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

[Raccoon Jesus]

You look at the trades so far since the start of the season, and other than the Eichel trade, which was a special circumstance, we're talking about cheap minor league depth moving around. That's it. This isn't 20 years ago, when you could trade AA just because you feel like it. Just to change things up if nothing else. Those types of deals today are very rare. The cap has simply killed those trades.

The most likely scenario when AA is ready to go, especially if the Kings are sticking around in the playoff conversation, is AA is back in the lineup, or at the very least on the active roster, and the easiest contract to send down to Ontario is who he replaces. So whoever they deem as the least important ELC guy is the one that will go. Then come the deadline, if they're still in the thick of the playoffs, they're not going to get rid of a veteran option. There was that one year where SJ got rid of a couple vets at the deadline but still made the playoffs, but again, that's another rare scenario.

Then if Blake adds something significant at the deadline, it'll probably cost a young forward, making AA even less likely to move than he already is.

It does seem like a lot of teams are hanging on harder than usual to even their JAGs. Covid, injuries, weird border circumstances, it's all there. I gave Blake a lot of shit for signing redundancies but given literally everyone has played NHL games and we've had a rotating contingent of injury/LTIR/covid he's looking pretty good on that front even of some of us are grumpy because we wanted longer looks for the youth.

I know that I was a big proponent of trading for Chychrun before, but I have soured a little bit on this. The biggest issue for me is the durability. You see guys like Doughty getting paid, but he has been in the lineup more often than not. It would suck for us to lose 2-3 prospects and draft picks for a guy that probably won't come anywhere near playing a full season (at least he hasn't yet, and he's 23). I'm liking the way this team is evolving and growing through the draft and smart signings/trades. We can say what we want about Blake, but Danault, Arvidsson and Edler (despite the injury) were exactly what this team needed. Durzi has been a shock for all of us and we are seeing good growth from Anderson and Bjornfot. Roy is looking like he is back to his usual self. And I don't think anyone expected Maatta to be playing like he has been.

The Chychrun lineup history is a bit overblown because of the last few years. He's actually played a high percentage of games, it just doesn't look like it because his major injury was during a long season...so he has a shortened 82 game season followed by a bunch of shorties.

I agree there are things to be aware of there, but he doesn't appear to be any more fragile than most normal d-men. We're just spoiled with Drew and Anze being made of adamantium. They're NOT typical.

 

[FSL KINGS]

From RT's post page 6 of AZ's current roster thread.

"Biz on Spittin’ Chiclets had some REALLY great points about Chychrun. Said he had 4 major surgeries before he was 23 years old. And his value was unbelievably high this summer. With the team actively trying to lose as much as possible, it was inevitable that his numbers would decline and his value would be hurt. Biz said he expected him to be dealt in the summer, and said he was surprised when it didn’t happen. He said it would have been best for both the player and the team."

Speculation: - 2021-22 Coyotes Roster Discussion III

Seems like AZ knows they're selling high right now.

 

[kings11]

It does seem like a lot of teams are hanging on harder than usual to even their JAGs. Covid, injuries, weird border circumstances, it's all there. I gave Blake a lot of shit for signing redundancies but given literally everyone has played NHL games and we've had a rotating contingent of injury/LTIR/covid he's looking pretty good on that front even of some of us are grumpy because we wanted longer looks for the youth.




The Chychrun lineup history is a bit overblown because of the last few years. He's actually played a high percentage of games, it just doesn't look like it because his major injury was during a long season...so he has a shortened 82 game season followed by a bunch of shorties.

I agree there are things to be aware of there, but he doesn't appear to be any more fragile than most normal d-men. We're just spoiled with Drew and Anze being made of adamantium. They're NOT typical.

There were articles this off-season where he mentioned he still has discomfort in his knees, that my friend is a major red flag.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

There were articles this off-season where he mentioned he still has discomfort in his knees, that my friend is a major red flag.

Yeah, I remember when Williams was an injury waiting to happen and Stoll had arthritis, as well.

Obviously go get medical clearance first but saying he's had surgery in the past is far different than saying he's missed a bunch of games that he hasn't.

 

[FSL KINGS]

This makes sense as Kings generating a lot on the rush & not as much cycling with shots coming from the point.



Have to wonder if D shooting rates could be maintained with Kings system.

 

[LAKings88]

Yeah, I remember when Williams was an injury waiting to happen and Stoll had arthritis, as well.

Obviously go get medical clearance first but saying he's had surgery in the past is far different than saying he's missed a bunch of games that he hasn't.

I equate an acquisition of him to the trade for JDub, a risk that could pay off big. Really comes down to cost. Kings have the pieces but do they engage in a bidding war?

 

[RaymondReddington]

Lombardi mishandled Richards, Voynov and arguably Brown.

I appreciate your entire post but I disagree that Lombardi mishandled Voynov.
I know I am in the significant minority on this but I think Voynov got (and still gets) completely screwed. Massive double standards cost him and cost the Kings dearly. Please don't lecture me about domestic violence..his behavior was reprehensible. I am well aware of the damage and cowardice of domestic abuse.
My points are: (1) hockey players are not all model citizens but almost none are prevented from working at the highest levels, (2) other players have done/do what Voynov did and other major/worse offenses with none or less punitive consequences, to say nothing of the never ending over-severe consequences in his situation, (3) California laws prevented his wife from withdrawing the charges, whereas if it occurred in almost any other state there would have been no charges, and withdrawn charges have happened in other cases some we would never know about, (4) if he were not a Russian citizen he would not have all the visa/foreigner issues that were used to deepen and elongate his punishment.
Dany Heatley KILLED a fellow player and got to go back to work, USA NHL Olympians trashed foreign hotel rooms and got no punishment/were never even identified; Hell, Evander Kane is going to get a contract despite all the damage his reprehensible behavior has caused-He gets to go back to work immediately.
Voynov and the Kings got massively screwed. Lombardi tried to save his employee, probably foreseeing the massive damage to the player and team if he didn't. The Kings never recovered from his loss

 

[kilowatt]

Since making his Coyotes debut in 2016-17, he's had shoulder surgery, a torn meniscus in his left knee and a torn ACL in his right knee.

That's a lot for a young player.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I equate an acquisition of him to the trade for JDub, a risk that could pay off big. Really comes down to cost. Kings have the pieces but do they engage in a bidding war?

That's kind of where I'm at--I'm not saying go get him, it would likely be prohibitively expensive. But I see so many people trying to talk themselves OUT of him instead of realizing how good he is.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Since making his Coyotes debut in 2016-17, he's had shoulder surgery, a torn meniscus in his left knee and a torn ACL in his right knee.

That's a lot for a young player.

And williams broke his hand, tore his same knee twice, and tore his achilles before becoming a King.

 

[LAKings88]

That's kind of where I'm at--I'm not saying go get him, it would likely be prohibitively expensive. But I see so many people trying to talk themselves OUT of him instead of realizing how good he is.

For what they have been looking for I don’t see anything close to being available. Maybe Lindholm IF he makes it to market.

 

[kings11]

Yeah, I remember when Williams was an injury waiting to happen and Stoll had arthritis, as well.

Obviously go get medical clearance first but saying he's had surgery in the past is far different than saying he's missed a bunch of games that he hasn't.

He’s missing them now and they aren’t upper body related

 

[Schrute farms]

Maybe i am misremembering...but wasn't the injuries part of why we got Williams much cheaper than usual? Not the case right now with AZ shooting for the moon with JC.

 

[FSL KINGS]

My no list:
Byfield, Obviously
Turcotte, need to keep 2nd best C prospect for when Kopi's contract is up.
Vilardi, good shot & playmaking. Should be great on 55's wing.
Kaliyev. nope
Clarke. Nope nope nope.

If Blake can get it done without that great. If not there are other options.

 

[King'sPawn]

Maybe i am misremembering...but wasn't the injuries part of why we got Williams much cheaper than usual? Not the case right now with AZ shooting for the moon with JC.

Yeah, it was actually even less originally, but when Kevin Lowe found out what the Kings were getting in the three-way trade, he increased his asking price.

Kevin Lowe was the catalyst for so much wrong with the Oilers, and it could be seen in his business dealings.

 

[kings11]

I tried my hand at what we could look like next season and I’m pretty sure I’m off on some salaries… but we should be fighting for the top spot in the west next season..

 

[KingsFan7824]

This makes sense as Kings generating a lot on the rush & not as much cycling with shots coming from the point.



Have to wonder if D shooting rates could be maintained with Kings system.

Obviously it's an overall good to get more shots from the defense, but if NJ, Ari, and Sea are at or near the top of the list, as well as some decent teams at or near the bottom, it's not exactly a be all-end all situation.

 

[KingsFan7824]

I tried my hand at what we could look like next season and I’m pretty sure I’m off on some salaries… but we should be fighting for the top spot in the west next season..
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Don't see how Doughty, Roy, Walker, Durzi, and Clarke are all on the team at the same time. At least 1, maybe 2 have to go.

 

[kilowatt]

And williams broke his hand, tore his same knee twice, and tore his achilles before becoming a King.

Totally different situations, you know that. Williams was traded to LA after two seasons of playing fewer than 40 games each with Carolina. He combined for fewer goals than Chychrun had last year and the price was significantly lower to acquire to boot.

I'm not even saying we should avoid him for that reason, we've always had success rehabilitating players. I'm just pointing out that he has had a lot of injuries given he's only 23, something not all players deal with as well as Williams did.

If the price makes sense, I'd trade for Chychrun. But I don't think my price is significantly higher than something like Walker, Kupari, and a first. I'd really like to avoid trading Byfield, Clarke, Turcotte, and Kaliyev if we can avoid it.

 

[bmr]

And williams broke his hand, tore his same knee twice, and tore his achilles before becoming a King.

Good points - anything can happen. I'm just not sure how much better we would be with Chychrun, minus the prospects and draft picks that it would take to get him. If Edler hadn't got injured, I don't think we would even be having this discussion with the emergence of Durzi and the other D corps waiting in the wings.

 

[bmr]

Totally different situations, you know that. Williams was traded to LA after two seasons of playing fewer than 40 games each with Carolina. He combined for fewer goals than Chychrun had last year and the price was significantly lower to acquire to boot.

I'm not even saying we should avoid him for that reason, we've always had success rehabilitating players. I'm just pointing out that he has had a lot of injuries given he's only 23, something not all players deal with as well as Williams did.

If the price makes sense, I'd trade for Chychrun. But I don't think my price is significantly higher than something like Walker, Kupari, and a first. I'd really like to avoid trading Byfield, Clarke, Turcotte, and Kaliyev if we can avoid it.

If the price is as high as they have been saying, it's going to take 3 pieces:

A really good prospect, a guy like Kempe/Iafallo and a draft pick

I wouldn't do it for that. I can see the benefit of having a big, heavy guy like Chychrun (especially in the playoffs). We definitely bought low on Williams...and we did the same with Arvidsson.

 

[kings11]

Don't see how Doughty, Roy, Walker, Durzi, and Clarke are all on the team at the same time. At least 1, maybe 2 have to go.

Of course they can or as you say, one or two can be traded… Walker maybe starts the season in IR but he’s already proven he can slot as a LHD.. but it all comes down to Clarke and whether he can force those situations

 

[Stimpythecat]

I haven't been paying much attention to Clarke but is he seriously ready as soon as next year?

Walker can play left side so he can slot in there. Roy would still be the 2RD if Clarke is not ready.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

He’s missing them now and they aren’t upper body related

I'm not going to fault a guy for missing games because of Covid protocol.

The upper body injury you can feel about either way. I'm not concerned about something that knocks a guy out for a couple of weeks.

Totally different situations, you know that. Williams was traded to LA after two seasons of playing fewer than 40 games each with Carolina. He combined for fewer goals than Chychrun had last year and the price was significantly lower to acquire to boot.

I'm not even saying we should avoid him for that reason, we've always had success rehabilitating players. I'm just pointing out that he has had a lot of injuries given he's only 23, something not all players deal with as well as Williams did.

If the price makes sense, I'd trade for Chychrun. But I don't think my price is significantly higher than something like Walker, Kupari, and a first. I'd really like to avoid trading Byfield, Clarke, Turcotte, and Kaliyev if we can avoid it.

Of course. And I'm not excusing the injury history or saying don't look at it. Only that it's not THAT unusual.

 

[Statto]

Kings have the pieces but do they engage in a bidding war?

Bidding war? No. I think given the trade won’t take us over the top then we should only pay value for any player. If he was the missing piece to make us a genuine contender then it would be different. We have the pieces and prospects to be patient, as we’ve already discussed there is lots of potential (yes I know not everyone will hit) in the system and this team is 5+ years away from peaking. So there is no point ‘gutting’ things now when other big may well be needed.