Speculation: 2025 TDL Discussion

[Ziggy Stardust]

Let's not kid ourselves. This team isn't going to make any noise in the playoffs and they aren't a piece away from being contenders. The team has too many holes: no second line center, no scoring threat on the wing after Kempe, no shot from the blueline, and they need help on the power play. A single player isn't going to address all of those needs.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

Let's not kid ourselves. This team isn't going to make any noise in the playoffs and they aren't a piece away from being contenders. The team has too many holes: no second line center, no scoring threat on the wing after Kempe, no shot from the blueline, and they need help on the power play. A single player isn't going to address all of those needs.

They are the best defensive team in the NHL.

Defense wins championships.

Don't right off the boys just because they've come up short in recent years. This team might be different.

 

[Schmooley]

Let's not kid ourselves. This team isn't going to make any noise in the playoffs and they aren't a piece away from being contenders. The team has too many holes: no second line center, no scoring threat on the wing after Kempe, no shot from the blueline, and they need help on the power play. A single player isn't going to address all of those needs.

They arent some juggernaut contender. But you are putting them under a microscope and giving other teams too much credit.
Its a bit of a snoozefest this year. Dallas Colorado Vegas and Edmonton are more beatable than years prior. Jets and Wild are beatable also. I wont write off the Kings yet not because they are amazing but because they are just good enough to win a round this year.

 

[SaltyElkHunter]

What type of wager were you thinking?

Kings lose in first round or don’t make it I win they go further than first round you win. Winner chooses the losers hfboard name until next playoff series !

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

They are the best defensive team in the NHL.

Defense wins championships.

Don't right off the boys just because they've come up short in recent years. This team might be different.

Here's the thing, last season the Kings finished with the third best goals against per game (only Florida and Winnipeg finished ahead of them).

The Kings surrendered 2.56 goals per game in 2023-24. That completely changed when they met the Oilers in the playoffs and gave up 4.4 goals per game, which was the second highest goals allowed after the Winnipeg Jets, who gave up 5.6 goals per game.

The team defense isn't going to be enough to carry them out of the first round.

 

[Trash Panda]

Here's the thing, last season the Kings finished with the third best goals against per game (only Florida and Winnipeg finished ahead of them).

The Kings surrendered 2.56 goals per game in 2023-24. That completely changed when they met the Oilers in the playoffs and gave up 4.4 goals per game, which was the second highest goals allowed after the Winnipeg Jets, who gave up 5.6 goals per game.

The team defense isn't going to be enough to carry them out of the first round.

Also, this group that has been bounced in the first round for the last 3 years is largely unchanged in the areas of the roster that truly matter.

Unless you have a nuclear “supporting” cast like in 2012, the top end of the roster needs to do the heavy lifting, and they haven’t changed at all (minus a bit of a crazy development from Kempe, which has been great).

 

[Mcsorley47]

why not? Unless the Kings totally fall off a cliff in the next 6 weeks, Blake is going for it....he has to. (Besides everyone around here is convinced the Kings can't develop their prospects, so you might has well trade those picks for established players)

You're not wrong about prospect development, but we have no farm anymore; our prospect pool is getting bad.

Is trading our 1st for one guy going to get us out of the 1st round?

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

You're not wrong about prospect development, but we have no farm anymore; our prospect pool is getting bad.

Is trading our 1st for one guy going to get us out of the 1st round?

I can’t predict the future like some around here, so I can’t answer that. However, I would assume Blake is a goner if this team doesn’t make some noise in the post season. So if you are him, are you worried about the farm…or April?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

You're not wrong about prospect development, but we have no farm anymore; our prospect pool is getting bad.

Is trading our 1st for one guy going to get us out of the 1st round?

What you're saying makes sense

BUT

and it's a big one

You have to think this through like you're Blake, you've burned through nearly all your assets, gotten multiple mulligans on dogshit contracts, and have sold that "we were right there" with our window open now.

This is a guy who is GMing for the NOW, and possibly his job. You think he gives a shit about Greentree or Ziemmer or the next 3 firsts while staring down the barrel of the Oilers for the fourth time in a row? This guy, while watching Vilardi and Faber and countless others cruise around with greater success elsewhere?

 

[Trash Panda]

What you're saying makes sense

BUT

and it's a big one

You have to think this through like you're Blake, you've burned through nearly all your assets, gotten multiple mulligans on dogshit contracts, and have sold that "we were right there" with our window open now.

This is a guy who is GMing for the NOW, and possibly his job. You think he gives a shit about Greentree or Ziemmer or the next 3 firsts while staring down the barrel of the Oilers for the fourth time in a row? This guy, while watching Vilardi and Faber and countless others cruise around with greater success elsewhere?

Blake is primed to make some REAL dumb moves here this TDL Season.

 

[Sybil227]

Here's the thing, last season the Kings finished with the third best goals against per game (only Florida and Winnipeg finished ahead of them).

The Kings surrendered 2.56 goals per game in 2023-24. That completely changed when they met the Oilers in the playoffs and gave up 4.4 goals per game, which was the second highest goals allowed after the Winnipeg Jets, who gave up 5.6 goals per game.

The team defense isn't going to be enough to carry them out of the first round.

Last year our defense was based on positioning - the 1-3-1 (which Todd held onto for far too long). This year our D is based more on reads and hard work (although positioning will always be part of it, just like any team). You can break down the 1-3-1 and get past it, like the Oilers did, if you plan for it and make adjustments. I truly think our team D is a good deal better this year. I also think we're spending more time in the O-zone this year - which is the best way to play D.
Whether that will take us any further is anybody's guess.