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

[BigKing]

I know quite a bit of season ticket holders who cancelled or stopped their membership this year. Don’t know the reasons on some of them…

It doesn't help that reselling your tickets when you can't go now triggers IRS reporting.

 

[Piston]

To be brutally honest, if I had to bet, I think it is already a foregone conclusion that Bergevin will be named next GM. I have been already sort of resigning myself to that fate since we learned that Luc is staying:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/carols...ty-los-angeles-kings-hire-marc-bergevin/[/URL

http://I'd be surprised if this was...ired by Beckerman. That's where my money is.

 

[BigKing]

There has been an evolution of how Hoven has tried to change the general content of MM - he stepped back from jumping into rumors for multiple reasons, including some of which that blew up in his face. So, he's tried to be more focused on content he's getting from more reliable people higher up in the food chain, but also branching out and exploring possibilities (i.e. potential trade targets, coaching candidates, etc).

It's a free resource. All of us who contribute to MM (including Hoven himself) have other jobs. And we don't get paid a dime. Any ad revenue Hoven gets wouldn't be enough to sustain a family, especially in Southern California.

So, yeah, I generally just take the licks when people vocalize their disapproval of Hoven. But it IS grating when he shares the information he has, generally reserving his opinions for his podcast, and he still gets labeled as a mouthpiece shill propagandist just because he doesn't clamor for people to be fired at the same time the rest of us do.

As far as replacing Rosen, that's what Dooley does - he runs LA Kings Insider. Hoven wasn't elevated.

I get that he isn't going to bite the hand that feeds and, you know, he shouldn't.

I'm on the record here that I have more of an issue with those that take him as gospel with stuff on here like "...that's not happening because Mayor said xyz." He wasn't elevated to become the official LAKI, but LAKI was devalued and it feels like Hoven has more of an impact on the fanbase and opinion forming than LAKI.

Dude is a fan that was able to turn into an "insider." Great for him. The issue is more are things presented as opinion or is the tone set that "this is what it is"? It gets blurred--on purpose or not--and then you get narratives formed that take on a life of their own.

 

[King'sPawn]

I get that he isn't going to bite the hand that feeds and, you know, he shouldn't.

I'm on the record here that I have more of an issue with those that take him as gospel with stuff on here like "...that's not happening because Mayor said xyz." He wasn't elevated to become the official LAKI, but LAKI was devalued and it feels like Hoven has more of an impact on the fanbase and opinion forming than LAKI.

Dude is a fan that was able to turn into an "insider." Great for him. The issue is more are things presented as opinion or is the tone set that "this is what it is"? It gets blurred--on purpose or not--and then you get narratives formed that take on a life of their own.

That's fair.

I don't have an issue with people not taking what he says as gospel. I trust him - he's a friend. But I believe in the adage "trust but verify." He's not above making mistakes. And I welcome skepticism, including my articles.

Discussions and disagreements are how we learn and improve.

But I truly hope we can reach that level of healthy skepticism and regular dialogue, whether or not people like me and/or Hoven.

 

[Bandit]

I need a Luc Robitaille head on a cockroach ASAP. Internet do your thing. Possibly on the papa roach cd cover. Lol

This was the best ChatGPT could do

Almost as embarrassing as the Kings playoff performance the past 4 years.

 

[Bandit]

Sure.

I don't know nothing about nothing but the Celtics just sold for $6.1 Billion dollars and Bill Simmons (yes I'm citing Bill Simmons) has suggested that the sale was about the previous owner's children wanting his empire liquidated for ease of estate planning.

H. Irving Grousbeck is 90 years old. His group (Boston Basketball Partners) owned the Celtics from 2002 to 2025.

Grousbeck has 4 kids including his son Wyc (63) who served on the board of the BBP.

The theory is that the 4 Grousbeck kids want 1/4 of the billions generated from the sale of the team rather than a constant fight over 1/4 control of a basketball team etc etc etc

The reason I bring it up is not to imply that I know anything about AEG or the ownership plans for the Kings but merely to point out that this is ALL a business and the owners are insanely wealthy people with their own lives and motivations and they don't have to explain themselves to anybody and there's no knowing why they make the decisions they do but the idea that it's somehow "well the goal is always to win the championship and any failure to progress towards that goal should result in my desired behavior" is just fans being willfully obtuse.

Yeah we should just all accept that we’re just the peasants who should be happy to receive the scraps from our billionaire overlords. Except without OUR money those wouldn’t be worth shit.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Betting my money it’s Marc Bergevin.

 

[shuchukfan]

“Marc is a very good GM in the NHL, one of the best,” [Robitaille] told Chaumont (again, via Google Translate). “When you look at his transaction history, he did some really good things. He has good vision. He's a talented manager and he knows everyone in the NHL. In my eyes, he is clearly among the top ten in his profession.”

Why did I read this in Trump's voice?

 

[Telos]

Why did I read this in Trump's voice?

I can't hear it any other way now. While I hope I am wrong, I don't think we can escape it. The person who is deciding already thinks we have a top 10 caliber GM in the NHL working for us...

 

[DryIslandBartender]

Betting my money it’s Marc Bergevin.

Might not be a lock, islanders job has more security. Plus #1 pick as well.

 

[SaltyElkHunter]

Might not be a lock, islanders job has more security. Plus #1 pick as well.

God help us!

 

[FSL KINGS]

Blake's revenge. Stepping down to stick it to the fans by giving the position to Bergivin.

 

[tigermask48]

Blake's revenge. Stepping down to stick it to the fans by giving the position to Bergivin.

If only someone, anyone, anybody at all really... could have possibly predicted this happening... years ago.

 

[theMajor]

fire luc
fire bergevin and any other quebec roots in the LA org

hire Futa
give Kempe the C
bring back Rich Hammond

 

[shuchukfan]

Watch Luc get into a bidding war with the Islanders over Bergevin.

 

[SaltyElkHunter]

I’m convinced that everyone in the echo chamber has this delusional opinion that they are doing a great job. I have heard it in the last week from anyone in the organization that has spoken. Even Jesse in this thread.

If everyone in the organization is so awesome and wise and with it. How come they haven’t won shit or accomplished any of their goals in 8 years.

Zero times have they finished 1st in the league for regular season.

Zero 1st round playoff series wins.

What are these goals that validate them going forward that we are not aware of other than getting money from the people they are so much smarter than?

If you don’t value the fans opinions than I mean I guess f*** you too!

 

[Choralone]

I heard the organization was going to re-brand the team as the Los Angeles Right Theres

 

[SettlementRichie10]

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 want to believe.

 

[Herby]

The Islanders are pretty far from a Stanley Cup as well, kind of a lot of similarities to the Kings, a roster lacking high-end talent, built to play an archaic style by the King of the Dead Puck, Lou Lamoriello. But you are getting a two year head start by getting the #1 overall pick this year, and probably another top 5 next year. The Kings you get another blackhole pick this year and very likely have to play faux contender one more season for the sake of Kopitar, so another black-hole pick next year. Neither team has a 1C.

If everyone in the organization is so awesome and wise and with it. How come they haven’t won shit or accomplished any of their goals in 8 years.

It just doesn't make any sense!

 

[Sol]

Why did I read this in Trump's voice?

“I’m going to build a great team some might say even the best team ever” “Quite frankly THE ONLY PERSON who can make a team as bad as the Kings is SLEEPY JOE!”

 

[All The Kings Men]

Even Jesse in this thread.

Hey woah...

what did I say?

 

[King'sPawn]

Watch Luc get into a bidding war with the Islanders over Bergevin.

Master Class. Trade Clarke + 1st to Islanders so they don't sign a current Kings employee, instead of just promoting him.

Not that I want Bergevin anywhere close to this organization anymore. Just making a joke about how the Kings sometimes shoot themselves in the dick.

 

[Sol]

I’m convinced that everyone in the echo chamber has this delusional opinion that they are doing a great job. I have heard it in the last week from anyone in the organization that has spoken. Even Jesse in this thread.

If everyone in the organization is so awesome and wise and with it. How come they haven’t won shit or accomplished any of their goals in 8 years.

Zero times have they finished 1st in the league for regular season.

Zero 1st round playoff series wins.

What are these goals that validate them going forward that we are not aware of other than getting money from the people they are so much smarter than?

If you don’t value the fans opinions than I mean I guess f*** you too!

To Jesse’s point, he was trying to say that the Kings are looking good from a financial standpoint which is in fact a bright spot under Luc. Where he is being a shortsighted is that he’s completely ignoring the future forecast of this team from a business standpoint. Fans won’t support this any longer from what I’ve seen and the good graces are gone. Luc has failed from a hockey stand point so far but the business side hasnt fallen. However, with the way things are going right now, it will.

 

[Johnny Utah]

If that’s the case what’s everyone’s beef with Bergevin.

He traded for Danault, Weber and Suzuki while in Montreal. Did pass on Brady Tkachuk and gave Alzner that terrible contract.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

bring back Rich Hammond

Just don't let him on TV.