The Kings, from what I gathered, are tired of losing. They wanted to improve and make the playoffs. They targeted Danault and Arvidsson as guys that would help with that. They planned on having Byfield as the third line center. Hopefully he can take the second line center spot and Danault can slot in at 3C. Injuries stopped that from happening.
They are in another pandemic year and have a surplus of fringe guys. This helps with protocols. They signed a few guys to short term deals who likely wont be on the team in 22-23. Stop gap players. They signed Tkachov to see if he could add skill to figure out he lacks a complete game. Not sure if he will make it back up but he was a gamble like many KHL players. Not sure why they didn't better scout him tho or understand the fit. Maybe that is a coach/GM issue or disagreement.
Losing Doughty and Walker hurt. Clague likely would have not seen any playing time had Walker not gone down. He was exposed at the draft and is an RFA next year. I don't know what the issue is with him and management. His broken bone really screwed him. He was passed over by Roy, Walker, Anderson, and Bjornfot. Durzi also makes him redundant. You can debate which one is better but I don't even see much of a future for Durzi either. Better prospects are on the way. Maatta is just beyond my understanding but my guess is they see him as more reliable and better in his own end. Not saying I agree, just my guess. He's gone by next year too.
Kaliyev, Kupari, JAD, and Vilardi:
Kaliyev probably benefitted from injuries too. He is a solid prospect but has a slight weakness of being slow. He should not be expected to be a grinder but he needed to learn better board work. He has Toffoli 2.0 written all over him in my eyes. He is on the PP and getting ok minutes overall. I don't but the outcry over him.
Kupari has some potential but unless he can transition to the wing he doesn't have much future in LA.
Vilardi has so much skill but some warts too that many seem to gloss over. Preseason is not a great metric either. With center spots all but locked he is either a reserve center in case of injury or a top six winger if he can make the adjustment. Management seems to be very aware of this and is currently working toward that. They have not buried him or given up on him.
JAD is a skilled guy who can play bottom six. I see him as future 4C who can move up higher when needed. I'd be shocked if that isn't the plan for him.
Turcotte could still be a center. Given the center depth he is also likely going to make it as a winger. He has a lot of traits the Kings need and will be a glue guy. Hoping for a Mike Richards like performer out of him. I think LA is grooming him for that role. Thomas is another guy in that vein who likely becomes a winger.
Fagemo and Chromiak are shooters and wing options. Not sure if they will ever be first liners but can fill out the 2cd and 3rd line wings if all goes well. LA has numerous guys like them that could stick too. Hell most of their centers can shift to wing and back. Still think a trade will come to move out some of these chips.
I see no evidence of failed development yet. They hired Wrobo to specifically work with all these young prospects. Murray (A 40 goal scorer in the NHL) and co get criticized so much for past failures. Again, the fanbase once clamored for Jordan freakin Weal to be inserted in the line up by Sutter. Amadio, Kozun, Shore, Dowd, Vey, and Luff, have been LA's biggest offensive forward prospects since Toff/Pearson. Most are out of the league or fringe at best. People see this and say that development for the next wave will be just as f***ed but that is just pure conjecture at this point. It's possible but the next wave of prospects might just have it were those guys didn't. How about lets actually see what happens before declaring another abject failure? Again, next year there are prime spots for the taking.
