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

[KingsHockey24]

Obviously I don't mind the trade at all but man ..

Brayden Schenn would've made an awesome LA King.

 

[Bandit]

Can we have contest? Come up with a single word that describes Fiala

Woof.

 

[Telos]

Eddie Garcia on Locked on Kings went to the Lunch with Luc season ticket holder event and gave some highlights about what was discussed:

Some highlights that got my attention:

• Said that Philip Anschutz has given pretty much a green light to sign, acquire, or spend on any player/superstar they bring up to him, and when asked if they were going to spend up to the new upcoming caps of $95.5M, $104M, and $113.5M he said: "we have to".
• They are expecting to have about $5M to play with at the trade deadline and are targeting a physical forward, pretty much a gritty 20+ goal scorer.
• This front office is leaning hard into data and analytics and are using something called "The Crown" that he assumed was a software/program. They've said this before, but I still find it interesting and am wondering if they are leaning too hard into the Moneyball aspect.
• The team is going back to 11/7 when Mikey Anderson returns.
• The team wants to keep Gavrikov and Anderson together and move Doughty to the 2nd pairing when Mikey returns.

A couple of ones I thought were just interesting:

• Luc is intentionally scheduling games at 5PM and earlier on Saturdays because some teams play those against us back-to-back against Anaheim and he wants a competitive advantage by giving them less rest. Apparently, Yzerman complained about this. The rest of our Saturday games are 5PM or earlier and all of them have a day of rest before them for the Kings.
• Also Luc said before the start of the 3rd period during Game 1 of the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals, Gretzky told the team in the locker room to check the curves of their sticks to make sure they didn't have an illegal curve. That's the first time I heard that story.

Anyway, you can check the rest out here:

 

[CarlSneep]

I feel like you can pretty clearly see the difference between “analytics moves” (goalies, Englund, Burroughs, Foegele) and “Luc moves” (PLD, Edmundson)

 

[tigermask48]

Full-time amateur scouts probably don't have a lot of time to commit to it. I'm sure there's digging on information through contacts and maybe some part-timers. And it's true you can't project too far out. But I think having one or two people full-time on the job would provide advantages. As for the roadmap...I was thinking if a team feels like maybe they will have to blow it up within the next 2-3 years and there's indications that maybe year 2 has two phenoms top of the draft class and a deep group, you could say that's the time to blow it up rather than a year later or the year earlier.

This already happens in a couple of ways depending on the geographical location.

For example I know for a fact the Kings had Tony Gasparini scouting the Midwest US heavily before he became the GM of Souix Falls a couple years ago.
I would see him at things like the Minnesota Select camps, or High School hockey tournaments here and there and then also at some of the college games I would be at.
So the Kings definitely do this already, I recall Tony once talking about seeing Thomas Vanek play as a 14 or 15 year old in Souix Falls.

The other way this happens is sort of a trickle down type of thing. An NHL scout will often have a bunch of contacts in an area they scout heavily. One of those contacts has a couple scouts watching 14-15 year olds while scouting for Junior level players. They find a guy they like and the NHL scout gets tipped off to maybe look into this kid when his draft comes around.

 

[ouendan1]

I don't post enough to understand how to quote in this forum, but building off of something Telos posted regarding Luc's comments, and yes this is going to be nothing more than me going blah blah blah.

I look at the Dodgers and Lakers and they make those league shaking moves. Obviously this is off the heels of the Doncic trade but the Dodgers signed Ohtani and basically every other major free agent they want. The Kings don't seem to have that same appeal or ability. Yes hard cap, yes top end players are rarely available via free agents or trades blah blah blah. But I see this organization as unwilling or unable to go out of their way to push for top 10 players. Maybe it's a management thing, maybe it's an ownership thing, I dunno I'm simply a fan but this is freakin Los Angeles. Players should WANT to come here.

...damn this forum has gotten me to post twice in a calendar year.

 

[Herby]

I don't post enough to understand how to quote in this forum, but building off of something Telos posted regarding Luc's comments, and yes this is going to be nothing more than me going blah blah blah.

I look at the Dodgers and Lakers and they make those league shaking moves. Obviously this is off the heels of the Doncic trade but the Dodgers signed Ohtani and basically every other major free agent they want. The Kings don't seem to have that same appeal or ability. Yes hard cap, yes top end players are rarely available via free agents or trades blah blah blah. But I see this organization as unwilling or unable to go out of their way to push for top 10 players. Maybe it's a management thing, maybe it's an ownership thing, I dunno I'm simply a fan but this is freakin Los Angeles. Players should WANT to come here.

...damn this forum has gotten me to post twice in a calendar year.

In fairness to Luc and Blake, they don't have the advantages that those teams have when it comes to making moves.

The Kings can't spend 2.5x the league average on their payroll to construct an all-star team, and the Avs ownership isn't going to force their GM to trade MacKinnon for Kempe and Clarke without offering him to anyone else in the league.

Just a different world, the NHL is more like the NFL, where you really have to do it through the draft. That is the knock on what BLuc did, not properly constructing a championship caliber roster through the draft, tough to big-game hunt in the NHL.

 

[Vote4Lubo]

Didn't have much faith in Hiller, thought he would be Todd 2.0(especially how they were playing in January) But he has good chemistry going and isn't afraid to shake up the lines. Congrats to Jim.

 

[funky]

Didn't have much faith in Hiller, thought he would be Todd 2.0(especially how they were playing in January) But he has good chemistry going and isn't afraid to shake up the lines. Congrats to Jim.

View attachment 974482

I still am not sold on him.

He still continues to rely on veterans way too much.

Sometimes he onertinkers with the lines. He needs to realize that sometimes it’s OK to let a couple of the super skill players do their thing and not play like robots.

I think that his system is gonna be easily overcome in the playoffs when teams can concentrate on just how robotic and structured we are. We’re almost too predictable. It sounds funny, but I wish he’d let different lines play different ways. It would just show the other team different looks as well to try and defend against. We do this with our hockey team. We have a couple really big hard for checking lines that play a robotic dump and chase style. Then we have a line of fast smaller guys that just go out and treat havoc. Hard to match up against us and our different looks

Guys like Kopitar need the structure. They are slow and methodical. Very cerebral, slow twitch, looking for that right play, same mindset on the power play which is a detriment in my mind.

Guys like Byfield, Fiala, rely on skill, quick twitch, instincts, and speed. I think it would be almost better just to let them go out and do their thing. A guy like Turcotte on that line who hunts pucks at a high speed and has the quick hands to adopt two plays would be an awesome addition. Let those three skill guys out on a power-play to rip pucks back-and-forth, one time pucks, user speed to skate into lanes. There more attack attack attack.

The other thing I don’t like about his system is its wear and tear on the players. Giveng 100% plus effort night after night has to be over taxing on the bodies.

We can’t chase the leader else. We don’t have a chance to win.

I think he’s built a solid foundation, I just think a few little tweaks would really aid the system. I think it’s evident when you pair certain players together how well they perform.

 

[Omni Owl]

I'm not sure how the f*** Hiller thinks Lewis is a more viable option than someone like Lee or Helenius. He's beyond dead weight at this point, its an absolute joke that he continues to play.

 

[Herby]

It’s a results oriented job, and Hiller has the team solidly in a playoff spot with an average roster. He’s not Scotty Bowman, but he is the least of the Kings issues.

 

[Bandit]

It’s a results oriented job

Sure, and when the playoffs roll around and he’s just finished running his geriatric #1 C into the ground for 82 games running 11/7, the results will speak for themselves.

 

[Statto]

Sure, and when the playoffs roll around and he’s just finished running his geriatric #1 C into the ground for 82 games running 11/7, the results will speak for themselves.

Whilst I’d like Kopitar’s minutes to get to about 18 it’s not the 11/7. The extra ice time tends to go to wingers + Byfield.

 

[johnjm22]

I think that his system is gonna be easily overcome in the playoffs when teams can concentrate on just how robotic and structured we are.

I know a lot of people think this way, but I fundamentally disagree.

A "system" can create a floor, but it's talent that determines your ceiling.

If LA comes up short in the playoffs (they likely will), it will primarily be due to lack of talent. As has been the case the previous 3 years.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Whilst I’d like Kopitar’s minutes to get to about 18 it’s not the 11/7. The extra ice time tends to go to wingers + Byfield.

Don't let facts get in the way of ignorance

 

[Bandit]

Whilst I’d like Kopitar’s minutes to get to about 18 it’s not the 11/7. The extra ice time tends to go to wingers + Byfield.

Kopitar is still #1 pk. He’s still #1 c. He’s still the go to in critical defensive situations. His old bones just can’t keep up anymore. And extra forward would help.

 

[Statto]

Kopitar is still #1 pk. He’s still #1 c. He’s still the go to in critical defensive situations. His old bones just can’t keep up anymore. And extra forward would help.

I don’t disagree, I just don’t think 11/7 or 12/6 impacts his ice time. I’m hoping the uptick in the form of Danault and QB will make a difference though.

Ideally they should be getting him to 17 mins but that’s not happening any time soon.

 

[Bandit]

This is old but I hadn’t seen it before. Toffoli talking about when they locked Sutter out of the room.

 

[bland]

Interesting to waive Englund today. Would like to know the advantages of waiting until now.

 

[lumbergh]

Kopitar is still #1 pk. He’s still #1 c. He’s still the go to in critical defensive situations. His old bones just can’t keep up anymore. And extra forward would help.

Kopitar is in fact not #1 pk. He ranks 6th in penalty killing minutes per game on the Kings amongst the forwards at 1:05 per game. That makes him now the 3rd forward pairing when it comes to PK.

He's also down to ~19 minutes per game and no longer the minutes leader amongst forwards on a per game basis. Over the past three games he has played the third, third, and second most minutes amongst centers on the Kings. Against the Canadiens he played less than 17 minutes.

I know if feels weird to think that Kopitar is not being overused, but he in fact is being used less under Hiller this year than he has been for any season in his 18.6 year career. He is effectively now the Kings 2nd line center with Byfield taking over.

 

[tigermask48]

Interesting to waive Englund today. Would like to know the advantages of waiting until now.

Same with the other players they've just given away. Why get anything in return, when you can just give the olayer away instead. Not that Englind had much if any value.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Same with the other players they've just given away. Why get anything in return, when you can just give the olayer away instead. Not that Englind had much if any value.

Sabers are claiming him.

Kings bringing up Fagemo.

 

[King'sPawn]

Interesting to waive Englund today. Would like to know the advantages of waiting until now.

Andreas Englund​

Following up on our previous article about what the Kings will look to do with their nine active defensemen once Drew Doughty returned to the lineup, the end of that road is drawing near. Their plan to hold an unprecedented number of blueliners on their roster was delayed slightly with the hand injury to Mikey Anderson. Yet, that is expected to change soon. From what we’re hearing, they’ll hold steady with the nine through the games this weekend against Dallas and Anaheim (i.e. in case of possible injury replacement issues). Then, come Sunday, we’re expecting Andreas Englund to go on waivers. It’s a move that will serve multiple purposes, including: saving cap space by having one less player on the roster, trimming to a more manageable eight rearguards (although that could be argued as still possibly being one too many on the roster), and ultimately creates a path toward another player potentially joining the team — either via a call-up or acquisition prior to the NHL Trade Deadline on March 7.

For his part, Englund was brought in during the summer of 2023 with a specific role in mind. He played all 82 regular season games with the Kings during 2023-24, his first year of a two-year contract carrying a $1M AAV. Set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, the 29-year-old has seen action in 11 games thus far this season. Kings GM Rob Blake is believed to have been testing the waters on a possible trade for Englund over the past week. Should one materialize before Sunday, getting any asset back in return is almost always favorable. Should waivers be the only option remaining, and Englund cleared, he would then most likely be assigned to AHL Ontario. More on that to come in a few days.

Kings Roster Updates: What’s Coming Up, the Schedule Break, and Cap Implications

mayorsmanor.com

Sounds like trying to bank a little cap space since there weren't any viable trades available.

 

[Schmooley]

Kopitar is in fact not #1 pk. He ranks 6th in penalty killing minutes per game on the Kings amongst the forwards at 1:05 per game. That makes him now the 3rd forward pairing when it comes to PK.
View attachment 975185

He's also down to ~19 minutes per game and no longer the minutes leader amongst forwards on a per game basis. Over the past three games he has played the third, third, and second most minutes amongst centers on the Kings. Against the Canadiens he played less than 17 minutes.

I know if feels weird to think that Kopitar is not being overused, but he in fact is being used less under Hiller this year than he has been for any season in his 18.6 year career. He is effectively now the Kings 2nd line center with Byfield taking over.

Hes better off for it. Had they been riding him 25 minutes a night he would not have had the juice for that shift he scored late in the 3rd vs Dallas at this point in the season. It also takes pressure off him. If he was still their main go to guy hed have faced more criticism in the media in January and February. It was largely brushed off as his usual cold streak but other guys are getting minutes for a chance to pick up the slack. Its been a slow transition but were seeing progress.
Now on defense the transition from Doughty to Clarke is still years behind though.

 

[Bandit]

Kopitar is in fact not #1 pk. He ranks 6th in penalty killing minutes per game on the Kings amongst the forwards at 1:05 per game. That makes him now the 3rd forward pairing when it comes to PK.
View attachment 975185

He's also down to ~19 minutes per game and no longer the minutes leader amongst forwards on a per game basis. Over the past three games he has played the third, third, and second most minutes amongst centers on the Kings. Against the Canadiens he played less than 17 minutes.

I know if feels weird to think that Kopitar is not being overused, but he in fact is being used less under Hiller this year than he has been for any season in his 18.6 year career. He is effectively now the Kings 2nd line center with Byfield taking over.

I dunno, feels like I see him starting every pk but I’ll take your word for it.