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

[Statto]

HockeyBuzz.com - Eklund - A Rumor Filled Tuesday...Gavrikov to Habs(e3) More. 13 Updated on Chart

www.hockeybuzz.com

Check this out! EK had Gavrikov to MTL because the King's can't lose him for nothing at the end of the year.

Also has Martinez with a possible return to the King's.

EK, I presume was also able to confirm that Gavrikov is happy to waive his NMC…

 

[FSL KINGS]

EK, I presume was also able to confirm that Gavrikov is happy to waive his NMC…

Got a kick out of "King's can't afford to let Gavrikov walk for nothing at the end of the year".

 

[lumbergh]

Honestly, I’m very pleasantly surprised that the Kings have a good record given the loss of Doughty. The games aren’t exactly works of art, but 5-2-2 is pretty good.

 

[All The Kings Men]

The games aren’t exactly works of art, but 5-2-2 is pretty good.

It's better than the alternative!

 

[chris kontos]

Sing it with me now
We are the champions
We are the champions

OF CALIFORNIA

 

[Herby]

I know this post isn't going to get a lot of likes, but it's time to start asking some difficult questions, or maybe coming to some difficult realizations.

Since his spectacular goal vs. Columbus on 2/20, Byfield has 2 goals in 43 games, I'll say it again, 2 goals in 43 games!

Trevor Lewis, who everyone jokes is the destroyer of offense and has bricks for hands, has the same number of goals over those games, and again this isn't some cold stretch, this is over a half-seasons worth of games.

This is a player who was taken with a #2 overall pick in 2020, we aren't talking about a teenager anymore, Byfield is into the prime years of his career. If you are taken with that high of a pick the expectation should be that by year five you are at worst a 1st line C, and to call the pick a win you should be a star or knocking on the door to being considered one. His play this season has been well below expectations for a player his age who was drafted that high.

QB's development was certainly a train-wreck, he was handled by Blake and his lackeys completely different than anyone else in the league would have handled him, his deployment has sucked too, including the yo-yo'ing between C and W, so those guys certainly deserve some blame. But QB has to be held accountable for some of this himself.

 

[SaltyElkHunter]

Honestly, I’m very pleasantly surprised that the Kings have a good record given the loss of Doughty. The games aren’t exactly works of art, but 5-2-2 is pretty good.

This aged like milk

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I am so far beyond ready to just flush this entire organization. Anyone older than Turcotte and Thomas can go.

Give me a bunch of kids and AHLers that at least care and aren't just cashing a check and being social media influencers at this point.

Whole thing needs an exorcism.

I only hope we get to our lottery pick position before Blake trades it.

Mike Milbury is starting to look like a better choice.

 

[Schmooley]

I am so far beyond ready to just flush this entire organization. Anyone older than Turcotte and Thomas can go.

Give me a bunch of kids and AHLers that at least care and aren't just cashing a check and being social media influencers at this point.

Whole thing needs an exorcism.

I only hope we get to our lottery pick position before Blake trades it.

It would be better if management was fired before the sell off. These guys will get bent over in every trade.
But I imagine Blake will first do a shakeup trade like Pearson for Hagelin before the real deadline extravaganza sale.

 

[FSL KINGS]

EK article aside, this is the time to move Gavrikov. Hopefully to a bubble team with better prospects & a lower first. He's holding down the RD #1 position. Waiting until later in the season will result in a late first & prospect from a team with a depleted pool. If he isn't re-signed, ship him & move on.

There is the downside of being in the WC race. It shouldn't be too hard to bring in a filter to temporarily plug the hole. King's should still be able to beat bad teams & lose to good teams.

Note: watching the Sharks game tomorrow. Hope the King's can still beat "bad" teams.

**Fiala thing is timed well. Remember when Blake got angry & shipped Pearson? Kinda feels like we're entering that situation again.

 

[BaileyFan]

This is why I didn’t buy into the idea that getting rid of the 1-3-1 was some great thing that was going to finally unlock the team’s potential and let them pop off. This roster simply isn’t good enough to play anything other than low-event trap anti-hockey and win games. The best players on the team are old heads that prefer to slow the game down to a crawl and the one guy with the skill set suited to a more open style is already in the doghouse and has predictably gone off the rails now that Doughty isn’t here to call him out in the postgame media.

It’s only a matter of time until they bring back the 1-3-1 in a bid to keep from falling out of the playoff race.

 

[Peter James Bond III]

Lose to a San Jose team that will soon have: Celebrini, Smith (will take a yr to acclimate, get stronger) Sam Dickinson LHD 11 OA stud leading London Knights…Askarov G soon to be up. Chernyshov RW 33OA already signed and in Saginaw OHL. Quentin Musty LW one of top 5 players in OHL, honestly.
And Ecklund showing that he’s going to be very good.

They’re building a helluva base. And probably get a top 5 2025 pick. Hagens, Misa, Schaefer, Martone, McQueen.

 

[Peter James Bond III]

I say if the Kings lose by more than a goal to VGK....especially if all of: QB, Kopi, Kempe, Moore cannot score a goal....and IF Fiala is still out, a deal will be forthcoming.

I'm sick of watching Stone, Eichel, Barbashev, (I was posting to get him at the deadline, would have been a steal) going to VGK and the Kings getting Fiala, Gavrikov, PLD...yet, in giving up MORE than the VGKs did for those 3. Was Tuch, Krebs + 2022 #1, 2023 #2 worth more than Vilardi, Iafallo, Kupari and a #2? (VGK also got Sabres #3 2023)

Call me crazy...but the climate and circumstances are not a lot different than the Summer of 87, when the Kings acquired 27 yo Gretzky. As in the Kings and Oilers do a McDavid trade. The missing components are Janet Gretzky wanting to be in LA AND McNall having gorilla ballz. McDavid only has 1 more yr and they suck right now and are not going to win a Cup...Skinner sucks and their cap cannot even keep players like Holloway and Broberg. McDavid is melting down in the lockerroom. I'm sure that doesn't enamor and build a tighter room.

Yeah, the Kings are not close to a Cup, either....I think the Kings are finally realizing Kopitar is no longer 1C. And that Fiala, Gav deal and PLD deals didn't move the needle and NONE of them could bring in crowds. Like it or not, AEG is about the entertainment, money and game experience for the stars and rich. They want a winner, but they probably realize they need a star and one that can add to what their vision is.

If there was a right time, to try to acquire McDavid, it's now. I know many hate him. I don't. I think many that hate him, may feel a little different if they skated in his skates 7+ yrs. He's been a target most nights and cheap shotted....I know he bittches at refs and seen the antics. I was embarrassed when he was skating after a whistle and 4 Kings pushed him....Gav cross checked him and the others pushed him....was bush. He just skated away. I cannot imagine anyone getting punked like that as part of their gameplan would handle things like he does, overall. I don't love the guy, but certainly don't hate him.

Enter: the Kings suck. The Oiler suck. McDavid injured, or not? (mystery atm) Fiala seems to not be working and he may want out.
McDavid needs a new deal and maybe new team is best for him. I am not sure what could work...Fiala, QB, Spence, George, #1 2025. McDavid + Hyman ? The Kings were able to get Krushelnyski and McSorley add to Gretzky...for Carson, Gelinas, and 3 #1 picks....plus $15 million.
Krushelnyski and McSorely were HUGE adds.

WTH. In 1987 I was working at AME INC, a large video post production house in Burbank and in the busiest departments in the company....it was frowned on, if you wanted to take the 15 min break and 30 min lunches were strict...time clock's and all. A co worker (who didn;t know hockey, but knew I did) told me "the Kings just got Gretzky" I called him a liar...he said, go listen to the news....it was 1987. No internet. I ran out of the building, got in my car and turned on KFWB. As I knew they broke sports news at a quarter of and a quarter after each hour.... My superior liked me, but would have seriously reprimanded me, for leaving the building15 mins..I was freaked out. I hated they dealt Carson. I had season seats at the Forum a few yrs and had NOT renewed yet...I let the deadline to renew pass...I called my rep and my seats were gone, lol. I almost drove from work to the press conference, that was later that night, I think., maybe the day after.

IDK. Stranger things have happened. It seems the Kings are not going to be able to go to game 20, if Fiala is in the doghouse, Kopi, QB, Moore, Kempe, Danault cannot score....even AEG may notice. They just spent millions on a renovation....to watch an AHL team? Or at least one, with a crap offense , that is not exciting to watch...that squeeks out wins, against the dregs of the NHL?

I think not. I guess the alternative is to see the Kings send Fiala packing for something that will not be so great. He has a full NMC for the next few yrs. He will get to dictate where he goes...

edit: I just watched the replay of the SJ game and sick of this lackluster team and crap offense, that is lucky to have 5 wins. I did not expect Laferriere to be leading the team in goals, $775K minimum for 3 yrs, Turcotte to be the best center and Clarke already be the #1 D. This is crazzziee. Glad they are performing, but the rest is crap. Some are OK...Foegele being one. So posted this at level 99% pissed. I cannot imagine if AEG cares about the product on the ice, they can let this continue. They need a star, honestly. There are 31 teams that do not win the cup, but most have a star. The Kings do not. How can you not have a star in LA?

 

[kingsfan28]

I say if the Kings lose by more than a goal to VGK....especially if all of: QB, Kopi, Kempe, Moore cannot score a goal....and IF Fiala is still out, a deal will be forthcoming.

I'm sick of watching Stone, Eichel, Barbashev, (I was posting to get him at the deadline, would have been a steal) going to VGK and the Kings getting Fiala, Gavrikov, PLD...yet, in giving up MORE than the VGKs did for those 3. Was Tuch, Krebs + 2022 #1, 2023 #2 worth more than Vilardi, Iafallo, Kupari and a #2? (VGK also got Sabres #3 2023)

Call me crazy...but the climate and circumstances are not a lot different than the Summer of 87, when the Kings acquired 27 yo Gretzky. As in the Kings and Oilers do a McDavid trade. The missing components are Janet Gretzky wanting to be in LA AND McNall having gorilla ballz. McDavid only has 1 more yr and they suck right now and are not going to win a Cup...Skinner sucks and their cap cannot even keep players like Holloway and Broberg. McDavid is melting down in the lockerroom. I'm sure that doesn't enamor and build a tighter room.

Yeah, the Kings are not close to a Cup, either....I think the Kings are finally realizing Kopitar is no longer 1C. And that Fiala, Gav deal and PLD deals didn't move the needle and NONE of them could bring in crowds. Like it or not, AEG is about the entertainment, money and game experience for the stars and rich. They want a winner, but they probably realize they need a star and one that can add to what their vision is.

If there was a right time, to try to acquire McDavid, it's now. I know many hate him. I don't. I think many that hate him, may feel a little different if they skated in his skates 7+ yrs. He's been a target most nights and cheap shotted....I know he bittches at refs and seen the antics. I was embarrassed when he was skating after a whistle and 4 Kings pushed him....Gav cross checked him and the others pushed him....was bush. He just skated away. I cannot imagine anyone getting punked like that as part of their gameplan would handle things like he does, overall. I don't love the guy, but certainly don't hate him.

Enter: the Kings suck. The Oiler suck. McDavid injured, or not? (mystery atm) Fiala seems to not be working and he may want out.
McDavid needs a new deal and maybe new team is best for him. I am not sure what could work...Fiala, QB, Spence, George, #1 2025. McDavid + Hyman ? The Kings were able to get Krushelnyski and McSorley add to Gretzky...for Carson, Gelinas, and 3 #1 picks....plus $15 million.
Krushelnyski and McSorely were HUGE adds.

WTH. In 1987 I was working at AME INC, a large video post production house in Burbank and in the busiest departments in the company....it was frowned on, if you wanted to take the 15 min break and 30 min lunches were strict...time clock's and all. A co worker (who didn;t know hockey, but knew I did) told me "the Kings just got Gretzky" I called him a liar...he said, go listen to the news....it was 1987. No internet. I ran out of the building, got in my car and turned on KFWB. As I knew they broke sports news at a quarter of and a quarter after each hour.... My superior liked me, but would have seriously reprimanded me, for leaving the building15 mins..I was freaked out. I hated they dealt Carson. I had season seats at the Forum a few yrs and had NOT renewed yet...I let the deadline to renew pass...I called my rep and my seats were gone, lol. I almost drove from work to the press conference, that was later that night, I think., maybe the day after.

IDK. Stranger things have happened. It seems the Kings are not going to be able to go to game 20, if Fiala is in the doghouse, Kopi, QB, Moore, Kempe, Danault cannot score....even AEG may notice. They just spent millions on a renovation....to watch an AHL team? Or at least one, with a crap offense , that is not exciting to watch...that squeeks out wins, against the dregs of the NHL?

I think not. I guess the alternative is to see the Kings send Fiala packing for something that will not be so great. He has a full NMC for the next few yrs. He will get to dictate where he goes...

edit: I just watched the replay of the SJ game and sick of this lackluster team and crap offense, that is lucky to have 5 wins. I did not expect Laferriere to be leading the team in goals, $775K minimum for 3 yrs, Turcotte to be the best center and Clarke already be the #1 D. This is crazzziee. Glad they are performing, but the rest is crap. Some are OK...Foegele being one. So posted this at level 99% pissed. I cannot imagine if AEG cares about the product on the ice, they can let this continue. They need a star, honestly. There are 31 teams that do not win the cup, but most have a star. The Kings do not. How can you not have a star in LA?

You're not getting Eichel for what they gave up for PLD. It would've cost Byfield, a top dman prospect and or Vilardi plus picks. Everyone seems to forget the massive risk it was to trade for him because of his neck. It did work out in the end, but it could've easily blown up in Vegas's face.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I know this post isn't going to get a lot of likes, but it's time to start asking some difficult questions, or maybe coming to some difficult realizations.

Since his spectacular goal vs. Columbus on 2/20, Byfield has 2 goals in 43 games, I'll say it again, 2 goals in 43 games!

Trevor Lewis, who everyone jokes is the destroyer of offense and has bricks for hands, has the same number of goals over those games, and again this isn't some cold stretch, this is over a half-seasons worth of games.

This is a player who was taken with a #2 overall pick in 2020, we aren't talking about a teenager anymore, Byfield is into the prime years of his career. If you are taken with that high of a pick the expectation should be that by year five you are at worst a 1st line C, and to call the pick a win you should be a star or knocking on the door to being considered one. His play this season has been well below expectations for a player his age who was drafted that high.

QB's development was certainly a train-wreck, he was handled by Blake and his lackeys completely different than anyone else in the league would have handled him, his deployment has sucked too, including the yo-yo'ing between C and W, so those guys certainly deserve some blame. But QB has to be held accountable for some of this himself.

Yes and no, he's still a kid, he's 22 years old, starting his 2nd, non injury interrupted season, should he be producing more, absolutely, is that a worry, not yet.

You know when it starts to become a worry, is when the process isn't there, and the process is stil lthere, he's still looking to make plays, he's been great defensively, finally playing regular time in the PK, he is deferring more though, instead of shooting, that's about the only thing that gives me pause, but then again, I don't care if he doesn't score if he is going to put up 120 assists, he could never score again, I'm ok with that, as long as the playmaking is there, ideally you want both, but theoretically you can live without one.

Look at what happens with the opposite, Zegras, came in, offensive power galor, given no responsbility, just go play, and now, he can't play defense, can't play physical, and isn't scoring, that's a much bigger concern wouldn't you agree?

 

[SaltyElkHunter]

I’ll tell Elon to start firing up the rocket!

 

[SaltyElkHunter]

3 moves by Blake gutted this team.

Peterson contract
Fiala trade
PLD trade

Every one of those trades set multiple shit storms in motion.

 

[Omni Owl]

The cycle is bizarre when you look at teams that were successful when we won our Cups. Compare us to Chicago, who are in the midst of their bottom up rebuild and are still garbage. At least they got Bedard out of all the losing and will presumably draft a few more decent young guns to their core. And then you have the Kings, with their botched half-reload-rebuild thanks to incompetent management. If Blake would've stuck to the youth and at least kept Vilardi and Faber, I'd feel a lot more optimistic. Blake, Luc, and Bergevin need to be long gone after this year, no exceptions.

 

[Herby]

Yes and no, he's still a kid, he's 22 years old, starting his 2nd, non injury interrupted season, should he be producing more, absolutely, is that a worry, not yet.

You know when it starts to become a worry, is when the process isn't there, and the process is stil lthere, he's still looking to make plays, he's been great defensively, finally playing regular time in the PK, he is deferring more though, instead of shooting, that's about the only thing that gives me pause, but then again, I don't care if he doesn't score if he is going to put up 120 assists, he could never score again, I'm ok with that, as long as the playmaking is there, ideally you want both, but theoretically you can live without one.

Look at what happens with the opposite, Zegras, came in, offensive power galor, given no responsbility, just go play, and now, he can't play defense, can't play physical, and isn't scoring, that's a much bigger concern wouldn't you agree?

A couple of big differences.

The big difference is, the Ducks are being constructed correctly and have multiple young forwards with first line upside, and will probably have one more 5-10 pick this year, which will likely be the final year they are picking that high as you are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel for them, as their young players are starting to to take ownership of the team (what a novel concept). Blake prematurely ended his rebuild in the summer of 2021 (one of the worst decisions in franchise history) and never had a chance to draft any other high-end forwards especially centers). Vilardi ended up being a winger and was given away anyways, Turcotte while settling nicely into his current role is never going to return anything close to the draft capital spent on him, so it was all-in with QB, so him struggling this badly and not playing C is even more damaging. If the Kings have one of Bedard, Carlsson, Fantilli, Michkov, Smith plus whoever they would have taken in 2022 (Slaf, Cooley, Gauthier draft) there is much less concern about Byfield's struggles. But that's not the case, Byfield is all thats left as far as potential first line forwards from what was once considered the best prospect group in the league.

The other big difference is draft capital spent. There is a big difference historically on what you are likely to get from a number two pick vs. a number nine pick.

 

[Herby]

This is why I didn’t buy into the idea that getting rid of the 1-3-1 was some great thing that was going to finally unlock the team’s potential and let them pop off. This roster simply isn’t good enough to play anything other than low-event trap anti-hockey and win games.

This is the root issue for the Kings struggles, there just aren't enough high-end offensive pieces to win in the modern NHL. They are a middling team because they have solid lunch-pail players who are committed to their middling system, and because in any given year there are 25-33% of the teams that are actively trying to lose games, and others (like this years Ducks) who are still in the final stages of a rebuild transition, where they aren't trying to lose, but are going to have growing pains with young players taking over the ownership of the team, so it makes it really easy to finish in the middle.

I see members of the front office, media mouthpieces like Hoven, and even some members here talking about the team having "Plenty of talent" and I just can't believe it every time I hear it, I mean are these people watching any other NHL games? Do they see the amount of offensive talent on contending teams? Anybody who says the Kings have "plenty of talent" or are "championship contenders" is either woefully ignorant about the roster construction of contenders or is BS'ing their customers, podcast listeners etc.

The Kings have ZERO upside to winning multiple playoff series in any given year, and as we have seen the last three years, they are unlikely to even win one.

And again, what is the true tragedy in all of this is, had the Kings just continued the rebuild through the 2023 season and Blake had literally done nothing with the roster, this team would be in the position to be nearing an 8-10 year contending window. Instead the ridiculous decisions made by Blake are going to inevitably result in his being fired (likely this April) and a new GM is going to have to come in and do a 3-5 year tear down to the studs, and then another probably two years in the "youth taking ownership" stage. So you are looking at the turn of the decade at the absolute soonest for this team to be a true contender. Rob Blake and Luc Robitaille stole years of quality hockey from us as fans.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

A couple of big differences.

The big difference is, the Ducks are being constructed correctly and have multiple young forwards with first line upside, and will probably have one more 5-10 pick this year, which will likely be the final year they are picking that high as you are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel for them, as their young players are starting to to take ownership of the team (what a novel concept). Blake prematurely ended his rebuild in the summer of 2021 (one of the worst decisions in franchise history) and never had a chance to draft any other high-end forwards especially centers). Vilardi ended up being a winger and was given away anyways, Turcotte while settling nicely into his current role is never going to return anything close to the draft capital spent on him, so it was all-in with QB, so him struggling this badly and not playing C is even more damaging. If the Kings have one of Bedard, Carlsson, Fantilli, Michkov, Smith plus whoever they would have taken in 2022 (Slaf, Cooley, Gauthier draft) there is much less concern about Byfield's struggles. But that's not the case, Byfield is all thats left as far as potential first line forwards from what was once considered the best prospect group in the league.

The other big difference is draft capital spent. There is a big difference historically on what you are likely to get from a number two pick vs. a number nine pick.

Absolutely, but draft capital means nothing, after the draft, it's jus something to talk about.

Like I said, the process is there with Byfield, you get worried when the process isn't there, like with Zegras, until that happens, it's just worrying over nothign at this point.

 

[Lt Dan]

They are a middling team

And I would have gotten away with it if it weren't for you middling kids!!

 

[johnjm22]

I'm a 1-3-1 apologist.

I'm feeling some vindication.

 

[Herby]

I'm a 1-3-1 apologist.

I'm feeling some vindication.

It's tough, because it's a system that is not going to produce enough offense from this group to win in the macro but it gives them the best chance to win in the micro.

That is why they have this insane disparity of results when they play good vs bad teams (last night not withstanding). The 1-3-1 is going to have excellent results winning 3-2 games vs Chicago, San Jose and Anaheim.

With the Kings woeful lack of talent, winning 3-2 is the optimal strategy, but it's not going to be able to beat teams like Edmonton in a seven-game series, because you aren't going to consistently beat teams like Edmonton 3-2 in 2024 with the way the rules are structured.

But Luc and Blake spent much of their careers in an era where 3-2 was the norm, so they are constructing teams in 2024 to try and win 3-2, and apparently they have carte blanche from ownership to do so.