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

[Johnny Utah]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1847703947789947361

As much as I like a tough line-up, Burroughs and Jones are way better than Englund.

Unless Hiller plans on scratching Jeannot, which makes the forward group pretty soft, so Englund is the sole tough guy playing.

Sad to say, we almost went backwards with the toughness. We signed Foegele, Jeannot, Burroughs, and Edmundson - one is one the 3rd line (Foegele), one might be a scratch (TJ), and one isn't playing (Burroughs).

Back to Englund.

I don't think the Kings predicted Helenius would be this far long. They refuse to sit Lewis.

Helenius could tbe 4C with Lee and Thomas and the Kings wouldn't have needed to sign Lewis or trade for Jeannot. Helenius is tough and nasty.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Whilst I didn’t think Durzi was the answer (still don’t) that line of thinking is exactly how it should be, it is why there is value in depth and youth on cheaper cost controlled deals. The issue is what they then did with the cap space.

Agreed. Every cap era team needs to get contributions from ELC and first contracts while the Kings stubbornly fail to develop the kids and end up with little top 6 or top 4 contributions on cheap contracts.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Please sit Lewis.

 

[KingsOfCali25]

Please sit Lewis.

I'd rather see them drop him on waivers soon

 

[kingsfan28]

I understand, but I'd take him over Foegle at 3.5M for the next 3 years.

Since 2020, Toffoli is top 30 in the NHL in goals scored BTW. He's ahead of a lot star players.

I understand what you're saying about scoring, but 10.5 mil cap hit over those 3 years vs 18 mil cap hit over those years to a guy who will be 35 at the end of year 3, that is if he'd sign for 3. His deal in SJ is 4, which is probably what his ask was and SJ did it.

 

[Statto]

Byfield at center looked good. Why are they already slapping him with Kopitar? They should wait until December at least rather than break shit up. Or call up Thomas and ice Lewis. What’s the point in breaking up probably the most important year for Byfield

Hiller was clear in that he saw QB at C. More of a temporary decision to get the team going afforded by the strong play of Turcotte. Remains to be seen how it plays out but he stated that it wasn’t about QB’s play at the position.

 

[King'sPawn]

Byfield hasn't been stellar the past couple games. At least not to the level he was playing in preseason. The move to wing might just be to get him going with players who are more stable to play with.

 

[KingsOfCali25]

Byfield hasn't been stellar the past couple games. At least not to the level he was playing in preseason. The move to wing might just be to get him going with players who are more stable to play with.

It reminds me of a young Kopitar having to play with shitty wingers for forever.

Byfield doesn't fit well with Fiala because they both play better with the puck than away. Kempe or Kaliyev is probably the best person to put with Byfield. Fiala needs to lock on with Danault and Moore/Thomas/Laferriere.

The problems are where to put Turcotte for better minutes (C or W) and how to get Kopitar a decent winger (if Kempe is with Byfield). They can't keep running Byfield with Kopitar and Kempe. They need to spread out the talent.

 

[FSL KINGS]

It reminds me of a young Kopitar having to play with shitty wingers for forever.

Byfield doesn't fit well with Fiala because they both play better with the puck than away. Kempe or Kaliyev is probably the best person to put with Byfield. Fiala needs to lock on with Danault and Moore/Thomas/Laferriere.

The problems are where to put Turcotte for better minutes (C or W) and how to get Kopitar a decent winger (if Kempe is with Byfield). They can't keep running Byfield with Kopitar and Kempe. They need to spread out the talent.

The results of spreading out the talent is exactly why they moved Byfield & Fiala into the top 6. Team doesn't have skilled enough depth to spread things out.

 

[bland]

Hiller was clear in that he saw QB at C. More of a temporary decision to get the team going afforded by the strong play of Turcotte. Remains to be seen how it plays out but he stated that it wasn’t about QB’s play at the position.

I don't see a coach making moves for stability as an issue when you are badly outplayed in 3 of your first 4 games and don't have the opportunity to sort things out in practice.

That flexibility is an asset, not a hindrance.

 

[kingsfanman]

QB at C still looks too much like a headless chicken skating around. I think he needs to be more strategic & adapt his speed to the situation.

Turcotte reminds me of Mike Richards.

 

[Sol]

QB at C still looks too much like a headless chicken skating around. I think he needs to be more strategic & adapt his speed to the situation.

Turcotte reminds me of Mike Richards.

It’s been like what? 4 games? He might have looked lost but he didn’t look bad. I don’t see any real reason to destroy his confidence by strapping him to his baby sitter again

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5860549/2024/10/22/nhl-front-office-rankings/

Did not receive votes​

Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken

Yep, checks out!

 

[King'sPawn]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5860549/2024/10/22/nhl-front-office-rankings/


Yep, checks out!

But but but but they were right there

 

[Herby]

It’s been like what? 4 games? He might have looked lost but he didn’t look bad. I don’t see any real reason to destroy his confidence by strapping him to his baby sitter again

It's because he is better at wing than center **right now** and because the wingers on the team are very poor. Kopitar, Danault and Turcotte will be good enough down the middle to help them return to the 95-100 points and out in round 1 level they have been at. This management team doesn't give two craps about anything long-term, every single move this franchise has made since the summer of 2021 has been with the immediate in mind. It's cost them a star defenseman just entering his prime, multiple 1st round picks, two quality pros in their primes and any kind of clear development path for a guy they took #2 OA to be a C, but again they don't care, Byfield having less than 100 games of NHL experience at C entering his age 23 season is of ZERO concern for a management team that is in a must-win mode to save their own skin, a problem they created by their own garbage decisions starting in 2021.

They'll tell the media that he's a center, as they yo-yo him back and forth between the positions this year anytime the teams lack of talent on the wing rears its ugly head. A truly wonderful way to develop a young center.

 

[King'sPawn]

Interesting that Turcotte has 4 points in just over 10 minutes of ice time. Caulfield has 7 in over 18 minutes.

I was worried of Turcotte's concussion history, but I'm glad my overall point about him looking like a better facilitator seems to be looking more accurate.

 

[BaileyFan]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5860549/2024/10/22/nhl-front-office-rankings/


Yep, checks out!

Wait but I was told that Blake trying to make fair deals for both teams rather than screwing over other GM’s was going to garner him respect and clout with executives around the league.

Turns out all it gets you is being publicly dunked on by Bill Guerin after the fact.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Wait but I was told that Blake trying to make fair deals for both teams rather than screwing over other GM’s was going to garner him respect and clout with executives around the league.

Turns out all it gets you is being publicly dunked on by Bill Guerin after the fact.

Hopefully Uncle Phil is reading this on the shitter

 

[Sol]

It's because he is better at wing than center **right now** and because the wingers on the team are very poor. Kopitar, Danault and Turcotte will be good enough down the middle to help them return to the 95-100 points and out in round 1 level they have been at. This management team doesn't give two craps about anything long-term, every single move this franchise has made since the summer of 2021 has been with the immediate in mind. It's cost them a star defenseman just entering his prime, multiple 1st round picks, two quality pros in their primes and any kind of clear development path for a guy they took #2 OA to be a C, but again they don't care, Byfield having less than 100 games of NHL experience at C entering his age 23 season is of ZERO concern for a management team that is in a must-win mode to save their own skin, a problem they created by their own garbage decisions starting in 2021.

They'll tell the media that he's a center, as they yo-yo him back and forth between the positions this year anytime the teams lack of talent on the wing rears its ugly head. A truly wonderful way to develop a young center.

It's just so f***ing stupid to even be okay with having him play wing so early in the season. Its been less than 5 games and he's already playing wing again. No one should care if he's better at wing for the moment when the likelihood of him being a really solid center in around 20 games is a much higher reward.

Byfields ceiling is right now 80 percent at wing, and hes playing lets say 70 percent at Center. The ceiling for him at center is 100 percent. He's super fast and tall. Thats perfect for a center. I don't know why people like JohnJm are saying "BUT BUT HILLER SAID HE WILL PUT HIM BACK". He shouldn't have been moved to even begin with unless we dont care about his confidence.

 

[bland]

Interesting that Turcotte has 4 points in just over 10 minutes of ice time. Caulfield has 7 in over 18 minutes.

I was worried of Turcotte's concussion history, but I'm glad my overall point about him looking like a better facilitator seems to be looking more accurate.

Laferriere leads the team with 5 ES points, Turcotte is tied for 2nd with Kempe at 4.

Turcotte is all about flow, pucks moving efficiently up ice to the best option at pace. He doesn't have or try to use high-end skill plays. He has always reminded me of an unfortunately more fragile Ryan O'Reilly type. Just smart, attentive hockey.

 

[SaltyElkHunter]

I feel like Blake and Luc could get caught sodomizing each other on top of the chick Hearn statue in front of Crypto and not get fired. How the f*** is a billion dollar company not watching these two piss money away and just make things worse year after year.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Maybe uncle Phil is senile and the heirs are fighting over power of attorney

It’s like succession but French

 

[Peter James Bond III]

Looked like 2 different teams, that played ANA and then VGK.
Thought Clarke and Edmundson did good in ANA and then were crap vs VGK.

A lot of players that should be making a difference, are just not making any difference: Danault, Moore, Fiala, Kempe. And QB and Kopi are right there, too. QB was a monster in preseason and now
looking like where he was, 2 yrs ago. It's strange. He looked like a man possessed in preseason,
like a force, every shift. Like a world beater. Have not seen that. I hope his hand / finger is ok from the play he left the game the other day...and he's not battling whatever his health issue is / was.

Defense, goaltending and not-so-special teams are crap.
I wonder if Copley will be taking #1 soon. Crazy to even think that.
I am just so damn pumped for Turcotte and to a slightly lesser degree - Laferriere.
They are going to be entrenching themselves as the key youth that will succeed here...
there is really no stopping either one of them now. They bring it every shift and can actually make plays, score and play 200 feet. Now, why can't Fiala and Moore be elevating to that level? (maybe the new fatherhood, affecting them? lol)
Kempe can, but he's not. Foegele...at least he's playing better and found the best spot to be, with Turc and Laf.

I think Akil FINALLY draws in, home opener...for Lewis? HELL NO. (of course) but maybe for Lee.
I wonder if this team is 500 when DD comes back, honestly. And they will see how the team does, before considering trades. Hard to say how things will be, by the time he plays.

 

[Omni Owl]

Long overdue to have Thomas in the lineup.

 

[Peter James Bond III]

Long overdue to have Thomas in the lineup.

It would be the first 'uncomfortable' thing for Hiller to do, to scratch Lewis for Akil.
The off season theme was "it's time to get uncomfortable...that starts with me (Blake) and then the coaches and players..." or some such. I will almost be shocked if Lewis is scratched, over Lee,