Toggle sidebar

Blake Extended for 3 Years

  • Work is still on-going to rebuild the site styling and features. Please report any issues you may experience so we can look into it. Click Here for Updates
bland said:
That's exactly what they should have done, and most definitely should do next year.

There is a lull coming. Most likely scenario sees no King cracks the 60 point mark next year. Chasing the playoffs does far more harm than good to a team in this flux. This team isn't ready to succeed, nor is it built for a playoff run. Just making the playoffs is the absolute best they could hope for, unless they bring in MORE vets and dig their holes even deeper.

Progress is seeing young players given the rope they need to move forward, not burying them deeper behind middle of the lineup veteran acquisitions. If that means missing the playoffs, fine.
Click to expand...
I know I'm going to sound stubborn (and maybe I am), but I don't buy it.

The Kings had their lull already. They missed the playoffs in 2021, 2020, and 2019 after clinging to their core. Bear in mind, as much as I was against trading the core, this ties way back to what I've been saying for YEARS - the Kings have had issues with developing top-six forwards; trading away the core is meaningless if you can't develop the replacements.

Blake has yet to provide tangible evidence of developing a consistent top-six scoring threat. He has Adrian Kempe, who has been in the org for 8 years. His career best, this season, and it wasn't even better than Tyler Toffoli's peak.

The Kings prioritized playoffs over prospects this year. I agree they need to prioritize the prospect over the playoffs, BUT, missing the playoffs is just an abject failure.

Moral victories were this year. When they had a healthier Kopitar, Doughty, Brown, etc to work alongside the prospects.

If the growth of the prospects cannot surpass the loss of veteran production to get the Kings in the playoffs, then the franchise will look directionless.

Prospect development is a component of the progress, but that can't be the sole barometer of success.

Fishhead said:
Remember it happened with the Avalanche. They had vets and young guys both producing when they first hired Roy, they had a fantastic season. By Roy's third season that had imploded, leading to his firing as they had lost 30 points in the standings. They really went in the crapper the next season and finally started turning it around in Bednar's 2nd year.

MacKinnon was in this 6th season and Landeskog was in his 8th before they made it past the first round. Some of that has to do with Bednar finally getting them to move away from that flying style into a system with more emphasis on their own end, Roy couldn't have cared less about that shit.

The equivalent of that for the Kings would be making it past the first round in 25-26, and they didn't have nearly the top picks Colorado did. They had 6 top 10 picks in 9 years, including a 1, a 2, a 3, and a 5. So a step back isn't an uncommon thing when trying to build a contender.
Click to expand...
Since we're comparing the Avalanche to the Kings. Here are their top 5 scorers (and their age, according to hockeydb.com) the year after they drafted MacKinnon 1st overall:
2013-14
Duchene (22)
Landeskog (20)
O'Reilly (22)
MacKinnon (18)
Stastny (27)

2014-15
Iginla (37)
Landeskog (21)
Tanguay (34)
Duchene (23)
O'Reilly (23)

2015-16
MacKinnon (21)
Duchene (25)
Rantanen (19)
Barrie (25)
Landeskog (23)

Even when they made the playoffs before their implosion, 4 of their top 5 players were 22 or younger.

Let's check out the age of the top scorers of the Kings who made the playoffs this year before we start celebrating an implosion:
Kopitar (34)
Kempe (24)
Danault (28)
Arvidsson (28)
Moore (26)
Iafallo (27)
Doughty (31)
Brown (36)
Kaliyev (20)

Bolded are likely on the roster next season. 1 player out of the top 9 in scoring was 22 or under.

So, I don't think comparing Colorado missing the playoffs while letting their prospects grow applies. I understand growing pains and prospect development, but Blake built a mid-tier core of Danault, Arvidsson, etc to propel the Kings into the playoffs for the upcoming years. Shrugging after a first round exit and saying "well, we might not make the playoffs, but golly gee we're going to have a core of young guys put up more points than this year" is such a flaccid attitude.
 
Axl Rhoadz said:
You guys keep talking about this, but it's a pipe dream. The Kings, as proven last year, will try and do both -- be competitive AND develop the prospects. Why? Because ultimately they still need to win games in order to sell tickets -- some of you keep forgetting about that aspect. So, get used to it.
Click to expand...
Get used to mediocrity? That's all Blake can offer.

A rebuild offers so much more, yet you are willing to accept less and get all fussy when reminded it can be done - and done easily.

Nothing guarantees success, but a lot of things guarantee failure. What's happening right now limits your chances at success now AND in the future. Celebrating false dawns is a waste of the struggles of the last 8 years.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KINGS17 and kenito7
King'sPawn said:
I know I'm going to sound stubborn (and maybe I am), but I don't buy it.

The Kings had their lull already. They missed the playoffs in 2021, 2020, and 2019 after clinging to their core. Bear in mind, as much as I was against trading the core, this ties way back to what I've been saying for YEARS - the Kings have had issues with developing top-six forwards; trading away the core is meaningless if you can't develop the replacements.

Blake has yet to provide tangible evidence of developing a consistent top-six scoring threat. He has Adrian Kempe, who has been in the org for 8 years. His career best, this season, and it wasn't even better than Tyler Toffoli's peak.

The Kings prioritized playoffs over prospects this year. I agree they need to prioritize the prospect over the playoffs, BUT, missing the playoffs is just an abject failure.

Moral victories were this year. When they had a healthier Kopitar, Doughty, Brown, etc to work alongside the prospects.

If the growth of the prospects cannot surpass the loss of veteran production to get the Kings in the playoffs, then the franchise will look directionless.

Prospect development is a component of the progress, but that can't be the sole barometer of success.


Since we're comparing the Avalanche to the Kings. Here are their top 5 scorers (and their age, according to hockeydb.com) the year after they drafted MacKinnon 1st overall:
2013-14
Duchene (22)
Landeskog (20)
O'Reilly (22)
MacKinnon (18)
Stastny (27)

2014-15
Iginla (37)
Landeskog (21)
Tanguay (34)
Duchene (23)
O'Reilly (23)

2015-16
MacKinnon (21)
Duchene (25)
Rantanen (19)
Barrie (25)
Landeskog (23)

Even when they made the playoffs before their implosion, 4 of their top 5 players were 22 or younger.

Let's check out the age of the top scorers of the Kings who made the playoffs this year before we start celebrating an implosion:
Kopitar (34)
Kempe (24)
Danault (28)
Arvidsson (28)
Moore (26)
Iafallo (27)
Doughty (31)
Brown (36)
Kaliyev (20)

Bolded are likely on the roster next season. 1 player out of the top 9 in scoring was 22 or under.

So, I don't think comparing Colorado missing the playoffs while letting their prospects grow applies. I understand growing pains and prospect development, but Blake built a mid-tier core of Danault, Arvidsson, etc to propel the Kings into the playoffs for the upcoming years. Shrugging after a first round exit and saying "well, we might not make the playoffs, but golly gee we're going to have a core of young guys put up more points than this year" is such a flaccid attitude.
Click to expand...
KP, there is what could be, what should be, and what is.

The most likely scenario sees this development path leading to prospect growth that is slower than the speed of the decline of Kopitar and Quick.

The Kings top scorer, top defender and top goalie are in the bottom third tier of the leagues best. They just simply aren't good enough to pull the rest from the front. The kids won't be productive enough next year with the limited roles they have seen.

Blake is loading up the middle of the roster. Its the easiest way to look productive, there are more middle six forwards and middle pairing defenders available to sign and acquire than anything else, its all low lying fruit. Its what Dave Taylor did over and over, fattening up the middle, limited top talent, and limited production from the cost controlled aspects. Its a recipe for mediocrity and requires a miracle run or a lucky matchup to succeed. Planning for "lets see what happens" is guaranteed mediocrity.

This isn't a plan. Its the lack of a plan, in full effect.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kenito7
bland said:
A rebuild offers so much more, yet you are willing to accept less and get all fussy when reminded it can be done - and done
Click to expand...
Has nothing to do with what I will accept or you…it’s just f***ing reality. The team will try and win games and try to build a perennial contender at the same time. You just don’t agree on the philosophy on how it will be done. Whether you or the org are right on the approach….only time will tell.

Arguing about fantasy seems ridiculous to me…just my opinion.
 
bland said:
KP, there is what could be, what should be, and what is.

The most likely scenario sees this development path leading to prospect growth that is slower than the speed of the decline of Kopitar and Quick.

The Kings top scorer, top defender and top goalie are in the bottom third tier of the leagues best. They just simply aren't good enough to pull the rest from the front. The kids won't be productive enough next year with the limited roles they have seen.

Blake is loading up the middle of the roster. Its the easiest way to look productive, there are more middle six forwards and middle pairing defenders available to sign and acquire than anything else, its all low lying fruit. Its what Dave Taylor did over and over, fattening up the middle, limited top talent, and limited production from the cost controlled aspects. Its a recipe for mediocrity and requires a miracle run or a lucky matchup to succeed. Planning for "lets see what happens" is guaranteed mediocrity.

This isn't a plan. Its the lack of a plan, in full effect.
Click to expand...
I understand and appreciate your position. I think we're both anticipating similar outcomes. I guess my point of contention is I'm less "okay", for lack of a better word, if the Kings miss the playoffs while hoping for the prospects to develop.

You seem more comfortable with the transition and missing the playoffs as long as the prospects grow. I'm not. If I'm misinterpreting, I apologize.
 
I wonder if we can find anyone bitching about the ‘state of the franchise’ in the game 5 thread…
 
Axl Rhoadz said:
Then all you armchair-GMs would then be bitching about how the team sucks and they should be a playoff team at this point, etc. It never ends, you guys will always find something to complain about....guaran-f***ing-teed!

Meanwhile, that was a fun season...7+ months of being fully engaged in this team for me...thank you Kings! Hoping we get better next year...
Click to expand...
Nail D it!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Axl Rhoadz
Axl Rhoadz said:
I wonder if we can find anyone bitching about the ‘state of the franchise’ in the game 5 thread…
Click to expand...

Maybe not game 5, but you'll almost certainly find me doing so in the game 6 thread

Almost funny looking back in like December I said Andreas Athanasiou is the kind of player who will lose you a playoff series and....

Thank goodness we played him over literally any homegrown rookie. Progress!
 
Raccoon Jesus said:
Maybe not game 5, but you'll almost certainly find me doing so in the game 6 thread

Almost funny looking back in like December I said Andreas Athanasiou is the kind of player who will lose you a playoff series and....

Thank goodness we played him over literally any homegrown rookie. Progress!
Click to expand...
Pretty sure you said they didn’t need to win another game and this season is considered a success. So which one is it?
 
Axl Rhoadz said:
Pretty sure you said they didn’t need to win another game and this season is considered a success. So which one is it?
Click to expand...

Both?

The season is a success AND we want growth, and are a little concerned about the smoke-and-mirrors.

I've been trying to explain to you futilely for months that this is all shades of grey, I don't understand why that's so hard to understand.
 
tomd said:
I agree. If the Kings miss the playoffs in 22-23 that means probably all 3 of the following happened:
1. Veterans like Kopitar, Doughty, and Denault all fell off a cliff
2. Rookies like Byfield and Kaliyev failed to take the necessary step forward
3. Blake did nothing positive in the off season to make the team better.

That doesn't seem like progress to me.
Click to expand...
4. Other teams in the division improve.

Vegas will likely be good again next season. Vancouver was on a 106 point pace after hiring BB and his teams are almost always good in the regular season.

Calgary might regress though. But they should be in the mix.

The Kings have needs at almost every position. It's gonna be tough.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Raccoon Jesus, kenito7 and KINGS17
If the Kings miss the playoffs next season AND don't have a 1st round pick, I'll be pretty pissed.

I'm okay with missing if we see significant improvement from the young players and prospects. But if we squander a bunch of futures it will cancel it out IMO.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kenito7
johnjm22 said:
If the Kings miss the playoffs next season AND don't have a 1st round pick, I'll be pretty pissed.

I'm okay with missing if we see significant improvement from the young players and prospects. But if we squander a bunch of futures it will cancel it out IMO.
Click to expand...
That’s why if we trade a 1st for an age appropriate addition this off-season, it should include this 1st in 2022. 19th(?) overall is easier to give up than witness the predicted regression occur and miss out on the 2023 10th overall or whatever.
 
johnjm22 said:
If the Kings miss the playoffs next season AND don't have a 1st round pick, I'll be pretty pissed.

I'm okay with missing if we see significant improvement from the young players and prospects. But if we squander a bunch of futures it will cancel it out IMO.
Click to expand...
Blake will never trade a 1st...EVER.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Surf Nutz
Feels like its that time of the month in great synchronicity here. Negative Nancys whining about that old crap year subject, tanking for picks after tanking Edmo to 7. Kings look even better now that Calgy is down 3-1. Plus you want to bring youth into the most winning environment possible. Young players being a part of battling into the dance and going 7 is huge any way you slice it. Objective now is round 2, but all over again one step at a time.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom