Blake Extended for 3 Years

[Raccoon Jesus]

Exactly….fantasyland.

Well then I'm very sorry YOU can't process more than one line of thought at a time, but maybe you should let others that CAN have their discussion instead of criticizing them for having the ability to converse about multiple topics at once.

It really just feels like a handful of posters want to be combative about damn near everything when in reality they half-agree. It's pretty well a board consensus that last season was a success; the disagreement comes with 'what's next.'

 

[Fishhead]

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.

I wasn't so much comparing them in that regard, more that even teams with top prospects take steps back sometimes. The Kings have nowhere near the same level of picks that Colorado had. When you have a #1, #2, and a #3 in a 5 year period, your young guys better be your top scorers. And Duchene was only a #3 because he was in a draft with Hedman and Tavares. If they aren't your top scorers, you have bigger problems. The Oilers were getting better, made the 2nd round, then took a crap again for two years. It's not just all about prospects of course, it's identifying team needs as your younger guys grow.

Not defending what the Kings are doing here, it's just that team growth in the NHL is rarely linear. Too many factors for that.

 

[Statto]

I disagree. I actually think it's the opposite. Merely making the playoffs isn't enough.

If the Kings wanted to make progress without playoffs, they could have attempted that this year.

I‘m not saying that the objective but if Byfield became a top 6 player, Kaliyev a toy 6 sniper and Clarke establishes himself but we miss the play-offs by a point then the franchise is probably in better shape than it is right now. Maybe Kopitar drops off a bit farther and that’s why we miss because those guys don’t emerge overnight and it’s in the 2nd half they establish themselves. If that happens we are closer to a cup at the end of next season than we are now.

It’s purely hypothetical but there are lots of scenarios wher missing wouldn’t be the end of the world. That doesn’t mean getting past the 1st round shouldn’t be the objective.

We're not currently accepting applications.

HOWEVER

to all those saying that missing the playoffs next season should neccessarily be viewed as regression I say open your minds\

EDIT: I'm far more interested in HOW next season plays out and less interested in where it finished (standings wise)

Sorry Jesse, I didn’t mean to start anything but I completely agree.

 

[DoktorJeep]

Everyone emotionally invested in prospects wanted Byfield, Clarke and Kaliyev to take big minute jobs last year in September.

After a broken ankle, mono and being stapled to Lizotte, we saw what happened.

The next blue chipper that breaks out before he turns 25 years old will be the first in forever. I don’t give a crap about making the playoffs, or how many more goals Danault scores than Kopitar. I’ll take one guy from the greatest pipeline in hockey grabbing an elite scrub vets job.

That at least gives you hope of someone replacing the stars drafted 18 years ago.

 

[Kudelski37]

What if Lucky has been bribed by Jimmy Carson to slow roll the prospects so no one passes Carson's "youngest to" different milestone records???

 

[funky]

As of now we finished the season a playoff team and took the Oilers to game 7 without our beat defenseman and Arvidsson. Two massive losses.

We retained a top 5 prospect pool and all our draft picks.

We have 20 mil in cap room which will help finesse trades and sign the boys we have to

Our prospects are not as dead as some say.

Kaliyev took care of deficiencies and proved he can meet his own goalie on a nightly basis.

Durzi, Spence and even Moverare played, played well and showed they belong. Not worried about Toby’s play at the end. Hard to step in after being injured and be full speed

Byfield at 19, 20 and probably 21 should not be expected to carry a team. There were injuries and a ton of peaks and valleys. Yep the dude is just getting his feet wet and will get stronger and better.

Turcotte left a bad taste in many months. Some label the puck a bust. When healthy he has shown a Danault like game. He is skilled, tenacious and drives a line. It’s not like he was a no skilled undersized filler. The guy needs to stay healthy, he has the skills to play in your face, high octane hockey for many years if he stay healthy, let’s hope he can stay healthy.

Yes the prospects need to step it up, some vets have to lose some entitlement to things such as PP time and Blake has to bring in some skill and toughness but we have time, prospects and money to do so.

Hoping an exciting summer leads to continuing growth.