Blake Extended for 3 Years

[Raccoon Jesus]

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?

....what

have you been in a coma since February?

 

[KingsFan7824]

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.

Won't be easy for the other teams either though. Right? But that would mean that the Kings are part of the competition. That can't be true. Everything went right for the Kings this year, and they lucked out that Vegas had a bunch of injuries.

Isn't Van even getting rid of guys too? 3 of their top 5 goal scorers have been rumored to be heading out the door at one point or another.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

....what

have you been in a coma since February?

No, it’s called perspective in relation to a bunch of kids…you should get some.

 

[KINGS17]

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?

Byfield and Bjornfot were not playing prominent roles, as I would define a prominent role. Kaliyev started to get more quality minutes, but still not enough.

 

[KINGS17]

No, it’s called perspective in relation to a bunch of kids…you should get some.

No, it's called them not playing a prominent role.

 

[bland]

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.

Nobody thinks that. You just think people think that, which doesn't say much for your thinker.

 

[kenito7]

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.

You just wrote the history of Kings hockey. Except maybe it is 70/30 instead of 50/50.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

No, it's called them not playing a prominent role.

Bjornfot played 70 games and Kaliyev played 80….wtf are you guys talking about.

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

Bjornfot played 70 games and Kaliyev played 80….wtf are you guys talking about.

“Games played” does not equal “prominent roles.”

 

[kilowatt]

Bjornfot played 70 games and Kaliyev played 80….wtf are you guys talking about.

We disagree on what prominent role means.

Defensemen with a higher average time on ice than Bjornfot: Doughty, Roy, Anderson, Spence, Durzi, Stetcher, Edler, Walker, Maatta, Clague

Defensemen with a lower average time on ice than Bjornfot: Moverare, Wolanin, Strand

Which says nothing about his ineffectiveness this season anecdotally. He didn’t look especially great.

As for Kaliyev, well, even Vilardi averaged more time on ice.

I think this was a positive season for Kaliyev and Durzi, but I think Durzi’s just about the only rookie on the team that played a prominent role.

 

[HookKing]

Nobody thinks that. You just think people think that, which doesn't say much for your thinker.

As usual, you speak for nobody.

 

[tomd]

Bjornfot played 70 games and Kaliyev played 80….wtf are you guys talking about.

Bjornfot did not play in 14 of the team's final 15 games (including the 7 playoff games). Those would have been the most prominent games he could have played in IMO.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

No, it’s called perspective in relation to a bunch of kids…you should get some.

Uh
Gonna have to plagiarize one of my other posts here
Since the beginning of April

Quinton Byfield has played 132 minutes of pro hockey, watching most of the NHL playoffs while the AHL team floundered.
Vilardi 124.
Kupari 145.
Bjornfot 77.

You referenced key minutes down the stretch, right? That was the chief complaint at least on my behalf--couldn't get the kids into meaningful games at any level.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

We disagree on what prominent role means.

Defensemen with a higher average time on ice than Bjornfot: Doughty, Roy, Anderson, Spence, Durzi, Stetcher, Edler, Walker, Maatta, Clague

Defensemen with a lower average time on ice than Bjornfot: Moverare, Wolanin, Strand

Which says nothing about his ineffectiveness this season anecdotally. He didn’t look especially great.

As for Kaliyev, well, even Vilardi averaged more time on ice.

I think this was a positive season for Kaliyev and Durzi, but I think Durzi’s just about the only rookie on the team that played a prominent role.

So you guys think these players have been drafted to play on the 4th line when they are 25 yrs old? Why do so many of you struggle with the concept of easing these kids in, giving them experience without messing with their confidence? You think that’s the plan every year of their development? Byfield is gonna be 30 and we still need two centers in front of him to shield him from the rigors of the NHL.

Jesus Christ, have some f***ing patience.

 

[Fishhead]

Won't be easy for the other teams either though. Right? But that would mean that the Kings are part of the competition. That can't be true. Everything went right for the Kings this year, and they lucked out that Vegas had a bunch of injuries.

Isn't Van even getting rid of guys too? 3 of their top 5 goal scorers have been rumored to be heading out the door at one point or another.

I don't know if everything went right, the Kings had a crapload of injuries themselves. Not even Vegas lost their entire D core at the same time. The difference is that Vegas has zero depth, which will eventually come back to bite you. Nashville and Dallas had half the injuries the Kings did, yet the Kings beat them in the standings. This team has a lot of rookies playing well (but not great).

That said, the Pacific could be a total crapshoot next year.

 

[Fishhead]

Bjornfot did not play in 14 of the team's final 15 games (including the 7 playoff games). Those would have been the most prominent games he could have played in IMO.

Let's not forget he was struggling after he came back from that injury, that surely had something to do with it. I don't think he was ever completely healed up, but probably came back because of the defensive injuries.

 

[KINGS17]

As usual, you speak for nobody.

Mmmm, I wouldn't say that.

 

[kilowatt]

So you guys think these players have been drafted to play on the 4th line when they are 25 yrs old? Why do so many of you struggle with the concept of easing these kids in, giving them experience without messing with their confidence? You think that’s the plan every year of their development? Byfield is gonna be 30 and we still need two centers in front of him to shield him from the rigors of the NHL.

Jesus Christ, have some f***ing patience.

No, but I also don’t think playing fourth line and bottom pairing minutes means the rookies were playing prominent roles on the team. Why is it so hard for you to say literally anything negative about any part of the team?

This was a promising season in many regards. I’m proud of what the team accomplished. But when the going got tough, the rookies didn’t play very much. Kupari, Vilardi, Byfield, and Bjornfot played a combined total of 75 minutes in the playoffs. That’s eight minutes fewer than Kaliyev played in the series, and Kaliyev was 16th on the team (out of 21 skaters) in time on ice against Edmonton.

Down the stretch and in the playoffs, Durzi is really the only rookie that played meaningful minutes.

I’m plenty patient. I wish Byfield, Vilardi, and Kupari had been helping Ontario get past the second round. But me being patient has nothing to do with facts: the rookies didn’t play much down the stretch and in the playoffs.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

I’m plenty patient. I wish Byfield, Vilardi, and Kupari had been helping Ontario get past the second round. But me being patient has nothing to do with facts: the rookies didn’t play much down the stretch and in the playoffs.

This I agree with 100%….can’t understand why they weren’t down with ONT.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Man, those goalposts made a sonic boom in the span of about 5 posts.

 

[verbalkint47]

Man, those goalposts made a sonic boom in the span of about 5 posts.

It takes Guile..

 

[Rick Knickleback]

Three years for Blake seems fair for both sides. I think Robitaille is a bigger problem than Blake, though they’re obviously a team. The Kings vision is just off and it sort of renders the transactions we need to make in the off-season not quite moot, but sort of the wrong questions to be thinking about.

 

[KingsFan7824]

I don't know if everything went right, the Kings had a crapload of injuries themselves. Not even Vegas lost their entire D core at the same time. The difference is that Vegas has zero depth, which will eventually come back to bite you. Nashville and Dallas had half the injuries the Kings did, yet the Kings beat them in the standings. This team has a lot of rookies playing well (but not great).

That said, the Pacific could be a total crapshoot next year.

Nah. Everything had to go right for them to make the playoffs this year. How else does this team make the playoffs? Next year has to be a struggle, but not for anyone else, just the Kings. Because the odds of everything going right again are low. And nothing can go right for the them.

 

[Statto]

No, it’s called perspective in relation to a bunch of kids…you should get some.

Come on dude, I’ve given the organisation loads of ‘benefit of the doubt’ all year but you really have lost all objectivity. Byfield and Bjornföt were not playing prominent roles late on and sitting Toby as much as they did (a couple of games is fine) could have a long term negative effect on his development. The usage of Byfield hasn’t helped him either. Both should be significant pieces going forward and I can only hope that they haven’t damaged the long terms aims of winning the cup by making the play-offs this year.

Two of our key prospects spent too much time on the outside looking in and whilst they may have gained ‘something’ from being around the team, playing will have given them more. Add Vilardi into that because they’ve signalled that he’s pretty much done here and tanked any remaining value he had as an asset. I’ve said all they way through the season that making the play offs would be great but that it shouldn't be done at the cost of long term develoment goals. I also think Peterson should have at least had a start for the same reason. This team never had the chance of a deep run, Edmonton were by far our best matchup and it’s been a development opportunity badly missed for a number of players. Sitting Spence was equally baffling to me.

Even if you don’t agree if you can’t see that it’s at least a valid perspective then you are being very blinkered. I say that as someone fully behind Blake.

 

[LAKings88]

Come on dude, I’ve given the organisation loads of ‘benefit of the doubt’ all year but you really have lost all objectivity. Byfield and Bjornföt were not playing prominent roles late on and sitting Toby as much as they did (a couple of games is fine) could have a long term negative effect on his development. The usage of Byfield hasn’t helped him either. Both should be significant pieces going forward and I can only hope that they haven’t damaged the long terms aims of winning the cup by making the play-offs this year.

Two of our key prospects spent too much time on the outside looking in and whilst they may have gained ‘something’ from being around the team, playing will have given them more. Add Vilardi into that because they’ve signalled that he’s pretty much done here and tanked any remaining value he had as an asset. I’ve said all they way through the season that making the play offs would be great but that it shouldn't be done at the cost of long term develoment goals. I also think Peterson should have at least had a start for the same reason. This team never had the chance of a deep run, Edmonton were by far our best matchup and it’s been a development opportunity badly missed for a number of players. Sitting Spence was equally baffling to me.

Even if you don’t agree if you can’t see that it’s at least a valid perspective then you are being very blinkered. I say that as someone fully behind Blake.

I agree that the kids were mishandled in various degrees.

I also think that getting in the playoffs you do what you can to win. the Kings could have beat the Oilers. I knew they were toast after game 6 and McDavid told Kane to shut up about his 7 goals. McDavid stepped up and stole the series in my eyes. I doubt anyone would be complaining about rookies tho had the Kings advanced deeper.

I don't know when the next playoff opportunity comes up. Could be next year, could be three years from now. I doubt any org says lets not make the playoffs so our rookies can develop better.

The Kings have holes but some of these prospects need to step up and and make it a no brainer on TMac's part. The Kings seem happy to go with the Kempe model of development but I'm nervous about our top prospects now. Not even sure it's development over wrong picks. Byfield has not shown that he can dominate and produce against higher competition. Talent is there but if he never produces that is going to be a big miss. Don't get me started on Turcotte.