Around the league part 2

[Johnny Utah]

70 games 0 goals and 8 assists and -12.

Amazing stats.

Not the first time the Kings have given a borderline roster player a second year on a contract to discourage teams from taking the player on waivers. None of Englund’s cap hit will count against the cap when he’s in the AHL.

Yes but 1 million?

 

[Johnny Utah]

He plays hockey better than Englund.

Kinda important.

So does Edler at 37. But because the Kings are so soft Edler played. Same with Englund.

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

70 games 0 goals and 8 assists and -12.

Amazing stats.



Yes but 1 million?

He's an insurance policy at LD.

 

[YP44]

I’m not. I love Spence but Clarke has significantly more upside than Spence and in 3 years could easily be the best player in a Kings shirt. Clarke in the NHL has to be the priority.

Given he’s a UFA after this season I’d actually rather trade Roy, (probably for some physicality on LD or upfront) and get both Spence and Clarke on the ice. Maybe do it at the TDL.


The Englund, Björnfot decision will probably be decided in camp. If Toby comes in ready to go I think he will have the inside track.

Meant I was ok with it in the short term. I see nothing wrong with seeing if Clarke can excel in the AHL wile also seeing Spence in the NHL.

I agree on Roy, like what he brings but I don't see where he fits in the top 4 longterm, so should be dealt for Goaltending help

 

[johnjm22]

 

[YP44]

What the f***, considering he made Marner rank his teammates Babcock does some weird things.

 

[johnjm22]

What the f***, considering he made Marner rank his teammates Babcock does some weird things.

Something just seems off about the guy. Like he's lost his marbles or something.

This is not the behavior of a normal person.

 

[johnjm22]

He's an insurance policy at LD.

He plays hockey better than Englund.

Kinda important.

I think Englund might be better than people think.

IMO, he has a legitimate shot of being the bottom pairing dman over Bjornfot.

Toby might find himself stuck in the AHL for the entire year, with Spence as the callup since he's waivers exempt.

 

[johnjm22]

 

[kingsholygrail]

The whole situation is a nothingburger. Can't believe it's making any headway.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Englund also played with Kempe when they were younger and Grundstrom.

 

[YP44]

The whole situation is a nothingburger. Can't believe it's making any headway.

I think if it were not for Toronto and the Marner list it would not be making headway.

 

[tny760]

would've expected biz to pipe down and apologize after jenner basically canned that drama but he's dying on the hill on twitter

bizarre

 

[Johnny Utah]

Jon Mirasty on Chiclets was awesome.

 

[kingsboy11]

Don't really want to carry water for either Biz or Babcock here. It could be a simple misunderstanding from what the Jackets put out, but it easily could not given the person in question. Regardless I can't believe any serious organization would actually have any desire to bring in Babcock anymore. Just baffling to me.

 

[King'sPawn]

I think if it were not for Toronto and the Marner list it would not be making headway.

And Johan Franzen getting verbally abused while he was fighting through concussions.

Glad it was nothing this time with Babcock, but he has a history of being a world-class asshole before Toronto.

 

[johnjm22]

I think if it were not for Toronto and the Marner list it would not be making headway.

And Johan Franzen getting verbally abused while he was fighting through concussions.

That's the thing. It's true we don't really know what happened. And often times the things you hear in the media are blown way out of proportion or flat out wrong, but Babcock doesn't get the benefit of the doubt because he has some history.

Of course the statement from Columbus/Jenner is going to make it sound like nothing.

 

[tny760]

Of course the statement from Columbus/Jenner is going to make it sound like nothing.

gotta be fair here though, it's not just cbus and jenner, it's gaudreau saying the exact same thing, the league saying it, the PA saying it.. i think the bases are covered that this was a genuine nothingburger taken out of context

he deserves to be doubted obviously, but i think we should all be just as quick to take it back

 

[johnjm22]

gotta be fair here though, it's not just cbus and jenner, it's gaudreau saying the exact same thing, the league saying it, the PA saying it.. i think the bases are covered that this was a genuine nothingburger taken out of context

he deserves to be doubted obviously, but i think we should all be just as quick to take it back

Okay. I wasn't there. It might be nothing. I don't know.

 

[King'sPawn]

gotta be fair here though, it's not just cbus and jenner, it's gaudreau saying the exact same thing, the league saying it, the PA saying it.. i think the bases are covered that this was a genuine nothingburger taken out of context

he deserves to be doubted obviously, but i think we should all be just as quick to take it back

Agreed. Spittin' Chiclets should also issue an apology for spewing this shit before following up with ANYONE remotely involved.

edit: of course, this is contingent on it actually being a non-issue. I'm still wary, as it's Babcock. But either side could come out looking like turds and I would be unsurprised.

 

[Choralone]

At least put out one of those non-apology apologies if Biz's ego is too big to straight out say "sorry" like the Fonz.

 

[Herby]

I love the podcast (like many), but Biz is being stupid here. Just apologize and move on.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[FrozenKing18]

I’m rooting for the kid. I hope he pans out and becomes a star.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I understand where you are coming from, I was one of the fans who wanted the Kings to suck in 2022 and 2023 so they could reload the system and actually draft some guys who might project as stars (especially with how strong the 2023 draft is probably going to be). Right now I feel like Clarke is the only young piece who really projects as a potential star caliber player that could win hardware one day.

But once they made the commitment to trying to win quickly again with one more kick at the can with 11 & 8, and with the struggles of Byfield and Turcotte to live up to the draft capital used on them and Vilardi's inability to play C at the NHL level they had to address the center situation for Kopitar's final few years in the league. And I think the added bonus is that PLD at least has a chance to maybe take another step and even become the teams best C as early as this season, and he's young enough where if the Kings do have to rebuild when 11 and 8 retire he can either be the teams temporary 1C until they draft another one, or he can be flipped to a contender if the Kings go scorched Earth in 3 years.

And yes it's in the realm of possibility that Vilardi takes a big step too, but it's also in the realm of possibility that everything went right for Vilardi last year and he regresses back to what he looked like his first couple of years in the league. At 24 years old, I just don't think he was young enough or impactful enough to keep him as winger, when you had a gaping hole at 2C and a much more proven player only a year older than Gabe available.

This has been my position for a while, too. Blake is not pretending to rebuild anymore, which is good. Expectations are clearly aligned, and he has gone all in on whatever Cup window we currently have.