Around the League '16-'17 Other Teams' Free Agent Frenzy

[Sacha Baron Corbin]

You would be wrong.


Myself and Kings 17 have always been outspoken about handing Kopitar 80 million dollars at the age he was going to be resigned.

I wanted Kopitar to remain a King, but not at 10 million dollar cap hit.

I still stand by my statement, it was a mistake for Lombardi to offer Kopitar the contract.

Gabo as well, I hated that Gabo contract since day one of him signing it.

The only praise I gave Lombardi for Gabo's disaster of a contract, the Cap hit was low.

I agree with Gaborik, but you don't trade Franchise centers in the middle of their prime, especially in 2015-2016 when the Kings were still considered one of the top contenders in the West.

It's not like Kopitar was coming off a 50 point season demanding 10 mil, he had one of the most productive years of his career on top of winning a Selke

I get that you guys are apparently smarter than everyone else on this board, good for you. But it's a pretty simple concept, when your team is a contender in the midst of their best run in franchise history you keep your franchise center when you have the ability to do so. It would have made no sense for the Kings to move on from Kopitar at the time of the contract, both from a team standpoint and a public standpoint.

 

[deeshamrock]

Michael Russo‏Verified account @Russostrib · 13h13 hours ago


Sources say #mnwild has signed Mikael Granlund to a three-year, $17.25 million contract (5.75M AAV)



And on the 2018 draft, on one of the podcasts I caught last week, a winger from Russia , Andrei Svechnikov, drafted by the Barrie Colts could be the #1. He's been dominant at the International Level. In addition to a powerful skater with a great wrister, he is an outstanding stickhandler beating most defenders and tough on the puck.




So this article mentions next years draft and it is expected to be defense heavy , and in some lists, Rasmus Dahlin, an elite offensive d, with speed, great vision and agility, from Sweden is ranked #1.

http://thehockeywriters.com/2018-nhl-draft-rankings-julys-top-31/

Positionally, the 2018 draft appears to be a defence-heavy one. There is potential to have up to 15 defenders selected in the first round, with about 10 of those players having a realistic sight of the top-10.

The top USA player appears to be BRady Tzachuk, a center/LW headed to Boston College. And Quinton Hughes, a puck moving d could be in the top 10.

 

[KINGS17]

Granlund had a break out season for the Wild last year. Three year deal as well, so the term is good for him if he continues to progress, and good for the Wild if he regresses.

Good deal for both sides.

 

[KINGS17]

I agree with Gaborik, but you don't trade Franchise centers in the middle of their prime, especially in 2015-2016 when the Kings were still considered one of the top contenders in the West.

It's not like Kopitar was coming off a 50 point season demanding 10 mil, he had one of the most productive years of his career on top of winning a Selke

I get that you guys are apparently smarter than everyone else on this board, good for you. But it's a pretty simple concept, when your team is a contender in the midst of their best run in franchise history you keep your franchise center when you have the ability to do so. It would have made no sense for the Kings to move on from Kopitar at the time of the contract, both from a team standpoint and a public standpoint.

In my opinion, this is where Dean really made a major mistake. By the summer of 2015 the writing was on the wall. The Kings had missed the playoffs, the situation with Richards was known, Stoll was done, Greene was done, Mitchell was gone, Williams was on his way out, and the Voynov situation was coming to a head.

All of this should have been enough to trigger at least a remodeling. The Kings were not in the midst of their best run in the summer of 2015. The middle of the best run was in the summer of 2013.

From a public relations standpoint it would have been very difficult to move Kopitar in the summer of 2015, but that is when it needed to happen if it was going to happen. At that time Kopitar was no longer in his prime. Yes, he won a Selke in his contract year, but his best years were and are behind him. He certainly was not worth 8 years and $80M at that point in time.

 

[deeshamrock]

Granlund had a break out season for the Wild last year. Three year deal as well, so the term is good for him if he continues to progress, and good for the Wild if he regresses.

Good deal for both sides.

Yeah it is and they came to a fair agreement. The Isles situation on the other hand, won't bode well IMO. DeHaan is a good young d and although they settled just before arbitration, the fact there were so far apart isn't good. The 1 yr 'agreement' says to to me that he's gone next summer. So they lose Hamonic and DeHann possibly. Yet Snow gave Clutterbuck, pretty much a 4th liner, 3.5 by 4 yrs last year. I've never thought much of Snow and he continues to lead the Isles nowhere.


Arthur Staple‏Verified account @StapeNewsday · 50m50 minutes ago

#Isles and Calvin de Haan agree to one-year, $3.3-million deal just before arbitration hearing. @MikeKellyNHL on it first.

 

[Fishhead]

From a public relations standpoint it would have been very difficult to move Kopitar in the summer of 2015, but that is when it needed to happen if it was going to happen. At that time Kopitar was no longer in his prime. Yes, he won a Selke in his contract year, but his best years were and are behind him. He certainly was not worth 8 years and $80M at that point in time.

Perhaps he wasn't worth $10M per year, but certainly close to that. He's obviously not going to be worth that as his contract matures, but that can be said for every single player that signs a long contract past age 25 or 26.

It's difficult for me because I know that player values are paramount to competing under the cap. It can certainly be argued that it would have been best from a value standpoint to move Kopitar, but I feel that gain would have been eclipsed by the negative message it sends to the rest of the players and to the fans. It tells important guys like Toffoli and Pearson, who needed extensions, that a players value is more important than the player themselves. It tells players like Doughty, Carter, and Quick that perhaps the team isn't serious about winning. It tells the fans that losing a player that is the first truly dominant center since Gretzky is worth saving a million dollars or so, even though he truly can't be replaced. It reminds the fans of days when the team would cheap out, or when they let a guy like Blake go over a small amount of money. There are a lot of negatives, even if the team did well in the transaction.

I'm all for valuing guys properly and making moves when necessary, but even with the certainty that Kopitar was going to not be worth his contract at that particular time I still would sign that deal. It will not be pretty near the end of it, but really the message and fallout from moving him wouldn't have been worth the minor savings. For good or ill, now he is not movable for value, and it's completely on Kopitar to be the player the team needs him to be. He's going to get injured more and slow down a bit, but with his frame and strength there is no reason he shouldn't be dominating. I get the linemate issue, but I don't subscribe to it. Even being blanketed with coverage he has the ability to be producing and creating more. It's on him to get that fire back.

I think it would have been worse if his contract was up now than a year ago. The franchise is obviously experiencing a big drop-off in season ticket sales, and losing Kopitar would be catastrophic to that effort. I know Blake's done well so far, but with Luc in the mix the possibility for something doing something really stupid is present.

 

[BigKing]

They brought two Cups to LA and became "Made Men".

Kopi and Brownie and Quickie and Dewey and Gabby etc.

It's true that a significant portion of the fan base would be extremely upset if Kopitar was moved, even if it was a great return coming back. Hell...Brown is still my mother's favorite player even after his play has fallen off a cliff. Kopitar got rewarded for his past accomplishments but, at the same time, he would of got even more if he hit UFA.

I completely understand K17's stance on this as he doesn't think Kings management should jump off a bridge just because the rest of the league is as well (Kane/Toews are the best comps for the Kopitar contract, right on down to what they did for their respective teams prior to signing); however, this isn't the NFL and no team is winning the Cup acting like the Patriots.

It would be extremely difficult to catch lightning in a bottle on a Kopitar deal two years ago that would of returned the assets that could replace his production in the window of contention provided during the time that Carter/Doughty/Quick et al. were still good enough; however, it is a valid argument to believe rolling the dice on that is better than where they currently stand.

If you think they are close to contending right now, then of course you are going to balk at K17's beliefs on this matter, as well as D-macs. If you think they are basically a pile of trash that should be rebuilding or, at least, retooling, then there is merit to it.

I'll say this: the fact they are "stuck" with Kopitar means so much is riding on Vilardi to be an impact player in, like, as soon as two seasons with the hopes that he can eventually eclipse Kopitar to be the #1C to Kopitar's #2C within four seasons. He's the only blue chipper and it is imperative he pans out and isn't a four year project.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

They brought two Cups to LA and became "Made Men".

Kopi and Brownie and Quickie and Dewey and Gabby etc.

It's true that a significant portion of the fan base would be extremely upset if Kopitar was moved, even if it was a great return coming back. Hell...Brown is still my mother's favorite player even after his play has fallen off a cliff. Kopitar got rewarded for his past accomplishments but, at the same time, he would of got even more if he hit UFA.

I completely understand K17's stance on this as he doesn't think Kings management should jump off a bridge just because the rest of the league is as well (Kane/Toews are the best comps for the Kopitar contract, right on down to what they did for their respective teams prior to signing); however, this isn't the NFL and no team is winning the Cup acting like the Patriots.

It would be extremely difficult to catch lightning in a bottle on a Kopitar deal two years ago that would of returned the assets that could replace his production in the window of contention provided during the time that Carter/Doughty/Quick et al. were still good enough; however, it is a valid argument to believe rolling the dice on that is better than where they currently stand.

If you think they are close to contending right now, then of course you are going to balk at K17's beliefs on this matter, as well as D-macs. If you think they are basically a pile of trash that should be rebuilding or, at least, retooling, then there is merit to it.

I'll say this: the fact they are "stuck" with Kopitar means so much is riding on Vilardi to be an impact player in, like, as soon as two seasons with the hopes that he can eventually eclipse Kopitar to be the #1C to Kopitar's #2C within four seasons. He's the only blue chipper and it is imperative he pans out and isn't a four year project.

The thing is, I don't fundamentally disagree with him on a lot of that stuff. We can split hairs about where the value is in a player and such. Where I disagree vehemently is coming to certain conclusions about Kopitar as a player using one lens and set of assumptions and beliefs then using more favorable, positive 'grass is always greener' lens and a set of assumptions and beliefs completely in conflict with the first. The point can be made without trashing the player and it completely cheapens his otherwise reasonable view while calling forum members to conflict.

In short, you can't assume Kopitar is sure to get injured and decline from here using facts and metrics and be so sure Johansen isn't. If you're using the same criteria, Kopitar is going to be the far superior player well into his 30s. You can disagree with that, sure, but don't use 'the chart' for the first one and 'the gut feeling' for the second one.

We all have seen where the team has been in the last year or so and we know how inflated player values are when teams are doing very well and how depressed they are when teams aren't. I get fully that lots of people aren't high on our guys right now but giving players away for pennies on the dollar to get a shiny new toy that is maybe 3/4 the player of the old one doesn't make you look like a genius.

 

[KINGS17]

Johansen does it at 24 years of age, and will likely get better. He is also cheaper and will likely be healthier going forward than Kopitar. The odds are stacked in Johansen's favor.

It's not about love. It's about which player happens to be the more valuable asset at this point in time and going forward. Kopitar has already started to tail off. It's obvious.

If there is any infatuation with a player going on here, it's with Kopitar, not Johansen.

Where did I say Kopitar is sure to be injured? I simply am saying given their ages and the trends, Johansen with his current deal has more value than Kopitar with his current deal.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

This offseason needs to end.

 

[Stimpythecat]

http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2017/07/31/phts-team-of-the-day-series-starts-tomorrow-aug-1/

Aug. 1: Boston
Aug. 2: Buffalo
Aug. 3: Detroit
Aug. 4: Toronto
Aug. 5: Florida
Aug. 6: Ottawa
Aug. 7: Montreal
Aug. 8: Tampa Bay
Aug. 9: Nashville
Aug. 10: Chicago
Aug. 11: Dallas
Aug. 12: Winnipeg
Aug. 13: Colorado
Aug. 14: St. Louis
Aug. 15: Minnesota
Aug. 16: Washington
Aug. 17: Pittsburgh
Aug. 18: NY Rangers
Aug. 19: Carolina
Aug. 20: New Jersey
Aug. 21: NY Islanders
Aug. 22: Columbus
Aug. 23: Philadelphia
Aug. 24: Los Angeles
Aug. 25: Edmonton
Aug. 26: Vancouver
Aug. 27: Arizona
Aug. 28: Calgary
Aug. 29: San Jose
Aug. 30: Anaheim
Aug. 31: Las Vegas

 

[deeshamrock]

Schmidt and the Knights went thru arbitration yesterday (he was the only player out of the 30 players who filed that actually went through arbitration.) without reaching an agreement.

Per the below, Knights offer is way too low. Too many times when a player and team go thru this process, there's bad taste in the players mouth. He'd have been a good d for them and now they will probably lose him next year.


Elliotte Friedman
✔
@FriedgeHNIC

LV requested a two-year award on Nate Schmidt at $950K & $1M. Player ask is $2.75M for one year.



Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times on Kucherov's potential next contract, of the megabucks type

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/nikita-kucherov-yzerman-on-same-page-after-meeting/2332259

I love everything about Kucherov's games, not just the raw talent he has but the drive, the passion, all of it. He and Hedman tried their best to get that team in the playoffs , and they came pretty close, which was impressive given in Feb how far back they were. Kucherov's was getting GTG' and GWG's or setups at a ridiculous pace in March/April. And called the team out after the season, (which is what the article title refers to) that too many players were collecting a check, which is what I saw watching them. I think he's gonna be a total stud. He had 99 goals over the last 3 years, including 40 last year.

. Kucherov has two seasons left on a deal with a $4.76 million annual cap hit, a bargain by most standards for one of the league's most dynamic players. Kucherov, who finished eighth in the league MVP voting, signed his first big endorsement deal with Bauer Hockey.

Considering the kind of salaries league-wide, MVP Connor McDavid getting $12.5 million a year on his recent eight-year extension, Kucherov could look to potentially double his current salary when he's a restricted free agent. Kucherov didn't have leverage last October when he signed his three-year bridge deal shortly before the season opener, saying then he didn't want to hold out. He'll have arbitration rights next time around.

And because they have negotiated good contracts with Stamkos, and Triplet line (all 3 for 15M) and Hedman locked down, they should have the $$ to get Kucherov signed. That would be about 33M or so for 5 top 6 forwards. Not bad.
He's so much fun to watch...

 

[deeshamrock]

For anybody that wants to see the future NHL stars

NHL Network- 7 pm tonight
USA Vs Canada

World Junior Summer Showcase

They usually repeat them , so it will probably be replayed tomorrow as well.

I watched some of the other games, and it's fun to watch the kids out there. And although I watched mostly the Canada and US games, Finland and Sweden have some very good players. Defense esp.



USA and Canada Rosters

https://www.nhl.com/news/world-junior-summer-showcase-preview/c-290490506

Kings prospects on roster
USA
Mikey Anderson Defense

Canada
kale clague - defense
Vilardi was invited but unable to attend

 

[justonetime]

Where did I say Kopitar is sure to be injured? I simply am saying given their ages and the trends, Johansen with his current deal has more value than Kopitar with his current deal.

You can't be serious.

Where did anyone say you said Kopitar is sure to be injured? There isn't much defending your ridiculous comment about Kopitars health, but go ahead and keep trying.

 

[KINGS17]

You can't be serious.

Where did anyone say you said Kopitar is sure to be injured? There isn't much defending your ridiculous comment about Kopitars health, but go ahead and keep trying.

The thing is, I don't fundamentally disagree with him on a lot of that stuff. We can split hairs about where the value is in a player and such. Where I disagree vehemently is coming to certain conclusions about Kopitar as a player using one lens and set of assumptions and beliefs then using more favorable, positive 'grass is always greener' lens and a set of assumptions and beliefs completely in conflict with the first. The point can be made without trashing the player and it completely cheapens his otherwise reasonable view while calling forum members to conflict.

In short, you can't assume Kopitar is sure to get injured and decline from here using facts and metrics and be so sure Johansen isn't. If you're using the same criteria, Kopitar is going to be the far superior player well into his 30s. You can disagree with that, sure, but don't use 'the chart' for the first one and 'the gut feeling' for the second one.

We all have seen where the team has been in the last year or so and we know how inflated player values are when teams are doing very well and how depressed they are when teams aren't. I get fully that lots of people aren't high on our guys right now but giving players away for pennies on the dollar to get a shiny new toy that is maybe 3/4 the player of the old one doesn't make you look like a genius.

Just wondering, do you bother to read before you post?

 

[justonetime]

Just wondering, do you bother to read before you post?

You quoted your own post, not his.

 

[Basilisk]

Vilardi was invited but unable to attend

LoL, is Vilardi still injured? Did we draft an "injury-guy"....?

 

[damacles1156]

LoL, is Vilardi still injured? Did we draft an "injury-guy"....?

I think the young man is still recovering.

 

[johnjm22]

He didn't participate in some of the combine stuff also due to injury. I'm not sure what it is, but it sounds like a nagging type injury. Possibly a groin.

 

[KINGS17]

Hopefully Vilardi is ready for camp, goes back to juniors and has a great season.

Nothing more important for him right now than healing properly. The Kings don't need to rush the kid.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

LoL, is Vilardi still injured? Did we draft an "injury-guy"....?

He's only played two OHL seasons so hard to tell for sure but a little early to be calling an appendectomy and an injury 'injury guy'.

Hopefully Vilardi is ready for camp, goes back to juniors and has a great season.

Nothing more important for him right now than healing properly. The Kings don't need to rush the kid.

Especially as one of the younger draftees. Let him heal and dominate juniors. I'm worried he'll do well at camp because he's THAT talented, and we'll keep him aboard.

 

[KINGS17]

Especially as one of the younger draftees. Let him heal and dominate juniors. I'm worried he'll do well at camp because he's THAT talented, and we'll keep him aboard.

Agree 100%. Vilardi doesn't even turn 18 until August 16. He was barely eligible for this year's draft squeezing in by just under a month of the September 15, birthday cutoff date.

Hard to believe some think he may crack the lineup and play a full season at 18 years of age. Maybe, and it's a big maybe, the Kings hang onto him for nine games at the beginning of the season to let him travel and practice with the team and perhaps play a game or two.

I think Blake will send him back to junior hockey where he belongs in order to develop properly.

 

[damacles1156]

He's only played two OHL seasons so hard to tell for sure but a little early to be calling an appendectomy and an injury 'injury guy'.



Especially as one of the younger draftees. Let him heal and dominate juniors. I'm worried he'll do well at camp because he's THAT talented, and we'll keep him aboard.

That would be a huge mistake by the Kings.

New Jersey committed the same sin with Pavel Zacha, might have ruined the kid.

 

[Fishhead]

Agree 100%. Vilardi doesn't even turn 18 until August 16. He was barely eligible for this year's draft squeezing in by just under a month of the September 15, birthday cutoff date.

Hard to believe some think he may crack the lineup and play a full season at 18 years of age. Maybe, and it's a big maybe, the Kings hang onto him for nine games at the beginning of the season to let him travel and practice with the team and perhaps play a game or two.

I think Blake will send him back to junior hockey where he belongs in order to develop properly.

Here's a list of 18 yr. old players' stats, active guys in bold:

http://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/player-age/18-year-old-nhl-players.html

I would say most of those guys turned out pretty well. I think where the Kings are right now, taking it slow is the safer option. I don't think that another year in Junior would hurt him whatsoever. If he had a lights-out camp and forced his way in though, I don't think it would hurt him either. He's got the size to handle it.

 

[deeshamrock]

Here's a list of 18 yr. old players' stats, active guys in bold:

http://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/player-age/18-year-old-nhl-players.html

I would say most of those guys turned out pretty well. I think where the Kings are right now, taking it slow is the safer option. I don't think that another year in Junior would hurt him whatsoever. If he had a lights-out camp and forced his way in though, I don't think it would hurt him either. He's got the size to handle it.

Unless they are putting him in a position to succeed, develop the right way, on the top 6 (center) where he'd get 17 min or so per game and also PP time, they should send him back to juniors. Burying him on the bottom 6, 11 min and no PP won't do anything for him, except stunt his growth Better he plays 18-20 in all game situations.

He's a young 18, and I have no problem with the 9 game looksee, but then back to Canada. Next year he'll have grown a bit, physically and otherwise and at 19 in camp would be plenty of time.

But perhaps Blake will see him, and his offensive gifts, as the solution to the hole in the top 6 and let him play , but I think they'll play it with caution. Time will tell.