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

[Raccoon Jesus]

The absolute LAST thing the kings locker room needs is jt miller

I don't think I've ever audibly heard a player say "f***" and then simply...stop skating instead of doing something with the anger

or yell at the 3rd string goalie and bang his stick on the crossbar

f***ing man child

Trade Gav so our left side can be

Anderson
Englund/Moverare
Englund/Moverare/Burroughs

I’m more leaning towards extending Gavrikov rather than trade just for the pure aspect is there is nothing behind him. Kings don’t have the defensive depth to trade anyone from there anymore.

Yeah I know he's a popular target of ire but

He's functioning VERY well on the top pairing and brings an underrated skillset, his biggest problem is that we have no one else at his level, and as he ages he'll need someone more agile near him

But as you mention, bigger thing is there's NOTHING behind him, a huge gap between #2-#3 LHDs and bottom pairing at best guys.

BIGGER BIGGER problem is that his agent has Blake over a barrel because of all of this

 

[BaileyFan]

Trading a big package for ANOTHER center would be absolutely perfect and would probably trigger Luc to hand Blake a 3 year extension on the spot. We’d get all sorts of propaganda about the Kings’ INSANE depth and how Byfield is “the best 4C in the league”.

 

[Herby]

The fact that in 2024 people are even discussing JT Miller on this forum just shows what a disaster Blake has been.

2017 - #11 pick on a C
2018- #20 pick on a C
2019 - #5 pick on a C
2020 - #2 pick on a C
2021 - 6 year, $35m UFA deal for a C
2023 - Trade for and give an 8 year, $68m deal for a C

And here we are in 2024/2025, with Kopitar somehow defying father time and still playing at a pretty high level and the biggest hole on the roster is still the 2C position. He had to whiff on ALL of these guys being 2C's while Kopitar was still at a high level, including two top 5 picks and an $8.5m player he traded for, and he somehow did. Just let that sink in for a minute.

There is no other explanation for how Blake is still employed other than cronyism, no way would results like this enable somebody to stay employed for this long at 99.9% of management roles in any industry.

 

[Lt Dan]

The fact that in 2024 people are even discussing JT Miller on this forum just shows what a disaster Blake has been.

2017 - #11 pick on a C
2018- #20 pick on a C
2019 - #5 pick on a C
2020 - #2 pick on a C
2021 - 6 year, $35m UFA deal for a C
2023 - Trade for and give an 8 year, $68m deal for a C

And here we are in 2024/2025, with Kopitar somehow defying father time and still playing at a pretty high level and the biggest hole on the roster is still the 2C position.

There is no other explanation for how Blake is still employed other than cronyism, no way would results like this enable somebody to stay employed for this long at 99.9% of management roles in any industry.

Herby dropping truth bombs.

 

[No Name The Nameless]

I would like to see Miller. Who cares about his prickliness. I'm so tired of soft headed NHL. Take off your skinny jeans and play hockey. Maybe some of his fire will rub on Byfield's ghost.

 

[FSL KINGS]

I don't think I've ever audibly heard a player say "f***" and then simply...stop skating instead of doing something with the anger

or yell at the 3rd string goalie and bang his stick on the crossbar

f***ing man child




Yeah I know he's a popular target of ire but

He's functioning VERY well on the top pairing and brings an underrated skillset, his biggest problem is that we have no one else at his level, and as he ages he'll need someone more agile near him

But as you mention, bigger thing is there's NOTHING behind him, a huge gap between #2-#3 LHDs and bottom pairing at best guys.

BIGGER BIGGER problem is that his agent has Blake over a barrel because of all of this

Not interested in $8,500,000 Gavrikov. He took a two year deal just waiting for this.

Miller: With where the team is & Blake not going for a rebuild for the foreseeable future, landing a top line forward or Top pair D out of nowhere is the only chance they have of being relevant. Doubt Miller is anything other than a long shot.

 

[Herby]

I would like to see Miller. Who cares about his prickliness. I'm so tired of soft headed NHL. Take off your skinny jeans and play hockey. Maybe some of his fire will rub on Byfield's ghost.

I love JT Miller as a player and was on board with trading for him two years ago when he was rumored to possibly be available, but you can't give Rob Blake carte blanche to make another big move when every big move he has made has been a disaster.

We now know both his Top 5 picks have been huge disappointments
We now know he grossly overpaid for Fiala (giving away a franchise defender for a winger)
We now know he grossly overpaid for PLD, completely disregarding clear warning signs on the player.

Sorry, but I don't want to give this guy the ability to trade for a player who has been a triple digit scorer for two of the previous three seasons and will rightfully cost a lot, while also on a leave of absence for "personal reasons". You trust Blake to navigate this? No way!

 

[Sol]

Remember when most of the board a few months ago was livid the Kings didn’t give Byfield max term? How silly you guys were.

I want Miller just so charmin soft Kopitar will be upset and retire already.

Let’s blow this shit up already.

 

[Herby]

Remember when most of the board a few months ago was livid the Kings didn’t give Byfield max term? How silly you guys were.

I want Miller just so charmin soft Kopitar will be upset and retire already.

Let’s blow this shit up already.

He's not Aki Berg, he still did produce a 50 point season at 21. I think people here greatly greatly overrated Byfield and were acting like he was 18 or 19 last season, but I think you are selling him short a bit, he's not a bust, he's just probably going to be a 2nd liner the Kings drafted #2 overall over a franchise scorer in Stutzle.

He should have been given an 8-year deal or a 2 year bridge deal, what Blake did was the absolute worst and illogical move he has made in regards to contracts (which other than this one has been a rare strength of Blake's) His trade value with his contract expiring at 26 is much less than it would have been had he been signed to an 8 year deal or a 2 year deal with team control.

Blake's stooge crony AGM Emerson to ATKM - "We don't think he will be a finished product until 25 years old"

::Months Later::

Blake signs him a contract that expires after his age 26 season.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I would like to see Miller. Who cares about his prickliness. I'm so tired of soft headed NHL. Take off your skinny jeans and play hockey. Maybe some of his fire will rub on Byfield's ghost.

it's not just 'fire' though. I wish he was just a team oriented f***ing asshole but he's a selfish brat like fiala, slamming his stick on the ice and the crossbar and yelling expletives when he stops skating because something didn't go his way

There's a reason he's been dumped from several competitive teams despite being a huge on-ice presence

It would be a regrettable move immediately AND we'd have to deal with a bitchy attitude for the inevitable rebuild

I guess maybe he'd at least demand a trade away

 

[Sol]

He's not Aki Berg, he still did produce a 50 point season at 21. I think people here greatly greatly overrated Byfield and were acting like he was 18 or 19 last season, but I think you are selling him short a bit, he's not a bust, he's just probably going to be a 2nd liner the Kings drafted #2 overall over a franchise scorer in Stutzle.

He should have been given an 8-year deal or a 2 year bridge deal, what Blake did was the absolute worst and illogical move he has made in regards to contracts (which other than this one has been a rare strength of Blake's) His trade value with his contract expiring at 26 is much less than it would have been had he been signed to an 8 year deal or a 2 year deal with team control.

Blake's stooge crony AGM Emerson to ATKM - "We don't think he will be a finished product until 25 years old"

::Months Later::

Blake signs him a contract that expires after his age 26 season.

I really don’t think that’s as impressive as it used to be when you consider Trevor Moore as a second liner had 57 points himself being centered by Danault and Arvidsson. I think the 6 year contract was too much too. I would have been much happier with 2 years to see if this guy actuallly can do anything by himself which is looking less and less likely the case. He’s not Aki Berg but I’ll say he’s very unimpressive as a player.

He reminds me a lot of Jack Johnson in forward form. Has all the tools but the box itself seems to be missing. He does make some nice plays every now and then but a far cry from a 2nd overall pick players caliber.

If it wasn’t for him being heavily sheltered and forced points by Kopitars line then the fans would have turned on him by now. He’s being sheltered by Kopitars production and the Kings are doing whatever they can to limit all responsibility from hi.


Oh GOD I am going to say this, remember all the corny women who joined our boards when Richards got traded here? and they were just nonstop saying "INTANGIBLES". I think Byfield missing that heavily. There's some players who are born winners and play like it. Quick, Doughty, Kopitar, and Richards, even Brown. All these dudes had that extra gear. I have not seen it, in face, I think Byfield's confidence is atrocious with how much he misses the net. I don't think it's possible that he's this bad at shooting.


And I am aware this is all gleaning into everything and coming to an opinion. I am not saying this is 100 percent factual objectively, but in my subjective opinion it is very likely the case.

 

[AbsentMojo]

File under "dont we know it"

https://x.com/i/web/status/1859290784844964217

 

[Sol]

File under "dont we know it"

https://x.com/i/web/status/1859290784844964217

It’s true. Just because you know what’s good on McDonalds menu doesn’t mean you know how to make it.

I am sick and tired of former NHL players getting management positions. It’s a joke. They should be doing only community outreach or game analysis on TV. Nothing that affects the product. Yet here we are balls deep into former NHL morons running the show.

 

[FSL KINGS]

File under "dont we know it"

https://x.com/i/web/status/1859290784844964217

The one I saw had a few names, including Blake, listed.

Edit: I'd welcome Gavrikov back at 8.5 if Doughty is traded. There! I said it!!!

 

[AbsentMojo]

It’s true. Just because you know what’s good on McDonalds menu doesn’t mean you know how to make it.

I am sick and tired of former NHL players getting management positions. It’s a joke. They should be doing only community outreach or game analysis on TV. Nothing that affects the product. Yet here we are balls deep into former NHL morons running the show.

And when you get 2, the problem is compounded esp when they were teammates and buddies. So Luc gets extra rope, but Blake gets double because he's former player AND a friend of the president player-nepo hire.

 

[MonkeysUncle]

Not sure how reliable NHLTRADERUMORS is…but they put this out there today. Interesting. I don’t know the circumstances of his leave of absence. Anyone know? The word salad from Friedman doesn’t state much of anything. View attachment 932989

Canucks Trade Rumors: J.T. Miller to LA Kings for Gavrikov, Kaliyev & 1st Round Pick?

Breaking down the latest J.T. Miller trade rumors, with speculation swirling around a potential deal sending him to the LA Kings. Get the inside scoop on this developing story.

www.nhltraderumor.com

Team should be selling Gavrikov at deadline, not part of package, this team is not good enough to go far in playoffs. That would be so Kings to trade 25 first when draft is in La, but this a bad management group so nothing is off table, it's one bad move after another, so it would not be a surprise. How about signing Edmundson and use for scorer during off season as pretty much everyone knew that they would be looking for scoring a couple months into season.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Kings with 2nd worst attendance dropoff in the league so far. Cllick the link to see the graph

Attendance changes so far this season

Obviously incredible bounce back by the Jets. Panthers as cup winners make sense. Any that stands out from the list to you? Source NHL Attendance Report 2024-25 - Sound Of Hockey

forums.hfboards.com

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

It’s true. Just because you know what’s good on McDonalds menu doesn’t mean you know how to make it.

I am sick and tired of former NHL players getting management positions. It’s a joke. They should be doing only community outreach or game analysis on TV. Nothing that affects the product. Yet here we are balls deep into former NHL morons running the show.

I have less of a problem with them getting hired and more with Scott's point--they seemingly can't be removed.

Blake had arguably one of the best setups of most GMs--served under Dl as an assistant GM, winning organization, played the game forever, served in league offices, had a great college education. He should have gotten a job somewhere. But he probably shouldn't have gotten this one with HOW it went down and with how it's GOING he's a prime candidate for the criticism in Scott's argument.

Kings with 2nd worst attendance dropoff in the league so far. Cllick the link to see the graph

Attendance changes so far this season

Obviously incredible bounce back by the Jets. Panthers as cup winners make sense. Any that stands out from the list to you? Source NHL Attendance Report 2024-25 - Sound Of Hockey

forums.hfboards.com

I'm all for a good pileon but this is skewed by so few home games and two of them directly with the World Series across town

 

[AbsentMojo]

Speaking of Montgomery, i think he got a lot out of a mediocre roster... Maybe he should be on the radar for next season hopefully under a new LAK regime.

 

[Johnny Utah]

JT Miller is a stud. He's a cross between Jeannot and Danault at their best.

 

[Lt Dan]

Speaking of Montgomery, i think he got a lot out of a mediocre roster... Maybe he should be on the radar for next season hopefully under a new LAK regime.

That would be awesome.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Kings keep searching for a center because they know Byfield can't take the 1C burden yet, Kopitar only has one more season after this season, and Danault is 31 and only has two more seasons after this one until he is a UFA.

There is no one in the system ready to take over the 1C. So after next season will it be....

Byfield, Danault,, Turcotte, and Helenius as the centers?

 

[Herby]

Oh GOD I am going to say this, remember all the corny women who joined our boards when Richards got traded here? and they were just nonstop saying "INTANGIBLES". I think Byfield missing that heavily. There's some players who are born winners and play like it. Quick, Doughty, Kopitar, and Richards, even Brown. All these dudes had that extra gear. I have not seen it, in face, I think Byfield's confidence is atrocious with how much he misses the net. I don't think it's possible that he's this bad at shooting.


And I am aware this is all gleaning into everything and coming to an opinion. I am not saying this is 100 percent factual objectively, but in my subjective opinion it is very likely the case.

Actually, I think DeeShamrock was the only woman in that group, and she was a very good poster here for a long time. She was without the question the best of that group. It was still one of the oddest things I've ever seen, imagine a bunch of us suddenly becoming active Hurricane fans and posting on their forum if Doughty were traded there tomorrow, Mike Richards had a cult like following that I don't know if I've ever seen for a non-superstar NHL player. But not fair to single her out since she was a quality part of this community, even long after Richards left LA..

But I do agree on QB, I have never seen the compete level that he's going to need to be a somewhat impactful player. He has a good skill level, but he doesn't have the star skill level where you can reach stardom without being a great competitor. That is why I think he is more of a PLD caliber guy than a franchise player.

As far as QB. Yeah 2nd line production, 20G/55Pts is 2nd line production, it's very disappointing for a #2 OA pick in his fourth pro season, but it's still 2nd line.

The JJ comparison is one I used last season, not a lot of people liked it, but I stand by it, there are a lot of similarities between the players. They sucked you in with the occasional highlight-reel play but the overall body of work just never looked like a player taken near the top of the draft. JJ's shortcomings were masked by the fact that LA drafted Doughty and he became the franchise guy JJ wasn't going to be able to, Blake missed on all his other center picks and thus all this pressure is on QB to be the man.

Byfield, Danault,, Turcotte, and Helenius as the centers?

That would be the worst group of centers in the NHL. These guys have a combined 4 goals in 56 games this season. Danault is not going to be here if the team is that bad, the new GM will unload him for a draft pick or prospect to help with the next rebuild.

The only good thing is we will likely be picking very high in the draft the year after AK11 retires.

File under "dont we know it"

https://x.com/i/web/status/1859290784844964217

This is true of Robitaille, but Blake?

Has there ever been a less popular player have his jersey retired and then be given the keys to the place than Rob Blake?

 

[Surf Nutz]

Nice of you to take shots at the "Pundits" here, but the majority of this board was spot on about both the PLD and Fiala trades.

Spot on about PLD and wrong about Fiala so far and its still an open case.

I want to see the Kings in the playoffs every season, no matter what.

We were not getting there without him and I feel Faber is over ranked and plus the seasons where he was in college or developing.

Just because the good old boys club here agrees, does not mean anything to me.

In fact it makes me skeptical.


I admire the independent thinkers who clearly evaluate the bad and the good.


Unfortunately I had to lift my ignore on you to read around the league post.

I rarely agree with you and don't respect your blow hard posts.

Not really much point in corresponding with me.

No one appointed you the JUdge for commenters here and you are totally biased about it.

It might take a couple more seasons and some luck to not have significant injury concerns but QB will eventually prove you wrong.

Blake obviously picks centers as a strategy, probably because it creates competition and is the most important position.

Those that don't rank in the top 3 or 4 can easily be moved to wing , either temporarily or permenantly.

When you have an injury or a contract expiry you have another center waiting on the wings to fill the absence or vacancy.

It is a very smart and underrated strategy.

Blake has permission to make big moves if the French Connection agrees.

I really don't care about losing Iafallo or Kupari and only a bit on Vilardi as he is one dimensional net front player.

He left himself an out with PLD and unfortunately had to deploy it.

Get off your high horse Herby, no one in hockey contacts you for professional advice.

I have read some of your posts as much as I could stomach and you have zero room to judge anyone.

Have a nice day out there in Michigan!

 

[Johnny Utah]

You can hate on Fiala but dude has way more balls than PLD and he's way smaller. If you watch him in person, he's a bit nasty. Remember when Cogliano took him out with a knee. The next time they played, Fiala hit him with an elbow.

I wish PLD had some balls in that frame. He's built like an enforcer but plays like a p***y.