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

[funky]

With the cap going up in a huge way the next couple would it not be best bet to dangle Doughty to replenish the cupboard. Would he accept a trade to Toronto?

Of course with our management prospects are dog shit and we should expect them to mold a guy like Greentree to be a Dwight King instead of a Jaime Benn.

We will keep acquiring plugs and good team first guys instead of skilled talent.

 

[kingsholygrail]

We can afford a washed up vet with the new cap.

 

[FSL KINGS]

We can afford a washed up vet with the new cap.

Risto & S. Jones starting to look sexy with those cap increases coming!!!!

 

[bland]

We can afford a washed up vet with the new cap.

You KNOW that they are gonna take a run at Crosby

 

[Statto]

Love Kempe, wouldn't want to trade him, but if you are being rational about the state of the franchise it would be smart to move him. Need to rip off the band-aid and do an actual proper rebuild, and Kempe's age just doesn't fit into that. Plus, his value is high and would help accrue assets for the rebuild.

If they were to do a tear down everyone over 24 years should be available. That is not a view on of they should actually do it.

 

[BaileyFan]

If they LTIR Mikey that gives BLuc the flexibility to break the bank for another non-needle mover. Michael Bunting, c’mon down.

 

[King'sPawn]

In response to Clarke trade rumors and him being benched:

More specifically, Clarke’s situation is a work-in-progress. As hungry as fans are to see him play, he still has only played 72 NHL games. It’s all part of the growing pains. Yet, it’s certainly fair for observers to ask, ‘Why isn’t Clarke playing when the Kings are so starved for offense?’

Coach Jim Hiller has recently commented that he feels this rest period for Clarke (which has now been two straight games, coming in Florida and Tampa Bay) could serve as a good reset for his highly skilled rearguard. Beyond that, Kings management still view Clarke as a “very important player to the organization” and all involved remain highly confident he’ll get “back on track” soon.

REPORT: Brandt Clarke Not Available via Trade with LA Kings

mayorsmanor.com

Apparently no intent to trade and they hope the reset will get him back on track.

 

[Schrute farms]

In response to Clarke trade rumors and him being benched:

REPORT: Brandt Clarke Not Available via Trade with LA Kings

mayorsmanor.com

Apparently no intent to trade and they hope the reset will get him back on track.

Well there's another 15-20+ Kings players being iced each night that are in a huge need of a time-off "reset" and get on track. Including the guy who just returned. I'll wait for them to be next

 

[BaileyFan]

In response to Clarke trade rumors and him being benched:

REPORT: Brandt Clarke Not Available via Trade with LA Kings

mayorsmanor.com

Apparently no intent to trade and they hope the reset will get him back on track.

Gavrikov not being traded either implying Spence is the odd one out. Way too much smoke around a Spence trade since last summer for there to not be something there.

I fear Blake’s next disasterclass is on deck.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Yeah it's like in isolation zero issue with the Clarke 'rest'

but when you have Father Time taking half the roster to poundtown nightly and others who can't even get to the boards to make a play it's hard to even try to take that bullshit at face value, especially when literally no one is getting rotated in

remember, loss = change nothing, winning streak = burn it down and change

 

[johnjm22]

In response to Clarke trade rumors and him being benched:

REPORT: Brandt Clarke Not Available via Trade with LA Kings

mayorsmanor.com

Apparently no intent to trade and they hope the reset will get him back on track.

Apparently it's a complete coincidence he needed rest as soon as Doughty was healthy.

The lord works in mysterious ways.

 

[funky]

Playing devils advocate:

I am not a fan of management or the coaching staff but there could be a speck of truth in this. Clarke is about as wide as a toothpick. Maybe there is some wear and tear on that smallish frame.

Doughty coming back gave them the chance to rest Clarke and possibly showcase Spence. The ability to pair Gav and Mikey together and the play of Moverare may have made Spence expendable.

Looking at the roster, there’s not much other than Spence that is treatable or doesn’t have some type of no trade clause other than Moore. Not sure if Moore has any trade value at this time the way he has played. Not sure if Spence has much for trade value.

To me, this is becoming a carbon copy of last year with Roy.

We’re not gonna win in the playoffs, we don’t have the prospects and picks to snag at least two difference makers we would need to even try and pretend.

At this point, I hope we do a proper sell off of all our unrestricted free agents, including Gavrikov and start putting the kids into better roles. Guys like Lewis should not be playing every game and in most games I’m watching a lot of the veterans are making way more mistakes than the kids and yet it’s the kids sitting at the end of the bench

 

[King'sPawn]

Apparently it's a complete coincidence he needed rest as soon as Doughty was healthy.

The lord works in mysterious ways.

As bland and the article pointed out, his ice time has been reduced before he was benched.

Doughty returning just made the decision easier or good timing - at least that's what I'm understanding.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

One of Clarke or Spence will be traded for pennies on the dollar and we’ll go right around the carousel once again.

Blake is beyond incompetent and it’s only a matter of time until the vets are truly spent and the team goes into total freefall.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Playing devils advocate:

I am not a fan of management or the coaching staff but there could be a speck of truth in this. Clarke is about as wide as a toothpick. Maybe there is some wear and tear on that smallish frame.

Makar (similar build) D+2 played 57 (21 avg TOI) then 44 (24 avg. TOI) in the covid year, then 77 (25 avg. TOI). Clarke this season D+3 average 17 TOI, and last 10 games about 14 avg TOI. He played 66 games last season between Ont and LA. I think its bullshit. This is a loser organization top to bottom and anyone that is a winner does not fit in.

 

[johnjm22]

They tried to re-sign Roy to a long term contract.

We know they don't want both Spence and Clarke in the lineup.

 

[FSL KINGS]

Gavrikov not being traded either implying Spence is the odd one out. Way too much smoke around a Spence trade since last summer for there to not be something there.

I fear Blake’s next disasterclass is on deck.

No one trading for Spence after getting embarrassed multiple times during that Tampa game.

Blake would absolutely trade Clarke if he thought it would get the King's to the second round. "Clarke not being shopped", no kidding. Van doesn't want to move EP40 in division so Clarke isn't available.

Hiller: Burroughs has 26 games this year. Stop trying to think of him like a rational person. No rational person thinks Burroughs is going to help you win & chooses to put him on the ice even once. 26 times Hiller chose to put Burroughs on the ice.

 

[bland]

Apparently it's a complete coincidence he needed rest as soon as Doughty was healthy.

The lord works in mysterious ways.

That's nothing to be sarcastic about, Clarke clearly needed a rest and they held out until Doughty was ready so they wouldn't have to give Burroughs 10+ a night. You would think that some folks around here would be ecstatic about that...

And the video game thinking about this situation is really out of hand. Nobody here is seeing if his practice habits have dropped, nobody knows if he has a lingering physical issue, but everybody SHOULD have seen the way he had been shying from contact, getting beat from the wall to the crease regularly and the drop off in not just production but chances. This is a kid who is playing a man's game in a man's position in a kids body. Its not always going to be a smooth road and there have been clear signs that he was well off the boil.

Its just not something to get upset about, especially in a sea of things that aren't going well at the moment.

 

[bland]

Makar (similar build) D+2 played 57 (21 avg TOI) then 44 (24 avg. TOI) in the covid year, then 77 (25 avg. TOI). Clarke this season D+3 average 17 TOI, and last 10 games about 14 avg TOI. He played 66 games last season between Ont and LA. I think its bullshit. This is a loser organization top to bottom and anyone that is a winner does not fit in.

Nonsense. Back away from the Xbox, these players don't reset all their attributes before every game. Shit wears you down over time.

Clarke can't skate anywhere near Makar and he takes a lot more abuse for it. He is also nowhere near that caliber of player - Makar is close to achieving generational talent at his position.

One of Clarke or Spence will be traded for pennies on the dollar and we’ll go right around the carousel once again.

Blake is beyond incompetent and it’s only a matter of time until the vets are truly spent and the team goes into total freefall.

I can't believe that I am the one defending Blake after all the shit I took four years ago for calling him the worst GM in teams history, but neither of those players is going to get dealt here anytime soon.

 

[bland]

As bland and the article pointed out, his ice time has been reduced before he was benched.

Doughty returning just made the decision easier or good timing - at least that's what I'm understanding.

We all watch these games in different ways. I gave up on this team having any kind of chance years ago, so I rarely follow the puck and just focus on specific players every shift - almost always the kids. The only way to support the Kings without punching a hole in the wall is to look for the positives, and the way the kids have been used this year is just so much better than in the last decade. Sure, the bad decisions may have forced their hand, but they have three young forwards in the top 9 and up until Doughty came back they had 4 young homegrown defensemen in the lineup.

Clarke hit the wall a couple of weeks ago, you could see it plain as day - if you paid attention. I am all for being critical of this shit show of management, but the way Clarke is being handled here is nothing to be critical about.

Earlier this year he was taking some wild risks and a few times they succeeded. But experience should tell us that the best course was to dial it down, learn defense at this level and concentrate on the reads, then learn how to integrate that rare skill into a style of game that wasn't so risky. That HAS to happen if he is going to be the top pairing defenseman the team needs him to be and not just a bottom pairing PP specialist.

 

[bland]

They tried to re-sign Roy to a long term contract.

We know they don't want both Spence and Clarke in the lineup.

No, we don't know that, just a load of displaced whiny bullshit clogging up this board at the moment, as opposed to the perfectly placed whiny bullshit we all specialize in.

And they were both on the lineup on the best defensive team in the league.

 

[Schmooley]

We all watch these games in different ways. I gave up on this team having any kind of chance years ago, so I rarely follow the puck and just focus on specific players every shift - almost always the kids. The only way to support the Kings without punching a hole in the wall is to look for the positives, and the way the kids have been used this year is just so much better than in the last decade. Sure, the bad decisions may have forced their hand, but they have three young forwards in the top 9 and up until Doughty came back they had 4 young homegrown defensemen in the lineup.

Clarke hit the wall a couple of weeks ago, you could see it plain as day - if you paid attention. I am all for being critical of this shit show of management, but the way Clarke is being handled here is nothing to be critical about.

Earlier this year he was taking some wild risks and a few times they succeeded. But experience should tell us that the best course was to dial it down, learn defense at this level and concentrate on the reads, then learn how to integrate that rare skill into a style of game that wasn't so risky. That HAS to happen if he is going to be the top pairing defenseman the team needs him to be and not just a bottom pairing PP specialist.

I dont think anyone has a problem with Clarke getting a reset. He needed it. Its just that he isnt the only one. And the coach calling out a nice play he made in the media was a weird choice. Lewis should not have been playing a back to back after the game he had vs the Panthers. Moore is not getting a rest they are doubling down on him and actually putting him out there in all situations. Kopitar has been playing worn out and could be switched with Byfield. Havent heard the coach say he wants more out of Danault when he clearly does. Just Clarke gets scratched and Turcotte gets benched every third period.
Its the double standard people here dont appreciate.

 

[johnjm22]

No, we don't know that, just a load of displaced whiny bullshit.

Luc told me himself they tried to re-sign Roy.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Nonsense. Back away from the Xbox, these players don't reset all their attributes before every game. Shit wears you down over time.

Clarke can't skate anywhere near Makar and he takes a lot more abuse for it. He is also nowhere near that caliber of player - Makar is close to achieving generational talent at his position.



I can't believe that I am the one defending Blake after all the shit I took four years ago for calling him the worst GM in teams history, but neither of those players is going to get dealt here anytime soon.

I wouldn’t put anything past him after the Vilardi/PLD debacle.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Nonsense. Back away from the Xbox, these players don't reset all their attributes before every game. Shit wears you down over time.

Clarke can't skate anywhere near Makar and he takes a lot more abuse for it. He is also nowhere near that caliber of player - Makar is close to achieving generational talent at his position.

Its interesting how you consider your opinions certain (thats Clarke is worn out) and use the obvious point that none of us have all the info to knock other opinions on the matter.