Around the league part 2

[BigKing]

Blake was scared shitless to hitch his wagon to Vilardi and I don't blame him since he's mostly been hurt. He wanted out of the Vilardi business and wanted to try and maximize the asset.

Don't need Lombardi to talk about it for 30 minutes: PLD is a true center that is usually available to play. Available to play because he isn't injured and actually trying when he is playing are two different things.

Everyone knows who PLD is. What Blake's hoping for is that he is a different beast in the playoffs, something he has been in the past.

 

[johnjm22]

There's guys who get hot in the playoffs, but I've never seen a player go from what PLD is doing now to beast mode within the same season. I have seen the inverse.

 

[BaileyFan]

Blake was scared shitless to hitch his wagon to Vilardi and I don't blame him since he's mostly been hurt. He wanted out of the Vilardi business and wanted to try and maximize the asset.

Don't need Lombardi to talk about it for 30 minutes: PLD is a true center that is usually available to play. Available to play because he isn't injured and actually trying when he is playing are two different things.

Everyone knows who PLD is. What Blake's hoping for is that he is a different beast in the playoffs, something he has been in the past.

I’m not holding my breath for playoff PLD to suddenly pop off and make the trade look bearable. His whole reputation as a playoff beast is due to getting hot for 2 weeks in the bubble, just like Korpisalo. He was invisible for 3 out of the 5 games last year and was part of the group that Bowness publicly said he was “disgusted” by.

 

[johnjm22]

I'm sure he'll make a recovery in time for the playoffs.

This news does affect LA somewhat. Now that NJ has plenty of cap space, it makes the goalie market that much more difficult.

 

[Bandit]

I’m not holding my breath for playoff PLD to suddenly pop off and make the trade look bearable. His whole reputation as a playoff beast is due to getting hot for 2 weeks in the bubble, just like Korpisalo. He was invisible for 3 out of the 5 games last year and was part of the group that Bowness publicly said he was “disgusted” by.

Yeah the guy that can’t even get a half chubby during the regular season is suddenly gonna be an unstoppable hard on when literally everyone else is the league is on cocaine? Pure fiction.

 

[kingsfan28]

I don't think Faber++ is enough to land Eichel two years ago though, so as much as I agree that we should have pushed harder for Eichel it is disingenuous to compare with Faber as the centerpiece. November 2021 was a different time in terms of Kings' asset valuation. Vilardi hadn't broken out yet and as was still a reclamation project (Turcotte the same), Byfield's development was more uncertain, and Faber's stock hadn't rose to where it is today (he hadn't even played at the WJC by Nov '21).

Tuch, Krebs, '22 1st, and '23 2nd in November 2021 translated to Kings assets is tricky. That was Kempe's breakout year, and with all due respect to Iafallo and Moore, Kempe is likely the only comparable for Tuch we had then. Faber++ without Kempe included in 2021 means the ++ is Clarke or Byfield (the latter's development looking shaky at that point to boot). I think Kempe, Faber, and a 1st is the price we're paying in November 2021 valuation, and Vegas might still win out given Tuch's size, playoff experience, production, and connection to Buffalo.

It was a massive risk, just like his surgery. Vegas got real lucky. It could've not worked and he can still be right back there on LTIR.

 

[SmytheKing]

Wild are 2-1 since this post. Faber is +2 with an assist and averaging 30 minutes a game. Still find it hard to believe the kings are worse off if they don’t trade for Fiala and PLD.

3-1 now and Faber with another assist and +2 in 30 minutes against the Bruins tonight. What a beast.

 

[King'sPawn]

Damn, that's rough. So young.

 

[Nasti]

I’m already tired of this BS “PLD is a playoff beast” narrative.

 

[kilowatt]

Blake was scared shitless to hitch his wagon to Vilardi and I don't blame him since he's mostly been hurt. He wanted out of the Vilardi business and wanted to try and maximize the asset.

Don't need Lombardi to talk about it for 30 minutes: PLD is a true center that is usually available to play. Available to play because he isn't injured and actually trying when he is playing are two different things.

Everyone knows who PLD is. What Blake's hoping for is that he is a different beast in the playoffs, something he has been in the past.

I’d like to see more from an $8.5 million center than “usually available”

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I’m already tired of this BS “PLD is a playoff beast” narrative.

Can't say if he is or if he isn't, until we get there, last night he looked better than the previous night, which looked better than the previous night, and so on and so forth, he made some nice moves yesterday that if he didn't get yanked over etc, might have one damage, he made one pass that Kaliyev was so surprised to get, it bounced off his stick....which goes to someone's point about needing better linemates, but the problem is, as soon as he gets better linemates, PLD goes into watch mode......hes no good in that mode (not that he's done much else, he 100% has to play better) but if you pay attention, you can see the things he does that help the team otherways than the scoresheet.....

What we really need, is for him to show up when Moore, Kopitar, Fiala go cold......that will be the true test

 

[Johnny Utah]

I am willing to wait until Arvidsson comes back, the trade deadline and then the playoffs.

But after all those things occur and he still sucks - this will be 7 years of hell and also watching Vilardi emerge as a star makes me sick.

Who cares about Quick; love him, great guy - met him twice, and one of the top 3 best Kings of all time and the best Kings goalie of all time, but he sucked for 2-3 seasons here, was an UFA and is almost 40.

Not really bothered by losing AI either, he has only year left before he is a UFA again and is almost 30.

Kupari is likely a bust also; he just can't finish. He will be a Trevor Lewis player until he retires or goes back to Europe.

It's the 2nd and Vilardi for PLD plus 8.5 million WOW.

 

[tigermask48]

The problem with moving Roy is now you risk playing two rookies on the right side and hope it works. Even if he's never traded , it's Faber/Spence or both Faber/Clake, that too much to ask two inexperienced kids to do. I can't think of many teams, other than teams in full rebuild would do that, especially a playoff team. I still like the deal, because they Kings really needed a dynamic scorer and delt from a position of strength for a change.

The Kings had 21 year olds Doughty and Voinov, and a 24 year old Alec Martinez as 3 of the 6 D when they won in 2012...
In 2013 they added 23 year olds Keaton Ellerby and Jake Muzzin to the mix and made the Conference Finals and Muzzin was a key piece of the 2014 cup team.
If guys are ready, like Spence, Faber, Clarke are you make room the same way LA did for Voinov when they traded Johnson.

 

[Johnny Utah]

No problem with Faber for Fiala when the Kings have Clarke and Spence in the wings.

No problem trading or letting Quick walk.

BIG problem trading break out star Vilardi, Kupari, AI and a HIGH 2nd for PLD and then giving him the max years.

 

[Kingnut]

No problem with Faber for Fiala when the Kings have Clarke and Spence in the wings.

No problem trading or letting Quick walk.

BIG problem trading break out star Vilardi, Kupari, AI and a HIGH 2nd for PLD and then giving him the max years.

More glaring based on his style of play

 

[YP44]

I am willing to wait until Arvidsson comes back, the trade deadline and then the playoffs.

But after all those things occur and he still sucks - this will be 7 years of hell and also watching Vilardi emerge as a star makes me sick.

Who cares about Quick; love him, great guy - met him twice, and one of the top 3 best Kings of all time and the best Kings goalie of all time, but he sucked for 2-3 seasons here, was an UFA and is almost 40.

Not really bothered by losing AI either, he has only year left before he is a UFA again and is almost 30.

Kupari is likely a bust also; he just can't finish. He will be a Trevor Lewis player until he retires or goes back to Europe.

It's the 2nd and Vilardi for PLD plus 8.5 million WOW.

A trevor lewis player and a bust are not the same thing . Rest I mostly agree with

 

[Steve Zissou]

Is this a sign from the Hockey Gods in relation to Alex Turcotte?

 

[Buddy The Elf]

Is it that crazy to suggest the Kings are a better team with PLD than with Vilardi, Iaffalo and Kupari? I'm very critical of PLD's performance so far with the Kings like most on here but the Kings center depth is allowing them to roll 4 lines and completely dominate possession and scoring in a lot of games. He might not be producing like we all want and certainly his play is not commensurate with a salary but the Kings stand a better chance at winning a cup with him and less the other three.

 

[YAYSAY]

Is it that crazy to suggest the Kings are a better team with PLD than with Vilardi, Iaffalo and Kupari? I'm very critical of PLD's performance so far with the Kings like most on here but the Kings center depth is allowing them to roll 4 lines and completely dominate possession and scoring in a lot of games. He might not be producing like we all want and certainly his play is not commensurate with a salary but the Kings stand a better chance at winning a cup with him and less the other three.

It's not like the only option was keep all three or move all three. Could have traded AI and Kupari for picks and kept Vilardi. Most cup teams win when they have good players on good contracts, not when they have meh players on horrible contracts. Yes yes still early he can change etc, just saying thus far it's been bad.

 

[YP44]

Is it that crazy to suggest the Kings are a better team with PLD than with Vilardi, Iaffalo and Kupari? I'm very critical of PLD's performance so far with the Kings like most on here but the Kings center depth is allowing them to roll 4 lines and completely dominate possession and scoring in a lot of games. He might not be producing like we all want and certainly his play is not commensurate with a salary but the Kings stand a better chance at winning a cup with him and less the other three.

the gains on D with Gavrikov, development of QB and Kaliyev as well as Moore resurgence is the reason IMO.

Is this a sign from the Hockey Gods in relation to Alex Turcotte?

View attachment 787422

update is he has not retired.

Thought of Turcotte as well

 

[King'sPawn]

Is it that crazy to suggest the Kings are a better team with PLD than with Vilardi, Iaffalo and Kupari? I'm very critical of PLD's performance so far with the Kings like most on here but the Kings center depth is allowing them to roll 4 lines and completely dominate possession and scoring in a lot of games. He might not be producing like we all want and certainly his play is not commensurate with a salary but the Kings stand a better chance at winning a cup with him and less the other three.

It's not crazy, but we're venturing into the hypothetical territory where there are a multitude of other ways we can argue it should be handled better. Options include:

- sign PLD to a shorter, "show me" contract if he IS the guy. A player whose career high is 60ish points. Brady Tkachuck has a lower cap hit with a better peak season of over 80 points last year

- if it's about trading away Vilardi, Iafallo, etc, why not try other centers? Or why not try other players/futures, and sign someone else as a UFA?

I just don't believe the trade and contract is the best the Kings could have done.

 

[Buddy The Elf]

the gains on D with Gavrikov, development of QB and Kaliyev as well as Moore resurgence is the reason IMO.

That is all certainly true as well.

It's not crazy, but we're venturing into the hypothetical territory where there are a multitude of other ways we can argue it should be handled better. Options include:

- sign PLD to a shorter, "show me" contract if he IS the guy. A player whose career high is 60ish points. Brady Tkachuck has a lower cap hit with a better peak season of over 80 points last year

- if it's about trading away Vilardi, Iafallo, etc, why not try other centers? Or why not try other players/futures, and sign someone else as a UFA?

I just don't believe the trade and contract is the best the Kings could have done.

Yeah, I wasn't making the argument that it was a good trade or the best route just that the Kings are benefitting right now even if it wasn't the most prudent move. I'll be honest, I thought it was a good move in the summer time and still giving PLD a chance to breakout but it's getting to the point of pure frustration watching him. The guy should watch Danault and not emulate his play but emulate his effort. That guy is all heart. If PLD had half the heart and effort as Danault he'd be as good as Kopitar. In preseason and the first few weeks of the season PLD showed glimpses of being a dominant player and has only regressed and remained stagnant since then.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

Lol Vilardi scored again. He might score 60 this year at this rate!

 

[kingsfan28]

The Kings had 21 year olds Doughty and Voinov, and a 24 year old Alec Martinez as 3 of the 6 D when they won in 2012...
In 2013 they added 23 year olds Keaton Ellerby and Jake Muzzin to the mix and made the Conference Finals and Muzzin was a key piece of the 2014 cup team.
If guys are ready, like Spence, Faber, Clarke are you make room the same way LA did for Voinov when they traded Johnson.

Johnson was traded from a position of strength for Carter. They already had 5 experienced guys including 3 vet dmen who had years of experience when Voynov was brought up, who already had over 240 pro games under him. Faber would have had 0, Clarke 8. As I pointed out, Faber most likely would've started in the AHL to make room for Spence, then called up. There was no guarantee he'd have made the starting roster.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Lol Vilardi scored again. He might score 60 this year at this rate!

has an assist too. It makes me ill