Speculation: Another year of this Bluc **** (The 2024-25 season thread)

[AbsentMojo]

My presumption is that they see a future NHL player in Lee, certainly more likely to be one than Fagemo. Lee will also get a few reps minimum (my bet) in a role that suits him. I suspect they were also very confident that Fagemo wouldn’t get claimed. So maybe he does what is asked and gets another look… who knows?

I agree, I think the team thinks he will clear and wants him around for any injuries.. and sees more space for Lee to get some starts on the 4th line.. maybe platoon with Lewis.

 

[AbsentMojo]

There are things in his overall game he's still not progressing at in the AHL level that NHL organizations are noticing. Could be his defensive game, which I'd suspect is one issue, would like to see his defensive zone starts % in Ontario the last few seasons. Maybe the compete level not up to snuff, skating, prone to turnovers, etc....who knows.

He bagged 43 goals on 200 shots last season, that shooting % while impressive, is surely not sustainable.

Not a fan of +/- stat as a key indicator. Last season 43 goals,+10, previous season 23 goals, -24. Not great on surface level.

He can get away with certain aspects of his game in the minors, but it seems evident by the recent demotion and passing through waivers, other organizations think he won't translate into a gig in the NHL.

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If he had his prior years S% - he'd still score 28 goals in 50 games - pretty impressive.

The main problem with Fagemo from my perspective is you cant make a politically correct nickname from his last name... wonder what they call him in the room

 

[Lt Dan]

The main problem with Fagemo from my perspective is you cant make a politically correct nickname

 

[King'sPawn]

They are different types of players for different roles.. and you are looking at 2 games. How can you make that judgment? Its fine man, Im just trying to kill some time before the 1st game of the season. Dont really have a lot more energy to debate this further

Hope you don't feel like it's a pile on as this is just a discussion.

The thing with Fagemo is, as he has aged, his game has increasingly dependent on one tool. It's part of the reason Nail Yakupov phased out of the NHL. The Oilers kept trying to get him to do more, but he would just practice his shooting.

With Fagemo, invan albeit small sample size, what did he do in preseason? Aside from lining up on the powerplay and taking shots, not much that I can recall. I think there was a zone entry that led to an outside shot on goal. But aside from that, he's not a puck battler. He doesn't win board battles. He doesn't protect the puck (either with his body or stickhandling), and he doesn't have good top-end speed.

I would have liked him to get some reps in the top-six earlier in his career so maybe there would be more incentive to find an identity in his game. But the Kings felt it was better to have Athanasiou and other mercenaries and future planned castoffs like Matt Luff.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I dont' read Lee staying as 'over' Fagemo in any case anyway, Lee is suited for 4th line play, Fagemo certainly is not.

He's also been a late bloomer at every level even down to reentering the nhl draft

I'm not that invested in arguing about it, I just think his 'chance' has been very slim at best. Even Turcotte and Thomas got screwed pretty good in the preseason, it's just more of the same. We're now 'happy' that they're simply on the team even though they're getting buried on the 4th line. It'll only be even slightly different if a healthy Lewis doesn't get 82 games.

 

[All The Kings Men]

If he had his prior years S% - he'd still score 28 goals in 50 games - pretty impressive.

The main problem with Fagemo from my perspective is you cant make a politically correct nickname from his last name... wonder what they call him in the room

Sammy

 

[AbsentMojo]

Hope you don't feel like it's a pile on as this is just a discussion.

The thing with Fagemo is, as he has aged, his game has increasingly dependent on one tool. It's part of the reason Nail Yakupov phased out of the NHL. The Oilers kept trying to get him to do more, but he would just practice his shooting.

With Fagemo, invan albeit small sample size, what did he do in preseason? Aside from lining up on the powerplay and taking shots, not much that I can recall. I think there was a zone entry that led to an outside shot on goal. But aside from that, he's not a puck battler. He doesn't win board battles. He doesn't protect the puck (either with his body or stickhandling), and he doesn't have good top-end speed.

I would have liked him to get some reps in the top-six earlier in his career so maybe there would be more incentive to find an identity in his game. But the Kings felt it was better to have Athanasiou and other mercenaries and future planned castoffs like Matt Luff.

Agree with all your points. You just see the org not getting any value for guys like JAD, Kaliyev, Bjornfot, Kupari all who had plenty more NHL games - and you'd think maybe give him a shot for a bit in a scoring role just to get hard evidence he cant hack it. .8 GPG for a season in any pro league is noteworthy right? For the record, I cant recall one NHL shift of his where I was impressed.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Agree with all your points. You just see the org not getting any value for guys like JAD, Kaliyev, Bjornfot, Kupari all who had plenty more NHL games - and you'd think maybe give him a shot for a bit in a scoring role just to get hard evidence he cant hack it. .8 GPG for a season in any pro league is noteworthy right? For the record, I cant recall one NHL shift of his where I was impressed.

What value did they have? with all exept Kaliyev being on and CLEARING waivers, clearly they had no value....(actually not sure on Kupari, but Bjornfoot and JAD definitely did not have any value)

 

[AbsentMojo]

What value did they have? with all exept Kaliyev being on and CLEARING waivers, clearly they had no value....(actually not sure on Kupari, but Bjornfoot and JAD definitely did not have any value)

Im saying are you certain Fagemo is waiver fodder before giving him a chance like those guys had? Ie, they all got plenty of games to prove they were worthless... and Kupari was def close to worthless and a throw in prob to help the Kings roster openings.

 

[Schmooley]

Im saying are you certain Fagemo is waiver fodder before giving him a chance like those guys had? Ie, they all got plenty of games to prove they were worthless... and Kupari was def close to worthless and a throw in prob to help the Kings roster openings.

Kupari may have had value to Winnipeg. The best game of his career was against the Jets. I think it was also one of the only games he played on the wing instead of center. He was buzzing and hitting everything in sight. I think it was in their building and may have left an impression.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Kupari may have had value to Winnipeg. The best game of his career was against the Jets. I think it was also one of the only games he played on the wing instead of center. He was buzzing and hitting everything in sight. I think it was in their building and may have left an impression.

My eval on Kupari upside was Trevor Lewis.. and that was his upside - he wasnt there yet. He has speed, size, decent puck carrier and PK instincts.. i thought he could make a career as a 4th liner PK specialist... maybe worth a late round pick

 

[Statto]

I dont' read Lee staying as 'over' Fagemo in any case anyway, Lee is suited for 4th line play, Fagemo certainly is not.

He's also been a late bloomer at every level even down to reentering the nhl draft

I'm not that invested in arguing about it, I just think his 'chance' has been very slim at best. Even Turcotte and Thomas got screwed pretty good in the preseason, it's just more of the same. We're now 'happy' that they're simply on the team even though they're getting buried on the 4th line. It'll only be even slightly different if a healthy Lewis doesn't get 82 games.

Yeah. I’m assuming they feel if there is a top 9 spot open then Thomas or Turcotte present a better option than Fagemo in that role (which I agree with). Then the 13th forward just slides into the 4th line.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843411841365749854

 

[AbsentMojo]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1843411841365749854

So just 22 for opening night

 

[KingsOfCali25]

So just 22 for opening night

No. Lee will be up for a the opening game. Just need to clear a couple of days of cap space before putting Kaliyev and Doughty on LTIR.

 

[All The Kings Men]

So just 22 for opening night

It's not opening night yet

 

[AbsentMojo]

No. Lee will be up for a the opening game. Just need to clear a couple of days of cap space before putting Kaliyev and Doughty on LTIR.

thats right.. the mayor had a little article about needing the paper transactions prior to LTIR to get as much cap avail for the deadline

 

[DoktorJeep]

Great interview with Jon Quick here. Starts around 47 minutes in.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Im saying are you certain Fagemo is waiver fodder before giving him a chance like those guys had? Ie, they all got plenty of games to prove they were worthless... and Kupari was def close to worthless and a throw in prob to help the Kings roster openings.

It's been PROVEN he is waiver fodder.....31 teams passed on him....TWICE.

 

[King'sPawn]

Seems wasteful to have kept him up and missing games in the WHL just to send him down. What did he learn in the two weeks being kept up? Was it just for financial incentive?

 

[kingsholygrail]

Great interview with Jon Quick here. Starts around 47 minutes in.

Love Quick. Glad his career's had a revival. I hope he gets that 400th win.

 

[Surf Nutz]

Seems wasteful to have kept him up and missing games in the WHL just to send him down. What did he learn in the two weeks being kept up? Was it just for financial incentive?

Could be a morale move as well, he was kept longer than others , so he will feel closer to making it.

I was not impressed and think it was the injury set back from previous.

 

[BaileyFan]

Seems wasteful to have kept him up and missing games in the WHL just to send him down. What did he learn in the two weeks being kept up? Was it just for financial incentive?

How to not play and sit in the press box. Very useful skill for his next 5 seasons if he stays with the Kings.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Seems wasteful to have kept him up and missing games in the WHL just to send him down. What did he learn in the two weeks being kept up? Was it just for financial incentive?

How to train with the pro's how Kopitar, Danault, and others handle themselves, off-ice things he can do to work on etc, there's a shit ton of things he could learn in the two weeks at an NHL camp.

 

[Lt Dan]

How to train with the pro's how Kopitar, Danault, and others handle themselves, off-ice things he can do to work on etc, there's a shit ton of things he could learn in the two weeks at an NHL camp.

Hopefully he also got a good parfait recipe while he was here