Speculation: 2021-22 LA Kings News, Rumors, Roster discussion part IV Playoffs? I Danault

[kingsfan28]

AEG just let him eat a decent chunk of Carter's contract for last year and this year to get two middle-round picks, I doubt they are going to sweat it to much if Maatta and Wagner end up as farm fodder for a year. Again, bad contracts are part of every teams' situation to some extent, in some cases way more than a Maatta. It's a part of doing business that some contracts are terrible and you have to eat them.

Carter was only making 2 mil in real dollars, so picking up a mil for Carters remaining deal [50 pct retained] isn't much at all.

 

[Statto]

I do not think LA needed Maata for expansion. They had guys to expose.
LA needed LHD help going into last year. That is why he was picked up IMO. Didn't work out as well as they hoped and now we have Edler.

IIRC it was a combination of both.

At the time they didn’t have enough experienced NHL D-Men at that stage MacD hadn’t played enough games and even once he qualified, which he did, they were only an injury away from exposing someone they didn’t want to (one on the ineligible guys).

 

[Sparky206]

He absolutely has mailed it in, almost in every sense of the phrase.

Dustin has been spoon-fed offensive zone starts, been relieved of PK time, and paired with two great puck possession stalwarts. It’s enabled him to be “productive” on their coattails, but he simply is not a producing player on his own anymore.

Zero intensity.

Time for dustin to hang em up, so we can all go to remembering him for the absolute force that he was, instead of watching the shell that he now is.

How does he get spoon fed offensive zone starts when hes played 98% of his career with Kopitar and we just paid big money for a specialist defensive center for the sole reason to stop Kopitar having to take every defensive zone faceoff?

You might hate on Brown but hes 36 playing playing 1st line minutes against other 1st lines and led the team in scoring on the wing of the center whos used in all defensive situations. Not many other 36 year olds going around doing that, hes still going alright.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Also to Brown's credit it was very, very apparent when he was playing injured this year.

I don't expect him to maintain his same level of play next year anyway but imo it became VERY obvious when a lot of the stuff I believe @bland was observing--lower effort, not going to corners, essentially cherry picking the slot--started happening, because it wasn't all year. He was a legit 1st line forward for at least the first half, even if his game was clearly slowing down.

 

[KingsFan7824]

This is getting seriously overblown.

MOST teams are spending more than the Kings. Like @kingsfan is saying, Maatta could be at home stuffing his face with meatballs and it doesn't draw some weird undue attention.

We're not at some crazy expenditure point where the franchise is going to force Blake to play Maatta over several better options to save face. Now that I've typed that out, frankly, that's one of the stupidest things I've had to read in the offseason.

Jesse has said it quite a few times, there are simply too. many. guys. SOMEONE is going to sit, and it will HAVE to be someone with salary regardless. I can imagine a few little housecleaning trades but I don't see why people are so shocked that a rebuilding team is going to see some guys get shown the door as better players replace them. No one shed tears over Ethan Moreau or Trent Hunter, spare me the faux indignation about Austin f***ing Wagner.

By all means, trade the Wagner's of this team. Get rid of Maatta. I'm certainly not saying that because Blake got Maatta, he has to play every game, simply for Blake's own image. I doubt even Blake cares about that. He signed Kovalchuk, and look what they did to him up to and including the end. And of course with the way that ended, the Kings would never be in a position to sign another quality free agent again. Same with DL and trading Visnovsky just before the trade clause kicked in. Players remember that kind of stuff, and they just never sign somewhere that treats the talent that way.

However, sending Maatta down to Ontario, I just can't see it. Maybe they do, but I'll wait on that before I pencil it in. If he did go down, anyone want him playing over any young guy with any potential?

I get that it's more fun if they get rid of players that are just dudes who happen to play hockey. Maatta, Wagner, Lizotte, and all the rest, but contracts tend to matter. That's all I'm saying. Not, please, for the love of God, play Austin Wagner. If they were to unconditionally buy him out in an hour, that would be great. I don't care about Austin Wagner. He has a 1 way deal though. There was no reason to re-sign Lizotte to a 1 way deal. None. JAD can easily do whatever Lizotte does. JAD isn't even at the prospect camp, that's how high he is on the list after 30-some games. Yet, they still re-signed Lizotte. For what? To make JAD earn it? If he's got all that inherent leadership we've heard about since he was drafted, he doesn't need Blake Lizotte there for incentive to try.

 

[Schrute farms]

The problem isn't Brown himself playing top line / top 6 minutes on the Kings. It's that nobody else on the Kings has pushed Brown down the lineup and taken/earned his spot. Bad top line players man. Now hopefully that starts to change with Arvidsson and with the younger guys coming up (Kupari, Andersson, Moore, Fagemo, Turk, Kaliyev, Madden, etc.).

 

[Trash Panda]

How does he get spoon fed offensive zone starts when hes played 98% of his career with Kopitar and we just paid big money for a specialist defensive center for the sole reason to stop Kopitar having to take every defensive zone faceoff?

You might hate on Brown but hes 36 playing playing 1st line minutes against other 1st lines and led the team in scoring on the wing of the center whos used in all defensive situations. Not many other 36 year olds going around doing that, hes still going alright.

He gets spoon fed offensive zone starts, by virtue of his offensive zone start percentage of 60% last season. A full 10 points more that kopitar, FWIW.

Typical line mates =\= Typical deployment.

 

[Schmooley]

The problem isn't Brown himself playing top line / top 6 minutes on the Kings. It's that nobody else on the Kings has pushed Brown down the lineup and taken/earned his spot.

Ah this argument again. Who got a chance to play next to Kopitar and take Browns spot?
Kempe during the garbage time of the year. Hes probably not the right fit for that spot anyway.
AA for a couple shifts here and there maybe. Matt Luff took a single shift with Kopitar and he scored.
Kaliyev is the guy that is actually next in line for Browns top line winger spot. He was called up for a game and played with Amadio not Kopitar on the first line. He played well and scored. Isnt that earning it? He got sent down.
If anyone else played with the effort Brown does in his own zone and in the corners they would be benched.

 

[DoktorJeep]

The negatives from Brown’s over utilization don’t lie at the feet of the player. The coach, GM, and in the case of this team, the captain are the one making lineup decisions.

 

[kilowatt]

Say what youwant about his play but Brown doesn't strike me as the type of guy/player who would just soak a bunch of contracts from the org just to keep playing...and even if he was, i don't think they'd let him.

At least honor his current contract before shitting on his potential future.

He literally led the team in scoring last year, at this point four people are going to need to unseat him. I wouldn't be surprised if he got a contract next season and the salary started with a 3.

 

[bland]

The problem isn't Brown himself playing top line / top 6 minutes on the Kings. It's that nobody else on the Kings has pushed Brown down the lineup and taken/earned his spot. Bad top line players man. Now hopefully that starts to change with Arvidsson and with the younger guys coming up (Kupari, Andersson, Moore, Fagemo, Turk, Kaliyev, Madden, etc.).

Its perfectly acceptable to have Brown in that role on a rebuilding team, even this upcoming season as well. I just take issue with those saying he should be re-signed. He isn't the kind of player who can play in a bottom six role. No energy, no defense, he only brings the ability to poach goals off of better players. That's fine until somebody who is a better investment is ready for that spot, and as it looks that should be by mid-year.

I know a LOT of fans love Brown far more than I do, and out of respect for his accomplishments and their feelings, I would like to see them get to celebrate him and say goodbye this year, because next year he will most definitely be in a better options way.

 

[bland]

He literally led the team in scoring last year, at this point four people are going to need to unseat him. I wouldn't be surprised if he got a contract next season and the salary started with a 3.

And none of those goals meant a damn thing. What does mean something is moving forward positively because he was an overwhelmingly net negative last year. Stats don't mean anything. Tone, momentum and progress are the only things that matter here.

 

[The Lukeman]

Yeah, same here. 1st... no cap space, 2nd...we just sign a 2nd line center for 6 years. So where is Eichel going to play, the wing?

Your 2nd point is correct and I agree with your question, but Jack Eichel fits the Kings cap space. If he had his surgery today, he would miss about 40% of the season.He would be on LTIR, and assuming his projected recovery time is on time, his cap hit next season would be $6 million. Year 2-5 in his contract, there are no prohibitive cap issues.

The kings have just under of $3 million in cap space. Any Eichel trade Buffalo makes will require Buffalo to take salary, mostly because they are under the floor.

The reason LA won’t trade for Eichel is a fit issue, not a cap issue.

 

[Schrute farms]

Its perfectly acceptable to have Brown in that role on a rebuilding team, even this upcoming season as well. I just take issue with those saying he should be re-signed. He isn't the kind of player who can play in a bottom six role. No energy, no defense, he only brings the ability to poach goals off of better players. That's fine until somebody who is a better investment is ready for that spot, and as it looks that should be by mid-year.

I know a LOT of fans love Brown far more than I do, and out of respect for his accomplishments and their feelings, I would like to see them get to celebrate him and say goodbye this year, because next year he will most definitely be in a better options way.

Agreed.
I actually want Brown nowhere near the top 6 this year. 3rd or 4th line only imho. Nor do i want him resigned -- maybe a cheap one year deal if he's purely a mentor and 4th line grit guy (maaaaaybe).
We're turning the corner now and trying to win. Whether we do is another story. But the past couple years, we were tanking (whether the Kings & fans wanted to admit it or not). So Brown the past couple years still playing top lines and minutes -- sure whatever, go for it. Not like we had any better options (Luff -- lol)...and frankly it didn't matter since winning was not necessarily an organization top goal. For this year, we do have better options now. Arvidsson obviously is one. But beyond that, i'd rather see Fagemo up, Vilardi moved to the wing or AK34/Turc get a shot rather than major minutes to Brown.

 

[kingsfan]

Yeah, same here. 1st... no cap space, 2nd...we just sign a 2nd line center for 6 years. So where is Eichel going to play, the wing?

While I don't want to deal for Eichel for a few reasons, Danault isn't one of them. He'll be second line this year but not long term unless the plan was to play Byfield, Turcotte, Vilardi, etc all at the third line C or on the wings. Danault will slot in as the third line C at some point and maybe move back up depending on how long Kopitar is around and how those prospects pan out, but I can't imagine the plan was to sign him to play above Byfield and Turcotte. Those two are the long-term plan 1-2 at centre and that plan should be starting no later than the 23-24 season.

 

[kingsfan]

Your 2nd point is correct and I agree with your question, but Jack Eichel fits the Kings cap space. If he had his surgery today, he would miss about 40% of the season.He would be on LTIR, and assuming his projected recovery time is on time, his cap hit next season would be $6 million. Year 2-5 in his contract, there are no prohibitive cap issues.

The kings have just under of $3 million in cap space. Any Eichel trade Buffalo makes will require Buffalo to take salary, mostly because they are under the floor.

The reason LA won’t trade for Eichel is a fit issue, not a cap issue.

Assuming Buffalo inks Dahlin at around $5 mill per on a bridge deal, they'd be about $6 mill under the floor after dealing Eichel, so that's how much money they'd need coming back. Maatta would likely be one piece for just that reason but I'd imagine Quick could be another. That'd keep Buffalo over the floor and Buffalo is about the only team where Quick would likely be the undisputed number one. LA would need to find a backup somewhere (Dubnyk?). Buffalo seems in tank mode though harder than I've ever seen a team go that route so who knows if they'd want him.

 

[Peter James Bond III]

I was disappointed that AA was resigned, honestly. He certainly had some flashes, but was not hungry enough, it seems. The last 3 weeks of the year, he was not looking like someone playing for a contract…I do not dislike him, but he will now be taking a space that I want to see Arty have….plus, they also added Tkachev was well. I think one or two of: QB, Fagemo, Arty, Kupari, and even Turcotte could make the team, if not for so much of a logjam…..yes, I think Todd would go for the veteran, over one of the youth….too bad, because I bet Arty could step ion now and be stellar.

From Wrobo and Arty, after yesterdays game….I am so pumped about Arty.

On Kaliyev specifically, John Wroblewski commented at the start of camp that Kaliyev was a guy who stood out as someone who added strength and muscle over the summer.
“There’s one guy in particular that stood out to me, just size-wise, I thought Kaliyev looked like a monster out there, compared to last year,” Wroblewski said on Thursday. “He just looks a lot sturdier, a lot thicker, and if his shot could get harder, it actually did. I think he put in the work this summer, he looks great.”
Speaking with him today, Kaliyev agreed that adding strength was one of his main focuses over the summer. He pointed to time in the gym as helping him to achieve that.
“I was just trying to work hard and be in the gym this summer,” he said. “The main goal was to try to get stronger and faster.”
As he progresses through the rookie tournament here, his focus is on playing his own game, and trying his best to impress those who are here to evaluate. Kaliyev knows that all he can control at this point in the process is what he’s doing, and how he’s integrating with his teammates, both new and old.

 

[AlphaBravo]

I was disappointed that AA was resigned, honestly. He certainly had some flashes, but was not hungry enough, it seems. The last 3 weeks of the year, he was not looking like someone playing for a contract…I do not dislike him, but he will now be taking a space that I want to see Arty have….plus, they also added Tkachev was well. I think one or two of: QB, Fagemo, Arty, Kupari, and even Turcotte could make the team, if not for so much of a logjam…..yes, I think Todd would go for the veteran, over one of the youth….too bad, because I bet Arty could step ion now and be stellar.

From Wrobo and Arty, after yesterdays game….I am so pumped about Arty.

On Kaliyev specifically, John Wroblewski commented at the start of camp that Kaliyev was a guy who stood out as someone who added strength and muscle over the summer.
“There’s one guy in particular that stood out to me, just size-wise, I thought Kaliyev looked like a monster out there, compared to last year,” Wroblewski said on Thursday. “He just looks a lot sturdier, a lot thicker, and if his shot could get harder, it actually did. I think he put in the work this summer, he looks great.”
Speaking with him today, Kaliyev agreed that adding strength was one of his main focuses over the summer. He pointed to time in the gym as helping him to achieve that.
“I was just trying to work hard and be in the gym this summer,” he said. “The main goal was to try to get stronger and faster.”
As he progresses through the rookie tournament here, his focus is on playing his own game, and trying his best to impress those who are here to evaluate. Kaliyev knows that all he can control at this point in the process is what he’s doing, and how he’s integrating with his teammates, both new and old.

Yeah there are still several players on our roster that are just plugs until our prospects are slotted in, including Lizzotte, Wagnor, AA, Gundstrom, and Lemieux. We will also see Brown phased out, which will create more room. 2022-23 is when we will see the full transition.

 

[KingsFan7824]

As long as Brown is still scoring goals alongside Kopitar, he's not going to be moved from that spot. As people have said, where else is he going to fit? He needs Kopitar. If he's not scoring, it'll be that much tougher for the team to make or even challenge for the playoffs this year. Unless others can actually step up and put the puck in the net. Be it Kempe, or AA, or whoever else.

Brown's another reality check. Still making $4m. Still takes up almost $6m on the cap. Sure, we'd all rather see Kaliyev there from day 1, far more fun, because we know what Brown is now, and he's going to be 37, but it's not going to happen. Certainly not in Oct. Brown will have to lose his spot.

But no, he should not be re-signed. For any reason. Even for the league minimum. That era is obviously over, and Brown hasn't been leader Brown since DL and Sutter made that brilliant decision to take the C from him for no reason. He pretty much said he's checked out. You want Byfield and Turcotte taking the game home with them. They're not veterans who have already won and made their money. Even if Brown wants to keep playing, you let him walk. Go sign with the Sabres or Ducks or whatever.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Anyone know if Ballys is televising any of the preseason games?

 

[YP44]

And none of those goals meant a damn thing. What does mean something is moving forward positively because he was an overwhelmingly net negative last year. Stats don't mean anything. Tone, momentum and progress are the only things that matter here.

explain to me how he was a net negative? Was our best RW IMO

 

[bland]

explain to me how he was a net negative? Was our best RW IMO

As a veteran on a young and mismatched roster it is imperative that your "leaders" work to integrate the new players into a cohesive unit, and that didn't happen last year. Doughty did his best, Kopitar less so, but Brown spent the entire season - not just after the injury that nobody can date - selfishly avoiding work and drifting away from the puck, always on weak side, so he was available for tap ins at the side of the net.

He didn't forecheck, he didn't backcheck, he avoided all boardwork - he just floated. That is NO example to set. Last years team was a disaster that caved in on itself time and again, and none of the veterans showed less desire than Brown.

Brown gave away two OT goals in the first couple of weeks of the season. Later on national TV during that make or break series with San Jose Mike Babcock showed an instance in each game where Brown failed to cover for pinching defensemen leading to key outnumbered attack goals. He gave away a GWG in another game with a lazy turnover inside the attacking circles and lazily drifted back as his check scored the winner and he wasn't within 15 feet. That replay is still available in one of the GDT.

Point is, on a rebuilding team you need your vets to provide the work to show and a firm blueprint of what is required of the newcomers. Brown consistently put in no effort anywhere other than the slot. The team suffered from a lack of cohesion all year, and he was a big part of that. No positive impact whatsoever. The proof is in the pudding.

 

[Sol]

It never ceases to amaze me that people dunk on Brown while overlooking the fact he was the Kings top goal scorer last season.

Really amazing.

 

[Kudelski37]

As a veteran on a young and mismatched roster it is imperative that your "leaders" work to integrate the new players into a cohesive unit, and that didn't happen last year. Doughty did his best, Kopitar less so, but Brown spent the entire season - not just after the injury that nobody can date - selfishly avoiding work and drifting away from the puck, always on weak side, so he was available for tap ins at the side of the net.

He didn't forecheck, he didn't backcheck, he avoided all boardwork - he just floated. That is NO example to set. Last years team was a disaster that caved in on itself time and again, and none of the veterans showed less desire than Brown.

Brown gave away two OT goals in the first couple of weeks of the season. Later on national TV during that make or break series with San Jose Mike Babcock showed an instance in each game where Brown failed to cover for pinching defensemen leading to key outnumbered attack goals. He gave away a GWG in another game with a lazy turnover inside the attacking circles and lazily drifted back as his check scored the winner and he wasn't within 15 feet. That replay is still available in one of the GDT.

Point is, on a rebuilding team you need your vets to provide the work to show and a firm blueprint of what is required of the newcomers. Brown consistently put in no effort anywhere other than the slot. The team suffered from a lack of cohesion all year, and he was a big part of that. No positive impact whatsoever. The proof is in the pudding.

If you weren't floating you could easily find out that Brown missed games in March with an upper body injury. This lines up with his drop in production the remainder of the season.

 

[DoktorJeep]

Focusing on Browns mistakes is not seeing the forest from the trees. Only 4 teams scored fewer goals than the Kings. The guys making the big bucks should have done more to make a difference. Not the oldest skater.