They acquired a winger who has surpassed the point-per-game mark once in his career. Prior to that, in 337 games, he's scored 198 points. Obviously, he should be better more recently, but there was no guarantee he would uphold his scoring rate.
If someone offered you a mid 1st + a prospect whose value has jumped to a first round pick for Kempe, wouldn't you think you've got a Kings' ransom?
Even so, scoring is up league-wide and he's tied for 23rd in scoring despite playing more games than most.
Unfortunately, because the Kings are so offensively starved, we're clinging to sexy numbers.
Sure, but he has at least shown so far that he is capable of maintaining that pace this season and making any line he is on and any player he plays with significantly better. At the time of the trade, he was a forward that put up 85 points and played all 82 games. On that value high, we still got him for a 1st + a prospect. The value looks very good where we are standing now. Will it always be that way? Time will tell. But, for right now, while they're free to do so, I don't see how anyone can question the deal in any logical way.
Kempe is 54 points in 78 games and I would argue that he would be worth a 1st + a mid to upper-tier prospect. Though, even then, the Kings can't take it because they wouldn't trade a 26-year-old 35-goal scorer for futures when they're trying to compete (which I know you're not stating).
Blake has definitely reached the critical juncture in his managing career where he needs to choose if the Kings are going to try to compete now with the current core and hopes the prospects figure it out on their own or if we are going to take a step back and continue to retool and move the spotlight a little more toward the youth to carry the torch and maybe compete in a few years. I don't think he can continue to be in the middle here where he is mainly aiming at getting them into just making the playoffs range without pulling the trigger and waiting around hoping something becomes available for them developmental and trade-wise. He is going to have to force something to happen here soon otherwise his job should be in jeopardy if the team remains treading water. I can't think ownership would be thrilled, Kopi and Doughty definitely didn't sign up for that, and the prospects will sooner or later mutiny and seek out another team ASAP.
