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

[King'sPawn]

This would be a solid move. What position is he in now?

Not sure. I know he was on a few broadcasts, but he hasn't held a staff position with any team since 2022 with Carolina.

It's probably not going to happen, though. Based on my understanding of things, it seems he was phased out by Bluc. If Luc's still here, I doubt they would crawl back to him.

 

[King'sPawn]

Would be a leap to think fan sentiment means something when they are still making money, but the responses on X to Hoven's post/article about everyone coming back were not favorable.

They use Hoven to put out the trial balloon and see what the response is.

I agree. I didn't mean to imply only fan sentiment. I should have clarified it could have been a mix of circumstances.

 

[Little Psycho]

Luc can’t even get the jerseys right. He’s gotta go.

 

[BigKing]

I agree. I didn't mean to imply only fan sentiment. I should have clarified it could have been a mix of circumstances.

No critique on my part. I was just throwing out that Hoven could have been used by someone to put that story out and see what the fan response was.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Luc can’t even get the jerseys right. He’s gotta go.

He’s an idiot, and he’s ambitious. A terrible combo. He should be nowhere near hockey decisions, which Dean Lombardi made sure of.

Unfortunately, Luc was able to Littlefinger his way back into power.

The past eight years of mediocrity is on Luc’s shoulders more than anyone else. Luc hired Blake and Bergevin. Luc has the relationship with Brisson.

Luc Robitaille is the cancer. He must go. Otherwise we are switching seats on the Titanic.

 

[Herby]

So they actually wanted to extend Blake? He just didn't want the job?

Maybe it was a money issue and the Kings just couldn't match what MasterClass.com was offering?

 

[DryIslandBartender]

wooeeee rosen continuing on and saying the PLD trade happened around Blake rather than with him


We are absolutely f***ed unless the Luc-Brisson-Bergevin human centipede gets ousted as well

DL got overruled several times during his tenure but he fought for his way HARD. Blake just sounds weak here using Rosen and crying about how they worked around him. Problem still remains that neither Blake and Luc could forge an identity for this organization. Just slapped on slogans and it was a flew by the seat of their pants operation.

 

[Brownie to Pancakes]

wooeeee rosen continuing on and saying the PLD trade happened around Blake rather than with him

Man wtf. Dare I say.... Fire everyone and BRING BACK BLAKE

 

[Kudelski37]

Man wtf. Dare I say.... Fire everyone and BRING BACK BLAKE

Yes to fire everyone, but no to Blake. GM is for leaders.

 

[unicornpig]

ugghhh, if the pld rumor is true i feel bad for blake. makes too much sense. hiring bergvin. luc wants his french candaians here.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

Maybe it was a money issue and the Kings just couldn't match what MasterClass.com was offering?

Perhaps…but I think Blake foresees the impending demise of the organization and would much rather be somewhere else as an assistant GM or GM on a rising team. He may also want the Islanders job and work with Roy. Who knows, but one thing is clear is that doesn’t believe in the future of this organization.

 

[Herby]

Blake made the decision, not Luc. Blake sees the coming disaster with the aging top guys.

It’ll be interesting to see if Blake lands somewhere else like San Jose or Colorado again. I’m thinking Blake just wanted to get out of there before the ship goes down.

I'd be shocked if Blake landed a GM job anywhere else, without taking a step back as an AGM and winning over an ownership group. A lot of what was done in LA with player development, coach hiring and preferred on-ice play really went against the norms of the league. When unorthodox works it's hailed as innovative and trend-setting, but when it doesn't its largely laughed at, I am guessing most teams around the NHL were laughing at the moves the Kings made and the style they were trying to win with.

And I doubt he's even looking for that, Blake's career earnings as a player were north of $80m and he seems to really love the SoCal beach lifestyle, is he really going to go somewhere else even if the offer was there? I doubt it

 

[Little Psycho]

I think it was known that Luc was the one that persuaded the PLD inquiry. I think it was in one of those black and white vids

 

[Telos]

So they actually wanted to extend Blake? He just didn't want the job?

There were rumors that Eddie mentioned on Locked on Kings 1-2 months ago that Blake had decided before season's end and the postseason that he wasn't going to be returning regardless of playoff success. Of course, everything that is happening now is just speculation as changes come rapidly, but it was alluded to before that Blake wasn't going to return. It added fuel to the fury when I heard the Hoven rumor that he was staying...

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I think it was known that Luc was the one that persuaded the PLD inquiry. I think it was in one of those black and white vids

Yes but it's still crazy to see someone as in-the-know as rosen confirming some of those things

 

[Piston]

I'm not sure that's the case here.

I believe there were people who told Hoven things where his reporting of the issue felt it was the most likely scenario. But it's unclear if:
- Blake decided he was done
- AEG planned to keep him but with stipulations on the upcoming season
- Exit interviews had higher ups reconsidering
- Fan and sponsor feedback has forced reconsideration

It also, frankly, could have been Hoven misinterpreting the sentiment or information from who he spoke to. He's not above reproach.

The fact a decision wasn't announced until after the weekend suggests that plenty of conversations happened after the fourth straight first round elimination.

Regarding the replacement, I truly don't want it to be Bergevin. I'd love for Futa to come back. But am okay with any other external hire.

You would know better than me, I'm just trying to read the signals:

- Hoven writes an article on Saturday saying Blake was coming back. This must have been confirmed by 1) Blake who wanted to return and 2) by someone higher up who wanted Blake to stay. Occam's Razor would indicate this was Luc. Remember, Blake was Luc's boy and the two of them tagged team to get rid of DL and are joined at the hip.

- As you say, fan reaction may have been negative. That gave Beckerman an excuse to move. Remember, if you stab the King in the back (Lombardi) you need to be prepared to have the same thing happen to you. Given PA's age, you have to believe Beckerman has carte blanche here. You would know, but I doubt Beckerman and Hoven ever talk which is why the latter never got wind f what was happening. That to me is the key point, unless Hoven was asked to sit on the story, he didn't know Blake was going which means the decision was made from above.

- I know first-hand that Beckerman likes how Luc deals with the press and the fans. It would be awkward to get rid of him. By making it a 'mutual decision' everyone gets to save face, and then you bring on a President of Hockey ops to replace Luc and bump him upstairs.

This has all the trapping of a coup in the boardroom with Luc usurped of his power and the direction of the organization changed. We'll know for sure that I'm right if they hire a Jim Rutherford type to take over.

 

[King'sPawn]

You would know better than me, I'm just trying to read the signals:

All fair, and you may be right. I honestly don't know any more than you do. That's just my interpretation.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

I'd be shocked if Blake landed a GM job anywhere else, without taking a step back as an AGM and winning over an ownership group. A lot of what was done in LA with player development, coach hiring and preferred on-ice play really went against the norms of the league. When unorthodox works it's hailed as innovative and trend-setting, but when it doesn't its largely laughed at, I am guessing most teams around the NHL were laughing at the moves the Kings made and the style they were trying to win with.

And I doubt he's even looking for that, Blake's career earnings as a player were north of $80m and he seems to really love the SoCal beach lifestyle, is he really going to go somewhere else even if the offer was there? I doubt it

Good points, maybe he’s financially secure with solid investments etc and he’ll ride off in the sunset. Why bother with the riff raff? I still maintain he doesn’t believe in the future of this organization and might as well bail now before the wheels come off.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

You would know better than me, I'm just trying to read the signals:

- Hoven writes an article on Saturday saying Blake was coming back. This must have been confirmed by 1) Blake who wanted to return and 2) by someone higher up who wanted Blake to stay. Occam's Razor would indicate this was Luc. Remember, Blake was Luc's boy and the two of them tagged team to get rid of DL and are joined at the hip.

- As you say, fan reaction may have been negative. That gave Beckerman an excuse to move. Remember, if you stab the King in the back (Lombardi) you need to be prepared to have the same thing happen to you. Given PA's age, you have to believe Beckerman has carte blanche here. You would know, but I doubt Beckerman and Hoven ever talk which is why the latter never got wind f what was happening. That to me is the key point, unless Hoven was asked to sit on the story, he didn't know Blake was going which means the decision was made from above.

- I know first-hand that Beckerman likes how Luc deals with the press and the fans. It would be awkward to get rid of him. By making it a 'mutual decision' everyone gets to save face, and then you bring on a President of Hockey ops to replace Luc and bump him upstairs.

This has all the trapping of a coup in the boardroom with Luc usurped of his power and the direction of the organization changed. We'll know for sure that I'm right if they hire a Jim Rutherford type to take over.

I find it f***ing hilarious you think the org needed Hoven to plant a ‘Blake’s staying’ piece in order to check the temperature of the fan base. That’s about as absurd as
It gets around here….

 

[bland]

I agree his moves over the past year were positive but it was also the correct decision. I’m concerned that the tone seems to be that Robitaille (unsurprisingly) is staying. The choice of next GM will be telling though, if it’s one of Luc’s boys then we may as well have stayed with Blake.

I’ve avoided commenting on the play-off exit as being in the middle of the anger, shock disappointment isn’t all that good for me. So I just concentrated on LFC winning the PL. The result felt inevitable to me after game 3.

My general thoughts now are that Blake obviously needed to go. Doughty needs moving if possible with 50% retained and a retool is needed. I’d also move Danault who should provide something of value to a contender as he finished the season well. I’d keep Gavrikov if they can move DD. Kempe depends entirely what the cost of extending him is, but if too expensive I’d move him in a hockey trade to get younger NHL players with upside IF possible (I know it’s not that easy). Moore?? Maybe move him also. Re-sign TJ as I think he was a huge miss in the post season. Lewis needs to retire.

Hiller I’m open to keeping, much depends on what he’s learned, plus what influence BLuc had on lineup and roster choices etc. It also depends on if he’s the right guy for whatever the roster may look like by October. I like Hiller, I like how he conducts himself, he’s not defensive in his demeanor and he seems honest. Equally I’d understand it if the new guy wants him gone.

The Blake going a lot will be up in the air until a new GM is in place. If it’s Bergevin my posting on here will become even more infrequent. That’s the worst possible outcome (Bergevin, not me posting infrequently).

That was such a weird day, celebrating the inevitable LFC title while simultaneously dreading the inevitable Kings demise.

Two massive events for a supporter of both teams, with neither having the thrill/shock of being a surprise. Never had a day as a sports fan as odd as that one.

 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

And I doubt he's even looking for that, Blake's career earnings as a player were north of $80m and he seems to really love the SoCal beach lifestyle, is he really going to go somewhere else even if the offer was there? I doubt it

Yeah, I'm mildly curious what becomes of Blake now (recalling that Dave Taylor served in an AGM, or at least advisory, role with a couple of teams after 2006). Would he take an obviously-lesser role with the Ducks if they offered him one? Maybe he goes to San Jose - wasn't Mike Grier a teammate of his?

 

[fivehole32]

- I know first-hand that Beckerman likes how Luc deals with the press and the fans. It would be awkward to get rid of him. By making it a 'mutual decision' everyone gets to save face, and then you bring on a President of Hockey ops to replace Luc and bump him upstairs.

This has all the trapping of a coup in the boardroom with Luc usurped of his power and the direction of the organization changed. We'll know for sure that I'm right if they hire a Jim Rutherford type to take over.

I can totally see this happening. Luc gets a ceremonial position to hand out watches and pictures for jersey retirements, etc. Give it an important name and he saves face 100%.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Regarding the replacement, I truly don't want it to be Bergevin. I'd love for Futa to come back. But am okay with any other external hire.

Futa shouldve been given the GM gig instead of Blake. Its odd he never got a GM gig - seemed like he was deserving. Im guessing Luc wouldnt want one of DL's hires back on board - too much talent and would make waves inside the buddy system.

 

[FrozenKing18]

I was always under the impression Luc was “the guy” and Blake is just saying yes to everything. After reading this, that just confirms it. Luc’s “vision and culture” isn’t working. He needs to go. Plain and simple.

 

[Schrute farms]

I find it f***ing hilarious you think the org needed Hoven to plant a ‘Blake’s staying’ piece in order to check the temperature of the fan base. That’s about as absurd as
It gets around here….

A few other absurd comments around here:

• TMac is a great hire
• TMac is a great coach
• TMac will never be fired
• It was a great/historic season for the Kings (multiple times)

Funny how the Kings keep having these great, historic seasons -- yet in consecutive seasons now they have fired (let go) their coach and GM. Interesting for a team having such amazing years. Maybe it's not the "fans" here that are the crazy ones.