Blake Extended for 3 Years

[bland]

Personally I felt that the Danault and Arvidsson acquisitions were going to see the Kings push for the playoffs but miss out in the last week. But that was based on a full year of prospects being developed in their proper roles.

It was a nice surprise, glad to be wrong at Vegas' expense, but the narrative around the team, the fans and here was most definitely that the Kings were playoff caliber.

 

[johnjm22]

There's no clear demarcation point for when the rebuild began, or if there's a rebuild at all. It's all semantics.

Since Blake took over, the organization decided to hang onto their futures. I don't really care what they do as far as trades and UFA's go, as long as they're continually building for the future, and that's exactly what they've done, so they get my tepid approval.

 

[Schmooley]

There's no clear demarcation point for when the rebuild began, or if there's a rebuild at all. It's all semantics.

Since Blake took over, the organization decided to hang onto their futures. I don't really care what they do as far as trades and UFA's go, as long as they're continually building for the future, and that's exactly what they've done, so they get my tepid approval.

Blakes end of the season interview made it seem like the rebuild started 3 years ago. So starting with the Turcotte pick. I suppose the Muzzin trade actually marked the beginning.

 

[KingPuckChoo]

The rebuild didn’t start 5 years ago. Maybe you should go back and brush up on your history before writing a bunch of drivel. I’m sure you penciled this team to be in playoff contention last year. Knowing you, you probably hated the Danault signing.

i did and still do, that contract is a killer

i don't lie to fit a narrative i still say we needed wingers on the first line more urgently than a 2 way shutdown

but like i said, at least people that i talked to in my circle (excluding myself here), many people thought LA would make it as a wild card this year

but i haven't heard anyone say they'd book 3rd in pacific, that i give you

but yes, LA had to make the playoffs this year and many thought they would

some even predicted that LA would sneak in 8th in 2020-21 (i wasn't one of them)

 

[Telos]

He earned the extension for sure. Things haven't been perfect, but his work has been pretty solid up till now. The big things he has in front of him are whether or not he is going to react to our coaching failures and our player development program, and obviously, his Achilles heel is nepotism, the old boys club, his loyalty to Luc, TMac, Sturm, etc. Not a whole lot you can do about it as everyone is susceptible to sticking with what and who they know.

TMac isn't going anywhere and anyone hoping otherwise is dreaming; however, some skulls need to be cracked over the historic ineptitude of a powerplay we rolled all season and postseason long. Sturm needs to fall on his sword, and there needs to be some tangible, public, and visible changes made to player development because I refuse to believe all of these highly touted draft picks all just happened to start walking down the bust road and injuries aren't much of an excuse.

The future is dire of our prospect pool fails, the vets will retire ungracefully, we will have to make panic moves and acquisitions, and would likely be a middling playoff team for a couple of seasons and have to enter into another rebuild and do it all again. Blake has his work cut out for him...

 

[johnjm22]

Blakes end of the season interview made it seem like the rebuild started 3 years ago. So starting with the Turcotte pick. I suppose the Muzzin trade actually marked the beginning.

Yeah, but there was also a clear change in 2017 when they started holding on to their picks again. Prior to that they traded away 3 of their last 4 1st rounders.

So the term "rebuild" is somewhat semantics IMO.

I never really listen to what management says. Some people listen to what management says and take it completely literally at face value. I just look at what they do.

I'm also very skeptical of the Pacorietty stuff. Having been around news-worthy events myself, and seeing them get reported in the media, most rumors/reports are either completely exaggerated, false, or misinterpretations. Anything related to sports trades is particularly susceptible.

 

[BigKing]

Yeah, but there was also a clear change in 2017 when they started holding on to their picks again. Prior to that they traded away 3 of their last 4 1st rounders.

So the term "rebuild" is somewhat semantics IMO.

I never really listen to what management says. Some people listen to what management says and take it completely literally at face value. I just look at what they do.

I'm also very skeptical of the Pacorietty stuff. Having been around news-worthy events myself, and seeing them get reported in the media, most rumors/reports are either completely exaggerated, false, or misinterpretations. Anything related to sports trades is particularly susceptible.

This is where we, again, get into the belief by many that Lombardi would not be crazy enough to trade the 2017 first round pick if he stuck around and, at the same time, critique Blake because he was fully ready to move the 2018 first round pick + for Patches.

It isn't semantics to me: you aren't rebuilding if you agree to trade the 1st in 2018 and you aren't rebuilding if you add Kovalchuk because that means you aren't moving any of the veteran assets on the roster for futures because you are trying to win.

The Pearson trade was a last gasp shake up move. When that didn't do the trick, Blake pulled the ripcord and the rebuild began with the Muzzin trade. That was a trade where it made the current team much worse and the return wasn't expected to pay dividends for at least a couple of seasons. Wasn't shortly after the trade that ridiculous letter went out from Luc talking about how they were rebuilding and always planned to do so anyways.

 

[johnjm22]

This is where we, again, get into the belief by many that Lombardi would not be crazy enough to trade the 2017 first round pick if he stuck around and, at the same time, critique Blake because he was fully ready to move the 2018 first round pick + for Patches.

I think after the team's recent failings, DL would probably have started holding onto draft picks as well. Regardless of who the GM was, things changed in 2017.

You can't critique Blake for something that didn't happen. We don't know the full story on the Pacioretty stuff. Just because there were reports of it doesn't make it true. That stuff is wrong all the time.

BTW, I would have been okay keeping DL if he wanted to start rebuilding. Also, and I said this at the time, if Blake actually tried to make that Pacioretty trade he should've been fired.

 

[KINGS17]

Personally I felt that the Danault and Arvidsson acquisitions were going to see the Kings push for the playoffs but miss out in the last week. But that was based on a full year of prospects being developed in their proper roles.

It was a nice surprise, glad to be wrong at Vegas' expense, but the narrative around the team, the fans and here was most definitely that the Kings were playoff caliber.

I wouldn't expect Vegas to evaporate into thin air next season. Vegas has a lot more work to do this off season than the Kings, but they have some nice pieces to build around. Making the playoffs with Edmonton, Calgary, and Vegas in their division will be a struggle next season.

 

[johnjm22]

I wouldn't expect Vegas to evaporate into thin air next season. Vegas has a lot more work to do this off season than the Kings, but they have some nice pieces to build around. Making the playoffs with Edmonton, Calgary, and Vegas in their division will be a struggle next season.

Yep. And Vancouver was excellent after the coaching change as well so they'll likely be in the mix. BB coached teams are usually excellent in the regular season.

Going to be very difficult for LA to make the playoffs.

 

[BigKing]

I think after the team's recent failings, DL would probably have started holding onto draft picks as well. Regardless of who the GM was, things changed in 2017.

You can't critique Blake for something that didn't happen. We don't know the full story on the Pacioretty stuff. Just because there were reports of it doesn't make it true. That stuff is wrong all the time.

BTW, I would have been okay keeping DL if he wanted to start rebuilding. Also, and I said this at the time, if Blake actually tried to make that Pacioretty trade he should've been fired.

Good points. The thing with the potential Patches trade is that it isn't criticizing Blake for something that didn't happen but rather it is strong supporting evidence for those of us that have tried to make the point that Blake was all-in on the same roster that everyone shits on and, no: he did not want to rebuild.

Because Kovalchuk "only cost money" (something that is literally true but not actually true), the argument is made that he wasn't all-in on the roster because he was still not moving futures. Problem is that he was fully prepared to move futures to add the scorer (a better one than Kovalchuk, no doubt) he felt would make this team a legit contender. Then they imploded in two months but it is Dean's fault because "that was Dean's team" and "what could Blake have done?".

If we criticized Dean for the moves he tried to make but failed, we could go on and on and on. They most likely don't win a Cup if he gets Brad Richards. Drury, Gomez...Kovy Part I. The whole point of the Patches thing, however, is that it proves Blake wasn't this complete 180 from Dean since he was ready to move futures in an effort to keep going for it.

Now that I think of it, it's kind of funny to pit these two against one another because I do feel that Blake has been following the DL playbook during this rebuild and, why not? He was AGM under him and he kept so many of the people that were here with Dean. The big difference is that Dean didn't have the legacy guys to try and placate. Regardless, they both made the playoffs in Year 4 of the rebuild. Going in to Year 4, Dean added Smyth and then added Williams at the TDL. Blake adds Danault and Arvi going into Year 4.

 

[johnjm22]

Good points. The thing with the potential Patches trade is that it isn't criticizing Blake for something that didn't happen but rather it is strong supporting evidence for those of us that have tried to make the point that Blake was all-in on the same roster that everyone shits on and, no: he did not want to rebuild.

Because Kovalchuk "only cost money" (something that is literally true but not actually true), the argument is made that he wasn't all-in on the roster because he was still not moving futures. Problem is that he was fully prepared to move futures to add the scorer (a better one than Kovalchuk, no doubt) he felt would make this team a legit contender. Then they imploded in two months but it is Dean's fault because "that was Dean's team" and "what could Blake have done?".

If we criticized Dean for the moves he tried to make but failed, we could go on and on and on. They most likely don't win a Cup if he gets Brad Richards. Drury, Gomez...Kovy Part I. The whole point of the Patches thing, however, is that it proves Blake wasn't this complete 180 from Dean since he was ready to move futures in an effort to keep going for it.

Now that I think of it, it's kind of funny to pit these two against one another because I do feel that Blake has been following the DL playbook during this rebuild and, why not? He was AGM under him and he kept so many of the people that were here with Dean. The big difference is that Dean didn't have the legacy guys to try and placate. Regardless, they both made the playoffs in Year 4 of the rebuild. Going in to Year 4, Dean added Smyth and then added Williams at the TDL. Blake adds Danault and Arvi going into Year 4.

Blake had all of the 2017 summer to trade away a 1st+ for a scoring winger. Didn't do it. He could've traded that 1st+ at the 2017 TDL or in the months leading up to it. Didn't do it.

It's not like Pacorietty was the only scoring winger on the market for a 6 month span that Blake could have traded for.

The media gets this type of stuff wrong all the time. Maybe he did make that deal. I don't know. But it surely wouldn't be surprised if he didn't.

 

[Schrute farms]

I literally can not believe some are still hung up and going on & on & on about what happened 3-4 years ago. I'd hate to be in a relationship with some of you lol.

 

[King'sPawn]

Given what he started with and where the team is at today, I’d say the rebuild is starting to payoff. This is probably going to be his biggest offseason however in terms of elevating the team to get to the next level. People forget how the Kings were in cap hell with the worst pipeline in the NHL when Blake stepped in.

I think everyone here would’ve laughed at anyone who thought this was going to be a playoff team that will be playing in a Game 7 if that prediction was made a year ago.

The team also has a better idea now of exactly what needs they’ll have to address, and they have the assets and cap space to make some significant additions.

I said in the offseason/preseason, after the key moves, the Kings need to make the playoffs or Blake should be fired. I was called unreasonable for that.

I'm conflicted on agreeing with the statement "the rebuild is starting to pay off." These are all the rebuilding assets the Kings have acquired since deciding to rebuild (December 2018):
Picks:
Turcotte
Bjornfot
Kaliyev
Fagemo
Parik
Spence
Nousiainen
Doyle
Lee
Byfield
Grans
Faber
Simontaival
Lafrerriere
Markkanen
Chromiak
Meehan
Jamsen
Clarke
Pinelli
Helenius
Kirsanov

Bolded are all but guaranteed roster spots next year. Italics is Spence, who has looked good, but may just be stuck in the AHL due to being waiver exempt. The forwards, though, haven't seen regular top-six time... so I think it's fair to question their expected impact going forward in the rebuild.

Acquired Players via trade (starting c. December 2018):
Grundstrom
Durzi
Iacopelli
Moore
Tim Schaller
Tyler Madden
Maatta
Andersson
Lemieux
Wolanin
Arvidsson
Burke
Steenbergen
Stecher
Allard
Nogier

Bolded are NHLers, and barring trades, will play on the roster. Italicized are players with a reasonable chance of playing, but their time was more designated to a lesser role in the NHL and not NHL regulars.

Free agent signings (starting c. December 2018):
Frk
Joakim Ryan
Mario Kempe
Iafallo
Brickley
Rempal
Petersen
Hutton
Poulin
Walker
Grosenick
Alt
Strand
Athanasiou
Lizotte
Sparks
Tynan
Danault
Edler

Undoubtedly, without question, and I can't repeat enough - Blake has made good moves. And there are good reasons to expect the Kings to make the playoffs.

However, I think there are still valid questions about the quality of the rebuild itself, when younger core pieces aren't in key roles.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I'm waiting to hear from the critics what Blake has failed to do and what should've been done.

I get the concerns with the development of any offensive minded players, but it's still way too early to make a judgement on most of those prospects. Feel free to rip the guys from 2017, but Kupari's knock his draft year was that he wasn't a finisher, but he's looking like he'll be an NHL player, which is what you want to draft in the latter half of the first round.

 

[King'sPawn]

I'm waiting to hear from the critics what Blake has failed to do and what should've been done.

I get the concerns with the development of any offensive minded players, but it's still wait too early to make a judgement on most of those prospects. Feel free to rip the guys from 2017, but Kupari's knock his draft year was that he wasn't a finisher, but he's looking like he'll be an NHL player, which is what you want to draft in the latter half of the first round.

I should have added - I agree that holding his signings/trades from years ago against him for an extension now is silly.

- I would have been pissed if they traded for Pacioretty. They didn't, despite Blake's best efforts. Happy accident.
- No problem with signing Kovalchuk. They scored 2 goals in 4 playoff games. They needed a scorer. Did it work out? No. But for zero assets spent, it was low risk. I know bland has said in the past it took time away from a youngster... but the Kings haven't been developing players for the type of role expected of Kovalchuk.

Blake needs to find that x-factor to take the team to the next level. DL improved the training facilities. And brought in an actual goalie coach (back in 2006/2007, Barry Brust had told my friend it was nice to have a coach who was actually giving instruction).

IF Blake wants a more high-octane team, he needs to realize you can't have a developmental system built on modular players - where board play, a focus on defense, and war of attrition was the driving force. Not all students learn the same way, so they need to be more agile in thinking and implementation.

If Blake wants a more defense-focused, grindy game, then draft those kinds of players and keep things as they are.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I agree with some of what you are saying....but It seems you are contradicting yourself. At one point you say that your biggest issue is Blake's lack of focus...and then you say your bigger issue is shift in focus. Well, if he doesn't have focus, he can't shift it.

Blake impressed me this past season, and I was never fan of him prior. My gripe with him was that he lacked creativity, the ability to think outside of the box. All his moves were cookie cutter, low-risk. This next season will be the most important yet as he'll have to improve on a very unexpected, successful season.

This is rather semantic. Constantly shifting focus is the same as lacking one clear focus for the direction of the team.

 

[bland]

I'm waiting to hear from the critics what Blake has failed to do and what should've been done.

I get the concerns with the development of any offensive minded players, but it's still wait too early to make a judgement on most of those prospects. Feel free to rip the guys from 2017, but Kupari's knock his draft year was that he wasn't a finisher, but he's looking like he'll be an NHL player, which is what you want to draft in the latter half of the first round.

Just boils down to this.

He can try to win now and use the prospects as assets. He can build around the prospects and plan on a successful future that would see a painful period before growth. He can try to do both simultaneously.

He is trying to do both, contend now AND slowly build for a future after the Cup core is gone. Neither is going well, the pro team has major shortages in key aspects of the game: scoring (PP), defending (PK), mental and physical toughness. You know, the little things. They aren't bad, but deficient in every category.

The future is far cloudier than it should be with all of the high picks. I think those that criticize the selections are wrong and that the blame lies with how they are being developed and the organizational intent in doing so. Too many key kids are struggling trying to execute skill plays. Very little confidence among those kids. Nobody is shining, nobody is pushing themselves to be the best they can. Its sad to watch such talent, amassed after years of suffering, being undercooked.

Blake would most likely be more successful if he decided on one path and put his full focus in that singular direction. Of the two, the most likely path to Cup contention is embracing the rebuild and letting go of the past and its methods. The vets are too old and expensive to build around since the amount of holes here is excessive. But he could build a far better pro team by dealing kids for Chychrun & Crouse and signing Forsberg and such. Would likely be a regular playoff team for a couple of years before Anze retires and Doughty fades further, then its rebuild again.

 

[jgs]

Just boils down to this.

He can try to win now and use the prospects as assets. He can build around the prospects and plan on a successful future that would see a painful period before growth. He can try to do both simultaneously.

He is trying to do both, contend now AND slowly build for a future after the Cup core is gone. Neither is going well, the pro team has major shortages in key aspects of the game: scoring (PP), defending (PK), mental and physical toughness. You know, the little things. They aren't bad, but deficient in every category.

The future is far cloudier than it should be with all of the high picks. I think those that criticize the selections are wrong and that the blame lies with how they are being developed and the organizational intent in doing so. Too many key kids are struggling trying to execute skill plays. Very little confidence among those kids. Nobody is shining, nobody is pushing themselves to be the best they can. Its sad to watch such talent, amassed after years of suffering, being undercooked.

Blake would most likely be more successful if he decided on one path and put his full focus in that singular direction. Of the two, the most likely path to Cup contention is embracing the rebuild and letting go of the past and its methods. The vets are too old and expensive to build around since the amount of holes here is excessive. But he could build a far better pro team by dealing kids for Chychrun & Crouse and signing Forsberg and such. Would likely be a regular playoff team for a couple of years before Anze retires and Doughty fades further, then its rebuild again.

That is what I see. I see alot of high picks that is taking way too long to mature and most probably be let go becuase they look like flops only to go to they're new team and be ressurected and become good players. Good picks don't take 3 years to become NHL ready.

 

[KINGS17]

Just boils down to this.

He can try to win now and use the prospects as assets. He can build around the prospects and plan on a successful future that would see a painful period before growth. He can try to do both simultaneously.

He is trying to do both, contend now AND slowly build for a future after the Cup core is gone. Neither is going well, the pro team has major shortages in key aspects of the game: scoring (PP), defending (PK), mental and physical toughness. You know, the little things. They aren't bad, but deficient in every category.

The future is far cloudier than it should be with all of the high picks. I think those that criticize the selections are wrong and that the blame lies with how they are being developed and the organizational intent in doing so. Too many key kids are struggling trying to execute skill plays. Very little confidence among those kids. Nobody is shining, nobody is pushing themselves to be the best they can. Its sad to watch such talent, amassed after years of suffering, being undercooked.

Blake would most likely be more successful if he decided on one path and put his full focus in that singular direction. Of the two, the most likely path to Cup contention is embracing the rebuild and letting go of the past and its methods. The vets are too old and expensive to build around since the amount of holes here is excessive. But he could build a far better pro team by dealing kids for Chychrun & Crouse and signing Forsberg and such. Would likely be a regular playoff team for a couple of years before Anze retires and Doughty fades further, then its rebuild again.

Big mistake to trade the kids for a few seasons of playoff hockey. With the additions you mention the Kings might get past the 1st round, with about a 50/50 shot at getting past the 2nd round. After that, I don't see them winning a WCF.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Just boils down to this.

He can try to win now and use the prospects as assets. He can build around the prospects and plan on a successful future that would see a painful period before growth. He can try to do both simultaneously.

He is trying to do both, contend now AND slowly build for a future after the Cup core is gone. Neither is going well, the pro team has major shortages in key aspects of the game: scoring (PP), defending (PK), mental and physical toughness. You know, the little things. They aren't bad, but deficient in every category.

The future is far cloudier than it should be with all of the high picks. I think those that criticize the selections are wrong and that the blame lies with how they are being developed and the organizational intent in doing so. Too many key kids are struggling trying to execute skill plays. Very little confidence among those kids. Nobody is shining, nobody is pushing themselves to be the best they can. Its sad to watch such talent, amassed after years of suffering, being undercooked.

Blake would most likely be more successful if he decided on one path and put his full focus in that singular direction. Of the two, the most likely path to Cup contention is embracing the rebuild and letting go of the past and its methods. The vets are too old and expensive to build around since the amount of holes here is excessive. But he could build a far better pro team by dealing kids for Chychrun & Crouse and signing Forsberg and such. Would likely be a regular playoff team for a couple of years before Anze retires and Doughty fades further, then its rebuild again.

That’s a fair assessment, and even if they pull off a trade involving picks and prospects, it won’t necessarily mean they’re mortgaging the future.

The team has had two selections in the top 5 of the draft, one has a questionable future due to injuries, and the other is just getting started and learning the ropes of being a pro.

Of course the future will be questionable with no future replacements for Quick, Kopitar or Doughty, but I also don’t see where he was going to find one of those with the picks they’ve had.

To me, the biggest miss was the Turcotte pick. They could’ve been reaping the benefits of having a top flight talent, but they whiffed with that pick. Some say Colorado and Chicago (and Edmonton) also missed badly with their picks, so c'est la vie.

 

[HookKing]

That is what I see. I see alot of high picks that is taking way too long to mature and most probably be let go becuase they look like flops only to go to they're new team and be ressurected and become good players. Good picks don't take 3 years to become NHL ready.

Welcome to the world of rebuilds. Take too long? Just ask Edmonton, Buffalo etc. Folks on here are delusional that if you just sell off all your vets get great picks and instant success! Dream on.

 

[Schrute farms]

Welcome to the world of rebuilds. Take too long? Just ask Edmonton, Buffalo etc. Folks on here are delusional that if you just sell off all your vets get great picks and instant success! Dream on.

Bingo. If "rebuilding" was simply 3-4 years of tanking and trading your vets -- and then automatically guaranteed SC contending runs with those picks all panning out as studs.....it would be a no brainer for teams. Truth is, it rarely works out that way. It's the exception mot the norm. Most of the times you get the Buffalos, Ottawa, Edm, etc.

Heck, for all we know, we are starting a new way of doing a hybred. Allowing kids to come in with no pressure, stress at all and slowing develop. While the team gets to resign these kids at lower hits since there isn't immediate success that teams overpay for on that 2nd contract. Most likely not...but time will tell. Point is there is no proven way to "rebuild".

 

[KINGS17]

What will be the narrative after the 2022-23 season if the Kings don't make the playoffs in a division where Edmonton, Calgary, Vegas, and Vancouver finish ahead of them? I give this about a 50/50 chance of happening, if Blake doesn't get immediate help, which would be exactly the wrong move. Getting immediate help to chase the fool's gold of 1st round playoff success is something I fear this organization may be willing to pursue.

Will those singing Blake's praises continue to have patience with the rebuild (and by rebuild I mean trust the current scouting and development departments)? I will measure the success of this organization by the younger players being in more prominent roles next season and their performance, and if the Kings make the playoffs with that happening, more power to them.

Whether or not the Kings make the playoffs next season is immaterial. If Byfield, Kaliyev, and Bjornfot play more prominent roles next season, along with another kid breaking through onto the NHL roster with a limited role, then I would say the rebuild is still on course.

Bonus points if Petersen bounces back, and Kempe has another 30-goal season.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Whether or not the Kings make the playoffs next season is immaterial. If Byfield, Kaliyev, and Bjornfot play more prominent roles next season, along with another kid breaking through onto the NHL roster with a limited role, then I would say the rebuild is still on course.

That certainly doesn't sound like much to ask for...Byfield, Kaliyev and Bjornfot were all playing pretty prominent roles by the end of the season, can't see why that trend wouldn't continue. Kupari also has the potential to be in that group as well.

Next in line? Vilardi, Turcotte, JAD, Fagemo, Clarke?