

Interesting thing about the '09 draft - the Kings traded LaBarbara for a 7th in '08 for a 7th rounder, leaving the Kings with 2 late picks that year. They drafted Nolan and Dowd, who along with Haula became decent NHL'ers. Every year there are a couple 7ths who pan out, but grabbing two of the three was pretty impressive. Not as impressive as Hornqvist taken last overall, but still.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rusty Batch
Hello Kings Fans...
Long time follower of HFB - just signed up.
What do you think of adding Mikael Granlund as a UFA on a 3yr/$10M deal.? 29 yrs old and wouldn’t cost any assets other than $ and he signed late last year for $3.75M.
 
Buzzysboy said:
Hello Kings Fans...
Long time follower of HFB - just signed up.
What do you think of adding Mikael Granlund as a UFA on a 3yr/$10M deal.? 29 yrs old and wouldn’t cost any assets other than $ and he signed late last year for $3.75M.
Click to expand...

Welcome aboard. Didn't follow the Preds alot this year, did he mostly play center this year? The 2C spot might be an issue if Vilardi struggles early.
 
Buzzysboy said:
Hello Kings Fans...
Long time follower of HFB - just signed up.
What do you think of adding Mikael Granlund as a UFA on a 3yr/$10M deal.? 29 yrs old and wouldn’t cost any assets other than $ and he signed late last year for $3.75M.
Click to expand...

First off welcome aboard!

Secondly, I was looking at Granlund as an option as I was looking at the potential free agents. I'm not against it if its a short term deal, but I'm not sure if he's the player we're looking for. I'd personally look more at wingers myself than centers
 
Thank you
I am pretty sure he can play both C and LW. I watch a lot of the Preds/Canes series and he played hard and with good pace. We could use more of that. He might be a good option as a top 6 guy for a couple of years at a reasonable price. I think after having to wait and accept a 1 yr deal so late, he might be looking for some stability.
 
All these suggested moves just move us closer to black hole territory. I don't see the point.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom