Speculation: 2021-22 LA Kings News, Rumors, Roster Thread Part VI

[GoldenBearHockey]

There are going to be some very difficult roster decisions much sooner than we all expect. Some big trades should be coming this year or into next. There’s just too many players and not enough spots for them. Hopefully MB can help with this also. Who stays and who goes?? I’ve always been high on Fagemo and hope he gets more time. I can’t believe we still have guys like JAD, Byfield, Vilardi and Tkachev in Ontario. Good problem to have.

100% this,

Fagemo looks like a keeper, 1st NHL game, came about 3 chances from his 1st goal, just well placed, shot mentality, no idea where he slots in, top 6, bottom six, left field, etc but he looked really good,

I think, JAD, Vilardi, Tkachev might be the odd men out, but only if you can get what you want/need for them, don't want to turn them into the next Hickey

 

[kings11]

100% this,

Fagemo looks like a keeper, 1st NHL game, came about 3 chances from his 1st goal, just well placed, shot mentality, no idea where he slots in, top 6, bottom six, left field, etc but he looked really good,

I think, JAD, Vilardi, Tkachev might be the odd men out, but only if you can get what you want/need for them, don't want to turn them into the next Hickey

Seems like some kids have been Wally Pipp’d!

 

[kingsfan]

On this board? He would’ve been traded years ago.

In real life? No chance unless he asks for it. Blake has too much respect for Brownie to just trade him for marginal assets (which is all he’d fetch).

At the deadline he'd likely fetch a 2nd, maybe a touch more, especially if we retain cap space or take some on in the deal.

That said, you're right, he's not going anywhere unless he insists on it.

 

[cyclones22]

Also
He actually isn't playing badly. Arguably pretty good in a reduced role. Dude has 10 points in his last 14 games.

He has looked much better. Crazy how his play has gotten better when his minutes were reduced. A good 3 minutes or so. Now do the same for Kopi, but just a minute or 2. Games like last night and the Rangers game show that the other centers can be trusted against good competition. These guys are aging. No need to run them into the ground before the mid-way point of the season. And thank goodness Petersen is showing signs of getting his head together. That's also going to help Quick from getting run down.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Is Dustin Brown a trade possibility at the deadline ?

As long as the Kings are in the race, no way. If they fall out, they'll ask if he wants to go, and if not, then he won't.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

100% this,

Fagemo looks like a keeper, 1st NHL game, came about 3 chances from his 1st goal, just well placed, shot mentality, no idea where he slots in, top 6, bottom six, left field, etc but he looked really good,

I think, JAD, Vilardi, Tkachev might be the odd men out, but only if you can get what you want/need for them, don't want to turn them into the next Hickey

IMO Fagemo is like Iafallo, can play pretty much anywhere and help you out, but as a complement rather than the center driver.

 

[Inner Turbulence]

How many giveaways?

12
According to NHL.com.
He has 1.3 gva/60. Ranks 16th on the team in that category. Some of the comparables ahead of him have very few games though. Maybe I just dont understand the negativity towards him. A veteran guy scoring at .5 ppg (almost all of it at even strength !) in a reduced role when the team is playing really well.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

IMO Fagemo is like Iafallo, can play pretty much anywhere and help you out, but as a complement rather than the center driver.

Correct, I think he has a tad more motor than Iafallo....

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Correct, I think he has a tad more motor than Iafallo....

I actually really liked the Arvidsson comparison before we picked up VA, but a lot of the prospects folks didn't like that because of his skill level. But to me he's a similar high-drive north-south player with shot volume and a wicked release

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I actually really liked the Arvidsson comparison before we picked up VA, but a lot of the prospects folks didn't like that because of his skill level. But to me he's a similar high-drive north-south player with shot volume and a wicked release

Fair enough, Arvidsson reminds me of a rabid squirrel, he's freaking everywhere all the time, and every time you spook him, he jumps and takes a slap shot.....

 

[bland]

Also
He actually isn't playing badly. Arguably pretty good in a reduced role. Dude has 10 points in his last 14 games.

Having that break helps, just like having Peterson get a good run every now and then has kept Quick fresh.

There is no reason to move him, just don't re-sign him.

 

[cyclones22]

I actually really liked the Arvidsson comparison before we picked up VA, but a lot of the prospects folks didn't like that because of his skill level. But to me he's a similar high-drive north-south player with shot volume and a wicked release

One thing I love about Fagemo is he's always ready to one time that bish and seems to get into good spaces to accept a pass.

 

[bsu]

I saw the first couple games... How has Turcotte looked?

 

[lumbergh]

I saw the first couple games... How has Turcotte looked?

Meh. He can skate, but hasn't really contributed on the offensive side. Missed a layup in his second game. Had he put that in, okay.

Still developing. You can see his strengths (skating, hustle, creating turnovers), but you can also see the parts that need work (reading plays, shot, shiftiness, physicality).

 

[Statto]

Iaffalo Kopi Kempe
Moore Danault Arvy
AA Byfield Brown
Lemieux Lizotte Kaliyev

Grunstrom/Frk/Kupari

Assuming AHL:
Turcotte & Fagemo

AA does not belong out there.

 

[bland]

Meh. He can skate, but hasn't really contributed on the offensive side. Missed a layup in his second game. Had he put that in, okay.

Still developing. You can see his strengths (skating, hustle, creating turnovers), but you can also see the parts that need work (reading plays, shot, shiftiness, physicality).

Meh is a piss-poor description. He has been anything but "meh".

Very aggressive on the forecheck and backcheck, won the bulk of his 50/50s, created numerous half chances around the net, broken up several opposition breakout attempts, and been a feisty nuisance on most shifts.

He has been playing it ultra safe, if the first chance doesn't result in a scoring opportunity he drifts back into coverage, same as Kupari. Unfortunately they are saddled with the human blueline turnover machine that ends most of their offensive zone chances.

He has been mostly one attempt and done, backcheck, breakup the play, dump it in and go for quick changes. He has kept his shifts short and hasn't had the opportunity for sustained pressure, which is where he will thrive because he has already demonstrated good vision and a nose for getting to the net.

The above is pretty much boiler plate for how the Kings develop their skilled prospects. They all go through these (too) lengthy do-no-harm periods before they get comfortable enough to show off their skills. Happens with all of them, by shoddy design.

 

[bland]

AA does not belong out there.

They should just waive him and call it a day on Athanasiou.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Meh. He can skate, but hasn't really contributed on the offensive side. Missed a layup in his second game. Had he put that in, okay.

Still developing. You can see his strengths (skating, hustle, creating turnovers), but you can also see the parts that need work (reading plays, shot, shiftiness, physicality).

I think this is totally fair. He missed his own tap-in and created several for others that have been missed too--but playing with Kupari and Brown isn't going to lend itself to high production either. But it's good practice on being 'the guy' on the line because at 5v5 Kupari has been doing very little and Brown has been doing next to nothing.

Disagree on physicality though, the guy was hitting everything in sight. Unless you mean strength. He also goes hard to the net more than almost anyone on the team, and has won multiple 1-on-2 battles.

 

[Mats26]

Turcotte looks good on wing. Adds 15 lbs of muscle and he will be a handful (F1) for puck retrievals and tight plays in and around the net. He's got some bite to his game which is welcomed for sure. Speed(quickness), tenacity and a little reckless at times but in a good way. (if that even makes sense)

What he is missing now is the top end vision to control the pace, shot and overall strength-balance.
All attributes that can be worked on for sure.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Turcotte looks good on wing. Adds 15 lbs of muscle and he will be a handful (F1) for puck retrievals and tight plays in and around the net. He's got some bite to his game which is welcomed for sure. Speed(quickness), tenacity and a little reckless at times but in a good way. (if that even makes sense)

What he is missing now is the top end vision to control the pace, shot and overall strength-balance.
All attributes that can be worked on for sure.

the vision/IQ is most certainly there--just needs the reps.

His shot is by far his weakest attribute. Everything else is already extremely high level. He's a playmaker, not a shooter, if he scores it's because he's banging away or tapping in at the net or low slot. It's why we shouldn't expect much production if he's with Kupari, whose scoring touch is thus far nonexistent at the NHL level, and Brown, whose scoring methods are similar to Turcotte's.

 

[dman3474]

Circling back to LD, I would look at Montreal for someone we could possibly target. The burgervan knows that roster and the players on it, and that team is in a rough spot.

If Edmundson comes back from injury (and his father just passed RIP) and plays well he could be that tough BIG body on the blueline. he is signed for a couple more years at 3.5m with a 10 team NTC and is 28. I always liked (and hated) him in STL

Chiarot, also big hard nosed dude, 30 and a UFA. Playing on the top pair there, and from reading comments had a very good relationship with Bergevin. Maybe a 1-2 year summer signing?

 

[KingsFan7824]

They should just waive him and call it a day on Athanasiou.

Didn't waive Maatta, not going to start with AA. Very few guys on 1 way multi-million dollar contracts get waived. And the Kings already did it once with Wagner.

Waiving doesn't make them disappear. This ain't Star Wars. Someone else has to take him, and if they don't, you still have to account for that money and roster spot. Whether in LA or Ontario.

 

[bland]

Didn't waive Maatta, not going to start with AA. Very few guys on 1 way multi-million dollar contracts get waived. And the Kings already did it once with Wagner.

Waiving doesn't make them disappear. This ain't Star Wars. Someone else has to take him, and if they don't, you still have to account for that money and roster spot. Whether in LA or Ontario.

Do you honestly think that this is news to me?

 

[cyclones22]

I hope they're looking for trade partners to take AA off their hands. He's got zero long term future here and the other players actually in the lineup are showing there's zero short term need for him either. I just really dislike his game. He's a speed merchant with some finishing but every other aspect of his game just doesn't fit with winning hockey. Would you rather see more Turcotte or AA back in the lineup? Eat some of his salary and send him off somewhere for a draft pick.

 

[Piston]

Didn't waive Maatta, not going to start with AA. Very few guys on 1 way multi-million dollar contracts get waived. And the Kings already did it once with Wagner.

Waiving doesn't make them disappear. This ain't Star Wars. Someone else has to take him, and if they don't, you still have to account for that money and roster spot. Whether in LA or Ontario.

We had less depth on defense, hence keeping Maata around (he's been playing much better as of late). AA is not part of the future- if we retain 50% on him, some team may be interested. He has no role on this team.