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

[Raccoon Jesus]

We have no idea what is true and what isn’t. This would be the best player the Kings have traded for since Gretzky. Did people like Hoven or Hammond report on a potential Richards trade before it happened. Maybe they are keeping it closer to the vest.

As far as the other rumor. It sure seems like acquiring 27 year olds who won’t even be under contract when the Kings are potentially competing again is more a move to appease you know who.

The inmates are running the asylum again (can we still say that in 2021?)

When Blake and Luc are fired and the jobs are posted on indeed.com can the first prerequisite be that your jersey isn’t hanging from the rafters? Or will they just give Gretzky total control. I think he’s the last one left who hasn’t managed the team.

Possibly. They also have a giant gaping hole at that age group in the organization.

But sounds like Blake is truly damned whether he does or doesn't at this point.

 

[YP44]

The Kings Stanley Cup championship teams did not have blazing speed, but they did have some guys who could skate very well, and in the playoffs I think that's what it really takes is a mix on the roster.

the league has gotten a lot faster since then

 

[SFKingshomer]

Speed isn’t an issue, it’s gaping and puck support and poor breakout passes due to the above. Skill and size are an issue along with experience.

 

[FSL KINGS]

Don't think Eichel is a good fit. 5 years on the contract & there's a good chance Kings still need to wait 2-3 years for prospects to develop before competing. Meanwhile half of Eichel's contract is burned & he's still on a non contender.

If the price came way down on Eichel, then yeah deal with it.

If the team is going to wait 2-3 year at this point should they retain half of Kopitar's contract & move him to the AVS? Something around Girard or Byram?

 

[go4hockey]

Eh?

Dude is riding pine and they got Guhle in the minors percolating.

If Blake wants this kid, straight up for Kempe and Bergevin wouldn’t think twice.

Another underachieving LA Kings forward with defense baked in, 24 years old, lights it up for Sweden every year like a superstar …

Easy phone call once their season wraps up.

He is young and has all the tools and will be a big part of their defense moving forward. I like Kempe but if we could do that deal 1 for 1 I would drive Kempe to Montreal myself.

 

[JKG33]

This is kind of strange to me

I'd feel sick if the Ducks got Eichel all because the Kings wouldn't trade Byfield.

Kopitar and Doughty had a bit of a resurgence this season. The pacific division, if Colorado/StLouis/Minnesota are swapped out for Calgary/Edmonton/Vancouver, will be absolute garbage and right there for the taking. The time to win again is now, while you still have two experienced vets capable of playing elite hockey. The defence is one left-handed top 4 guy away from being legit. The offence can manage if they're built around Kopitar and Eichel.

 

[apadilla]

Del Taco is one of the few fast food spots I actually enjoy, their fries are great! Didn't realize we had so many sophisticated members on this site...

Becomes more and more relatable every year.

A bit off topic, but that bear sure does resemble someone.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

We have no idea what is true and what isn’t. This would be the best player the Kings have traded for since Gretzky. Did people like Hoven or Hammond report on a potential Richards trade before it happened. Maybe they are keeping it closer to the vest.

As far as the other rumor. It sure seems like acquiring 27 year olds who won’t even be under contract when the Kings are potentially competing again is more a move to appease you know who.

The inmates are running the asylum again (can we still say that in 2021?)

When Blake and Luc are fired and the jobs are posted on indeed.com can the first prerequisite be that your jersey isn’t hanging from the rafters? Or will they just give Gretzky total control. I think he’s the last one left who hasn’t managed the team.

I don’t think anyone is getting fired unless we miss the playoffs for the next 2-3 seasons. If things don’t turn around for the Kings, I wonder if there will be wholesale changes from Beckerman on down, will AEG sell the team etc.

 

[Bandit]

I'd feel sick if the Ducks got Eichel all because the Kings wouldn't trade Byfield.

Kopitar and Doughty had a bit of a resurgence this season. The pacific division, if Colorado/StLouis/Minnesota are swapped out for Calgary/Edmonton/Vancouver, will be absolute garbage and right there for the taking. The time to win again is now, while you still have two experienced vets capable of playing elite hockey. The defence is one left-handed top 4 guy away from being legit. The offence can manage if they're built around Kopitar and Eichel.

I’d laugh my ass off if the ducks got eichel. Talk about going nowhere.

 

[Sol]

Don't think Eichel is a good fit. 5 years on the contract & there's a good chance Kings still need to wait 2-3 years for prospects to develop before competing. Meanwhile half of Eichel's contract is burned & he's still on a non contender.

If the price came way down on Eichel, then yeah deal with it.

If the team is going to wait 2-3 year at this point should they retain half of Kopitar's contract & move him to the AVS? Something around Girard or Byram?

That's not the point of bringing in Eichel. Bringing him in puts the Kings in the unique spot of having young and talented rookings being brought up with Eichel at a good age, and also giving the core another chance at making the playoffs.


Eichel bridges both sides and puts the Kings in a good spot. 1st. When the old core sets out to pasture the youth will have grown under Eichel. And 2nd if all goes well you have Kopitar and Eichel. A big way to make a push for the playoffs and give the vets a reason to try.

Bet your ass the vets won't do shit without someone joining the team this off season.

 

[Bandit]

Trading for Eichel would be like driving a 7 series BMW when you live in a 2 bedroom apartment with your parents, two brothers, sister and grandmother.

I know some of you can relate.

 

[SFKingshomer]

Eichel seems like a Doug Wilson move.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I'd feel sick if the Ducks got Eichel all because the Kings wouldn't trade Byfield.

Kopitar and Doughty had a bit of a resurgence this season. The pacific division, if Colorado/StLouis/Minnesota are swapped out for Calgary/Edmonton/Vancouver, will be absolute garbage and right there for the taking. The time to win again is now, while you still have two experienced vets capable of playing elite hockey. The defence is one left-handed top 4 guy away from being legit. The offence can manage if they're built around Kopitar and Eichel.

And you’d feel sicker if Byfield is dealt and posts 80+ points in his early 20s while Eichel misses a majority of games due to injuries.

 

[YP44]

Speed isn’t an issue, it’s gaping and puck support and poor breakout passes due to the above. Skill and size are an issue along with experience.

i should say Pace not speed

 

[Herby]

Possibly. They also have a giant gaping hole at that age group in the organization.

But sounds like Blake is truly damned whether he does or doesn't at this point.

They do, does bringing in 2 guys for 2-3 years who won't be under contract when the only player with franchise potential starts to take off bring them closer to the ultimate goal?

Also don't think the last comment is fair. I have said numerous times I either want Eichel or I want to blow it up to get a couple of much needed blue chip players to go as the foundation with QB. Blake appears to be going the "Lets try and get a wildcard spot the next 2 years" route, and I think that is wrong. Not really sure where the "damned no matter what" part comes from. Different people here have different ideas of what they want, no one is against every way of building. Ultimately we will see if this strategy pays off, my guess is it doesn't and Blake ends up like Vachon and Taylor. Hope I'm wrong but we will see.

Eh?

Dude is riding pine and they got Guhle in the minors percolating.

If Blake wants this kid, straight up for Kempe and Bergevin wouldn’t think twice.

Another underachieving LA Kings forward with defense baked in, 24 years old, lights it up for Sweden every year like a superstar …

Easy phone call once their season wraps up.

Dude is riding pine is a bit simplistic a take. He is a rookie defenseman from Russia who made the team out of camp at 20 years old, he is 21 now and has looked pretty solid for a guy who spent no time either in juniors in NA or in the AHL. I think some people here really really undervalue guys who make the NHL and contribute at such a young age. It is by far the biggest filter to having NHL success and Montreal has currently 4 guys on their roster from the 2017-2019 drafts or sooner and they are knocking on the door to the SC final. Looking solid but not spectacular at 20/21 for a decent NHL team is vastly more impressive than if he had been in Laval dominating a shitty AHL.

I am a big Kempe fan, and I kind of agree I could see Kempe getting away from this toxic organization and pulling a Matt Moulson/Robert Lang etc but he's not bringing back Romanov at this point in his career. Kempe will be 25 the next time he plays an NHL game and despite playing the whole year on scoring lines and the #1 PP unit still can't get over the offensive hump.

I don’t think anyone is getting fired unless we miss the playoffs for the next 2-3 seasons. If things don’t turn around for the Kings, I wonder if there will be wholesale changes from Beckerman on down, will AEG sell the team etc.

I hope you are wrong, but we really have no idea. The Lombardi firing did kind of come out of nowhere.

It's tough to speculate on what a big corporation like AEG may do. They might be super patient, they might not.

I'd feel sick if the Ducks got Eichel all because the Kings wouldn't trade Byfield.

Kopitar and Doughty had a bit of a resurgence this season. The pacific division, if Colorado/StLouis/Minnesota are swapped out for Calgary/Edmonton/Vancouver, will be absolute garbage and right there for the taking. The time to win again is now, while you still have two experienced vets capable of playing elite hockey. The defence is one left-handed top 4 guy away from being legit. The offence can manage if they're built around Kopitar and Eichel.

Value for value trading Byfield for Eichel is fine. Byfield is younger and has 3 years on ELC, but lets be honest Byfield probably won't ever be as good as Eichel. But the age and contract situation kind of cancel that out.

If you trade Byfield though it just gives you such a narrow window to win. You not only are banking on Eichel's health but you are counting on Kopitar being Bergeron and not being Getzlaf or Carter. To some extent the same holds true of Doughty, although his age is more favorable but there is still a risk of a breakdown for players on the wrong side of 30.

The biggest appeal to trading for Eichel is pairing him and QB together for atleast the next 5 years as (hopefully) one of the best 1-2 punches down the middle in the league. Eichel and Turcotte/Vilardi for the next 5 years doesn't have the same ring to it.

 

[Sol]

Trading for Eichel would be like driving a 7 series BMW when you live in a 2 bedroom apartment with your parents, two brothers, sister and grandmother.

I know some of you can relate.

Yeah I'm a lot more humble. I settled for a 6 series instead.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Pretty amazing how underrated Eichel has become. People acting like he's some 35 year old 50 point player. He's a generational player.

Elite skill (would immediately become the Kings most talented player), signed for term, 24 years old, and nearly a PPG player while carrying an entire dysfunctional organization and battling injuries. He's a superstar. I'd make that trade for anyone in the pipeline except Byfield because the entire point of acquiring him would be to solidify your top 2 centers for the next 10-15 years. He's an established NHL superstar, these prospects people worship like deities are not.

I haven't seen one person on this site advocate trading Byfield for Eichel. Same goes for Zegras.

 

[No Name The Nameless]

Trading for Eichel would be like driving a 7 series BMW when you live in a 2 bedroom apartment with your parents, two brothers, sister and grandmother.

I know some of you can relate.

It's like owning an M3 in Alaska.

 

[HookKing]

Pretty amazing how underrated Eichel has become. People acting like he's some 35 year old 50 point player. He's a generational player.

Elite skill (would immediately become the Kings most talented player), signed for term, 24 years old, and nearly a PPG player while carrying an entire dysfunctional organization and battling injuries. He's a superstar. I'd make that trade for anyone in the pipeline except Byfield because the entire point of acquiring him would be to solidify your top 2 centers for the next 10-15 years. He's an established NHL superstar, these prospects people worship like deities are not.

I haven't seen one person on this site advocate trading Byfield for Eichel. Same goes for Zegras.

Yes! Except for that part about a potential (career-ending injury...shush) I'm totally on board!

 

[Bandit]

Pretty amazing how underrated Eichel has become. People acting like he's some 35 year old 50 point player. He's a generational player.

Elite skill (would immediately become the Kings most talented player), signed for term, 24 years old, and nearly a PPG player while carrying an entire dysfunctional organization and battling injuries. He's a superstar. I'd make that trade for anyone in the pipeline except Byfield because the entire point of acquiring him would be to solidify your top 2 centers for the next 10-15 years. He's an established NHL superstar, these prospects people worship like deities are not.

I haven't seen one person on this site advocate trading Byfield for Eichel. Same goes for Zegras.

Sounds great if you overlook the whole neck surgery thing.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Of course any deal would be contingent on him being healthy, that goes without saying. I don't expect it to happen at the draft, I'm thinking later in the summer after he's recovered. If you're expecting a team to take a gamble on an injured player the cost falls off a cliff and the Sabres need to swing this out of the park, it's in Adams' favor to wait it out. As long as he's on his new team by training camp it'll be fine.

 

[tomd]

Sounds great if you overlook the whole neck surgery thing.

Yeah, seriously Buffalo or Eichel's camp really need to come clean on his health status. Keeping it secret doesn't inspire confidence and makes any talks of advanced trade discussions appear very weird. Something is not right in this whole situation.

Of course any deal would be contingent on him being healthy, that goes without saying. I don't expect it to happen at the draft, I'm thinking later in the summer after he's recovered.

If it doesn't happen by the draft it won't happen at all is my impression. One of the main pieces in any trade is going to be a top 10 pick from one team (Anaheim, LA, Columbus, SJ, et al). Once the draft is over those chips are off the table and any trade gets much more difficult. Again, something seems very weird about how this whole situation is unfolding. Too many secrets.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Nothing weird or secret, it's Buffalo, the entire organization top to bottom is a total clown show, that's why Eichel wants out. Once he's gone they'll start rebuilding the rebuild. The only deadline is before his NMC kicks in. Columbus would be a very interesting target after the draft for their 2022 pick because i expect them to be very, very bad.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Wright and Bedard to Buffalo

 

[Herby]

Wright and Bedard to Buffalo

Will be hard to get both but if they scorch Earth it they are guaranteed to get atleast 1 elite blue chip prospect and more than likely 2, with a potential for a generational talent.

The Bedard draft is going to be filthy. The worst case scenario for the worst team in the NHL would be falling to #3 and taking (hopefully future Wolverine) Adam Fantilli who just scored 8goals in 8 games to help the Steele win the Clark Cup, he's also 6'3 and 16. Might be 2 generational types in Bedard and Michkov and 1 guy who would be #1OA in a lot of other drafts in Fantilli.

There will be tanking for that draft, Buffalo will be beginning it this summer.