Around the League '18-'19

[YP44]

Want a glass half full take?

If Karlsson does not re-sign and the Sharks lose in the cup final this will hurt the sharks.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

I think the thing is, being realistic, we can't really compare ourselves right now to teams that are pushing all their chips in and going for it hardcore. That includes teams like Vegas, SJ, Nashville, even Winnipeg. We're more of the STL, Calgary class where we were always going to be a bubble team--being realistic with our core but protecting our future.

I guess there's a world where Blake could have slung every prospect and pick we have this summer to shoot for Patches and Karlsson while moving some salary out somewhere, but is that really what people want at this point anyway?

That's what I want. I get keeping picks and prospects to build for 3-5 years down the line but guess what, 3-5 years down the line Kopitar, Doughty, Brown, and Quick will still be on the team and getting paid top dollar. Kings won't win with those guys anchoring down the team in 3 years. The Kings are stuck in the middle right now which is the worst place to be. I'd rather they just go for it all now and then be awful in 3-4 years than still a bubble team.

 

[Sol]

I think the thing is, being realistic, we can't really compare ourselves right now to teams that are pushing all their chips in and going for it hardcore. That includes teams like Vegas, SJ, Nashville, even Winnipeg. We're more of the STL, Calgary class where we were always going to be a bubble team--being realistic with our core but protecting our future.

I guess there's a world where Blake could have slung every prospect and pick we have this summer to shoot for Patches and Karlsson while moving some salary out somewhere, but is that really what people want at this point anyway?

Yeah but the Kings also are not in that class you said either. Neither of those teams have a player of Kopitar's caliber, Doughtys, and Quicks. If the Kings can build around on the fly (which they have been with Blake) the Kings can rise into the Upper Echelon of the Winnipegs and Sj. All they need is some little luck in terms of assets.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Vegas got worse this year imo. No Perron either.

The pacific got much better this year IMO. But so did the Kings. I'm curious to see how it plays out, hopefully Blake has a couple of spades up his sleeves.

MaxPac and Stastny are a huge upgrade over Neal and Perron. Huge. Pacioretty will score 30 for them as long as he stays healthy.

The biggest question mark is their D, especially with Schmidt our who logged a lot of minutes for them.

 

[Sol]

Want a glass half full take?

If Karlsson does not re-sign and the Sharks lose in the cup final this will hurt the sharks.

Yeah and I see that happening. Super teams tend to fail like the Bolts, Preds, and Jets. A team like the Knights went as far as they did with no real talent. Anyone locking in the Sharks for SCF missed the Knights play off run.

 

[Sol]

MaxPac and Stastny are a huge upgrade over Neal and Perron. Huge. Pacioretty will score 30 for them as long as he stays healthy.

The biggest question mark is their D, especially with Schmidt our who logged a lot of minutes for them.

And that's very possible. I just don't see Pacioretty doing that because I highly doubt Vegas can play the way they did last year.

But if W. Karlsson can score on the Knights like that then it's very likely Max can as well. But I think they lived out that hype already.

 

[johnjm22]

Before Doughty signed there were people around here talking about the "massive" return we'd get for him in a trade. The EK trade just proves what I've thought all along; no matter how great the player, no one is going to give up really high value assets for a pending UFA that will cost 11M+ to re-sign.

So glad re-signed DD.

 

[YP44]

Before Doughty signed there were people around here talking about the "massive" return we'd get for him in a trade. The EK trade just proves what I've thought all along; no matter how great the player, no one is going to give up really high value assets for a pending UFA that will cost 11M+ to re-sign.

So glad re-signed DD.

Glad we re-signed DD too but there is one key difference. Blake vs Dorion/Melnyk

 

[BigKing]

How do you guys expect the Kings to "regress" from last season? That is pretty unlikely. As a team they got better. Kovalchuk is a big addition. A healthy Carter, a fast Carter is a big addition, lastly if Vilardi is healthy (the real wild card in the speculation) the Kings should be doing good.

Anyone forget Carter was injured the whole season and wasn't playing healthy? I like to be negative as much as the next person, but I don't see regression in performance. Maybe a little from Kopitar and Brown, but if what I say is true, then there will be more points to go around for our newer additions

We have one year of Kopitar/Brown playing at the level they did last season. If there were betting odds, you'd get plus money on them matching their performance even with the addition of Kovalchuk since he is somewhat of a wild card himself.

The Kings are a big regression candidate because last year relied upon career years and the back up goaltending basically didn't lose a game. They've also had a serious injury to one of the core guys each of the last two seasons and these guys continue to get older.

I haven't expected Blake to go all-in on anything as far as trading prospects; however, the Kings need to hit on a top prospect that can come in this season and produce at a legit clip. That's why I've been saying it would be huge for Vilardi to come in this season as far back as when he was drafted since this core doesn't have a lot of time to sit around and wait for the cavalry to arrive.

They need free and cheap production. Kovalchuk was free but not cheap but at least he was free as it relates to assets. Brickley being something would go a long way. They just aren't a Cup contender without additional production coming from a source that hasn't been here already. I expect Kovalchuk to help but that won't be enough.

There's a lot more hope than sure things, if there is such a thing as a sure thing. Last year was basically a surprise to most of us so I can't just assume that the same production can be run back and then added to with contributions from Kovy/Carter and progression from anyone that is considered young.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Before Doughty signed there were people around here talking about the "massive" return we'd get for him in a trade. The EK trade just proves what I've thought all along; no matter how great the player, no one is going to give up really high value assets for a pending UFA that will cost 11M+ to re-sign.

So glad re-signed DD.

Pierre Dorion making trades doesn't prove anything except that some people don't deserve their positions.

 

[MOGlLNY]

Beyond the fact we now have to deal with Karlsson directly in our division; I legitimately feel horrible for Senators fans. What a f***ing mess.

 

[YP44]

Pierre Dorion making trades doesn't prove anything except that some people don't deserve their positions.

I truly feel this is all unfair to Dorion until I know how much Melynk controls shit.

 

[SlimCharles]

I just saw the Karlsson news...

 

[Sol]

We have one year of Kopitar/Brown playing at the level they did last season. If there were betting odds, you'd get plus money on them matching their performance even with the addition of Kovalchuk since he is somewhat of a wild card himself.

The Kings are a big regression candidate because last year relied upon career years and the back up goaltending basically didn't lose a game. They've also had a serious injury to one of the core guys each of the last two seasons and these guys continue to get older.

I haven't expected Blake to go all-in on anything as far as trading prospects; however, the Kings need to hit on a top prospect that can come in this season and produce at a legit clip. That's why I've been saying it would be huge for Vilardi to come in this season as far back as when he was drafted since this core doesn't have a lot of time to sit around and wait for the cavalry to arrive.

They need free and cheap production. Kovalchuk was free but not cheap but at least he was free as it relates to assets. Brickley being something would go a long way. They just aren't a Cup contender without additional production coming from a source that hasn't been here already. I expect Kovalchuk to help but that won't be enough.

There's a lot more hope than sure things, if there is such a thing as a sure thing. Last year was basically a surprise to most of us so I can't just assume that the same production can be run back and then added to with contributions from Kovy/Carter and progression from anyone that is considered young.

Alright, but your idea of regression seems to be that things will continue to go wrong in terms of (can't replicate that season, older, core guys getting injured every year). Kopitar never gets injured and neither does brown. Carter doesn't get injured, neither does Doughty. Quick does I'll give you that.


I believe if the Kings remain healthy, and they get good secondary scoring then they will do well. Kovalchuk 60pts isn't impossible at all. I expect Iafallo to do better, Carter to be better now that he's had an offseason to heal, and Vilardi (the legit wild card) if he's healthy, he SHOULD preform well as well

 

[johnjm22]

Pierre Dorion making trades doesn't prove anything except that some people don't deserve their positions.

Glad we re-signed DD too but there is one key difference. Blake vs Dorion/Melnyk

No GM was going to get a great return for him.

These trades are almost always quantity for quality. That's how it works.

 

[Winger23]

I just saw the Karlsson news...

It sucks if he regains his old form.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

It sucks if he regains his old form.

Even in a bad year on an awful team he had 62 points while posting a shooting % about 3% below his average. On the Sharks power play with Vlasic covering his ass, he'll get back to 17-20 goals with 70-80 points.

 

[YP44]

No GM was going to get a great return for him.

These trades are almost always quantity for quality. That's how it works.

Look at Dorian's track record. I think most if not every GM could have gotten more. Hell Bergeron just got more for Pacioretty. Don't even have to look far as the Sens retained on Dion and sent him here for Shore and Gaborik (who was in the press box alot at the time)

 

[lexlavender]

Sharks going for it. Definitely rebuilding after this year.

 

[Fishhead]

Props to San Jose, they have to go for it. They are going to look much different next year for cap reasons alone. They only have 4 forwards and 4 defense signed after this year:

Kane, Hertl, Couture, M. Karlsson = 22.6M

Burns, Vlasic, Braun, Dillon = 22M

Jones, Dell in goal = 7.6M

That's a little over 52M

The cap will likely be a little over 80M, so they probably have about 30M to sign 3D an 9F. Karlsson at 11M means 19M to sign 8F and 2D, 6 of which are RFA. Donskoi will cost them 2.5. No Pavelski for sure, probably no Thornton. It's not going to be easy to retain EK, but if they do it's going to be all top end and super cheap youngsters, with only a couple in the middle.

I think Wilson will be moving on from San Jose soon anyways, this is his shot to go out a winner. He had a shot to make them much better for this year and he took it.

 

[lexlavender]

The only bright side of all this is that we have kovalchuck for two years and not one. When the Sharks inevitably start losing core players next year along with being strapped for cash (They need to sign Karlsson), we at least will have one less strong team in the division.

But this assumes that all of our core players can actually produce for the next two years, which is unlikely.

 

[Stimpythecat]

I still can't believe Dallas, vegas or tampa couldn't beat that offer.

 

[YP44]

I still can't believe Dallas, vegas or tampa couldn't beat that offer.

I think Tampa could have but Ottawa is stupid and refused to trade with in conference. To the point they put a conditional pick on the EK deal if San Jose flip Karlsson to an Eastern team.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Alright, but your idea of regression seems to be that things will continue to go wrong in terms of (can't replicate that season, older, core guys getting injured every year). Kopitar never gets injured and neither does brown. Carter doesn't get injured, neither does Doughty. Quick does I'll give you that.


I believe if the Kings remain healthy, and they get good secondary scoring then they will do well. Kovalchuk 60pts isn't impossible at all. I expect Iafallo to do better, Carter to be better now that he's had an offseason to heal, and Vilardi (the legit wild card) if he's healthy, he SHOULD preform well as well

I hear you. Seems like most around here imagine all the worst cases for the Kings and all the best cases for everyone else. Patches SHOULD score 35-40--what if he scores 20? What if William Karlsson is a 40-point getter? What if all their d-men revert to their former selves? Can do the same for literally every team in the divison, there are no runaway favorites, and while I agree lots has to go right for the Kings and that we're probably poorer-off with top-end roster injuries than others would be, everyone's got an achilles heel.

No GM was going to get a great return for him.

These trades are almost always quantity for quality. That's how it works.

I don't really disagree, but there's plenty of precedent--just about all of them--for better returns for pending UFAs at deadlines and in the summer.

This is a bad situation getting schooled by an opportunistic and good GM rather than a 'typical' trade.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Of the 3 teams that were always mentioned for Karlsson, SJ is sort of the most digestible. Tired of the high and mighty Lightning fans. Vegas, enough already. I mean, screw the Sharks, but it'll make them not winning the whole thing that much more enjoyable.