Around the League, Summer 2016--NHL Draft Shenanigans Edition

[Bandit]

Except that Lucic sticks up for teammates, can STILL score goals, and can STILL set up plays, but yeah, he'll probably turn into Brown in a few years.

Oh yeah and Lucic goes to the front of the net and screens the goalie!

All of those things could have been said of Brown at the time he signed his deal as well.

 

[KingPuckChoo]

Dustin Brown turned into Dustin Brown at the age of 28

Milan Lucic is 28

Is this the year Milan Lucic turns into Dustin Brown?

 

[YP44]

When it comes to the expansion draft they should beg vegas to take Jokinen or Bolland, because no way is anyone wanting Luo

I could see Vegas taking Luongo. Could also see them taking Jokinen. depends what other goalies are not protected.

Plus Bernier will be a UFA next year.

 

[Tecumseh]

Jared Boll one way for two years. This year is gonna ****ing suck. Not sure why I'm surprised, all of these stupid and beyond pointless acquisitions were inevitable the second Carlyle was rehired

 

[KopitarFAN]

Jared Boll one way for two years. This year is gonna ****ing suck. Not sure why I'm surprised, all of these stupid and beyond pointless acquisitions were inevitable the second Carlyle was rehired

Remember how Murray and to some extent Carlyle himself tried to build it up how he had changed? Good times. Same ****, different day.

I could see Vegas taking Luongo. Could also see them taking Jokinen. depends what other goalies are not protected.

Plus Bernier will be a UFA next year.

As will Miller, Elliott, Pavelec and (as of now) Bishop.

Other guys who could be available in the expansion if one isn't traded: MAF/Murray, Mrazek/Howard, Raanta, Lehtonen/Niemi

 

[Omni Owl]

Jared Boll one way for two years. This year is gonna ****ing suck. Not sure why I'm surprised, all of these stupid and beyond pointless acquisitions were inevitable the second Carlyle was rehired

As of now your forward group (especially on the wings) looks pretty weak, it makes me think Fowler will be traded for a winger. I harp about this a lot, but if your ownership allowed the team to spend up to the cap ya'll could've kept Palmieri/Bonino/Belesky (or a least 2 of those guys).

 

[Tecumseh]

Remember how Murray and to some extent Carlyle himself tried to build it up how he had changed? Good times. Same ****, different day.

That's your normal run of the mill stuff said as lip service to appease critics in both the fanbase and media. Randy Carlyle is not a man prone to change. Never was, never will be.

As of now your forward group (especially on the wings) looks pretty weak, it makes me think Fowler will be traded for a defenseman. I harp about this a lot, but if your ownership allowed the team to spend up to the cap ya'll could've kept Palmieri/Bonino/Belesky (or a least 2 of those guys).

The Kesler line is really the only bright spot on the team (offense at least). Nate Guenin, Mason Raymond, Jared Boll we wasted money on players like that when we could have used it to re-sign Perron. Might as well grab Kyle Chipchura and Mike Brown while we're at it. Gonna be a painfully long season, might be a good idea to watch some tape of this Nolan Patrick

 

[Omni Owl]

Well if its any consolation, we're trending in the wrong direction as well.

 

[Tecumseh]

Nice. We'll suffer together

 

[Asher]

I think he's a great deterrent, would you want to fight him? He can play on a top line and is one of the biggest hitting and toughest fighters in the league, perfect for babysitting McDavid.

In fact, it's already begun...

 

[Little Psycho]

Except that Lucic sticks up for teammates, can STILL score goals, and can STILL set up plays, but yeah, he'll probably turn into Brown in a few years.

Oh yeah and Lucic goes to the front of the net and screens the goalie!

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

more than most kings do anyway

 

[Bandit]

This made me laugh a lot more than it should have, thanks.

 

[Little Psycho]

more than most kings do anyway

I remembered that one when I posted my comment lol, I think he stood up for Kopi once too but that's all I recall.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I remembered that one when I posted my comment lol, I think he stood up for Kopi once too but that's all I recall.

Yeah Lindholm of all people blasted Kopi pretty good and Lucic went after him.

Both times most all anyone said was "great another dumb penalty." So

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

Yeah Lindholm of all people blasted Kopi pretty good and Lucic went after him.

Both times most all anyone said was "great another dumb penalty." So

After whistles though no one would mess with Toffoli when he would jab at the goalie after the whistle. Once Lucic got moved to Kopitar's line in the Sharks series, they started messing with Toffoli after the whistle.

 

[BigKing]

Lucic only went ballistic when he was the one who was "wronged".

Everything else was half-assed, including the Lindholm hit.

He will do more in Edmonton. That money is guaranteed, son! He wasn't going out of his way last year to put himself in a position to get hurt and possibly reduce his pay day.

 

[Kingsfan1]

After whistles though no one would mess with Toffoli when he would jab at the goalie after the whistle. Once Lucic got moved to Kopitar's line in the Sharks series, they started messing with Toffoli after the whistle.

I really think Lucic game will not drop and people will regret lettin him walk. I guess this year Toffoli will get beat badly every game since we don't have anyone anymore to protect him.

 

[The Pale King]

Nobody went after Kopitar last year sure, but when has that ever really been an issue? Easy to say after the fact, but Lucic was roundly unimpressive in L.A. Very quiet 50 point season. Got more mileage from Lucic, but the Sekera acquisition at least made sense from a personnel stand point.

People say "well Lucic prevents guys from taking liberties" and while that is true, the result is no one does anything after the whistles. It looked like half the Kings roster was asleep, especially down the stretch. This group needs a wake-up call sometimes.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Nobody went after Kopitar last year sure, but when has that ever really been an issue? Easy to say after the fact, but Lucic was roundly unimpressive in L.A. Very quiet 50 point season. Got more mileage from Lucic, but the Sekera acquisition at least made sense from a personnel stand point.

People say "well Lucic prevents guys from taking liberties" and while that is true, the result is no one does anything after the whistles. It looked like half the Kings roster was asleep, especially down the stretch. This group needs a wake-up call sometimes.

It was previously starting to be an issue. I distinctly remember a huge uproar around here when Mark Giordano hit Kopi lateish near our bench--borderline legal, but still a hit you don't let a guy put on Kopitar--and NO ONE on the ice did a thing. The boards went ballistic. I agree it's not frequent and Kopi is good at protecting himself with effective body position but it's nice to have people to get nasty if they need to.

Now I kind of agree that everyone has been deferential. I think that's a Sutterism, though, the 'hurt them on the scoreboard' thing. We push people all around during play then do nothing after the whistle for the most part. In general, I'm okay with that. But we're getting softer, and it's going to start being a problem, in my opinion--as we kind of add more skill to the roster, people are happy that we're transitioning to speed/talent, but there IS a tradeoff.

I feel Looch was less physically effective here than he could have been for whatever reason (BigKing proposes a potentially interesting one above), but his scoring was good and I DO think he was an effective deterrent.

In my opinion we werent always winning series' because we were the most talented team on the ice, but we were the ones that could impose our will. Batter the other team, get to the front, wear them down. We'll soon be out-talented AND out-sized. Previously, we'd never be out-sized, and guys doing the dirty work won us two cups and got us within striking distance of another. I have to be honest, while others are happy (and I don't have suggestions as to how this can look), I'm a little upset we're transitioning away from the size and brutality. But it's tough to have that AND speed--i"m happy to get guys like Gravel on the roster, but I would take a vintage Mitchell or Regehr back in a heartbeat where I know others would never think that. Just a difference in opinion, no biggie, and I digress...

 

[BigKing]

It was previously starting to be an issue. I distinctly remember a huge uproar around here when Mark Giordano hit Kopi lateish near our bench--borderline legal, but still a hit you don't let a guy put on Kopitar--and NO ONE on the ice did a thing. The boards went ballistic. I agree it's not frequent and Kopi is good at protecting himself with effective body position but it's nice to have people to get nasty if they need to.

Now I kind of agree that everyone has been deferential. I think that's a Sutterism, though, the 'hurt them on the scoreboard' thing. We push people all around during play then do nothing after the whistle for the most part. In general, I'm okay with that. But we're getting softer, and it's going to start being a problem, in my opinion--as we kind of add more skill to the roster, people are happy that we're transitioning to speed/talent, but there IS a tradeoff.

I feel Looch was less physically effective here than he could have been for whatever reason (BigKing proposes a potentially interesting one above), but his scoring was good and I DO think he was an effective deterrent.

In my opinion we werent always winning series' because we were the most talented team on the ice, but we were the ones that could impose our will. Batter the other team, get to the front, wear them down. We'll soon be out-talented AND out-sized. Previously, we'd never be out-sized, and guys doing the dirty work won us two cups and got us within striking distance of another. I have to be honest, while others are happy (and I don't have suggestions as to how this can look), I'm a little upset we're transitioning away from the size and brutality. But it's tough to have that AND speed--i"m happy to get guys like Gravel on the roster, but I would take a vintage Mitchell or Regehr back in a heartbeat where I know others would never think that. Just a difference in opinion, no biggie, and I digress...

I was unhappy with the Bollig hit on Kopitar in LA. Only response was a half-assed slash from Carter that led to a minor penalty that I believe Calgary scored on. We also know how the final standings wound up in that season and what the results were in LA against Calgary, i.e. blown leads and OT losses that led to missing the playoffs.

So, yeah, no real response and the ***** response that was given indirectly led to missing the playoffs.

The real issue with that hit is that it was a goon doing it to arguably the team's best player. That is why there was an uproar.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Who was the protector in 2012, 2013, or 2014? It's not the 80's anymore. The only reason the 80's were the 80's is because nobody was an actual deterrent to anything. Lucic being on the team, or even on the ice, didn't stop Polak from hitting Toffoli. Lucic being on the team didn't stop Reaves from his "accidental" elbow on Kopitar.

Anyone that's really going to take a run at McDavid isn't going to care if Lucic comes gunning for him. Is Lucic going to go after the other teams best player instead? Take another bad penalty? Get kicked out for the game, and maybe suspended?

 

[Minor Boarding]

Who was the protector in 2012, 2013, or 2014? It's not the 80's anymore. The only reason the 80's were the 80's is because nobody was an actual deterrent to anything. Lucic being on the team, or even on the ice, didn't stop Polak from hitting Toffoli. Lucic being on the team didn't stop Reaves from his "accidental" elbow on Kopitar.

Anyone that's really going to take a run at McDavid isn't going to care if Lucic comes gunning for him. Is Lucic going to go after the other teams best player instead? Take another bad penalty? Get kicked out for the game, and maybe suspended?

Some people have their minds still in 1993 where McSorley played the guarding job...
The reality is, this team was the best during 2012-2014. Goons and dumb-***** no more was the mantra and everyone protected himself as well as their teammates regardless of size...

The thought that a single player added should intimidate opponents enough to not take libertines (if the refs allow them) on the team is hilariously stupid/********.
The Perrons/Perrys were still camping in Quicks grill-place, and the cheap-shoots were still made with or without Lucic, who was playing more like Jane rather then Tarzan...

I mean, look at the Playoff series. Where did Lucic end up playing and how did he really play? I haven't seen any of this supposed hard hitting, toughness or intimidation from Lucic when the team went Hawaii mode in the Sharks series...

 

[YP44]

I don't look at is as Lucic protecting McDavid but providing a physical presence for the Oilers that they lack. Sure they have Kassian and Maroon who can muck it up, but neither are the same caliber as Lucic.

He fills a need for them that they were missing. LA has enough players who can play physical so it is not as much of a team need. Fast skaters and skill players on the other hand.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Lucic will provide McDavid with the same thing he provided Kopitar: room. It's a good signing right now and likely for another three years. It is what it is.