Remember when I said I didn't want him and you all said I was crazy? Yeah....how about that?
He's gonna be a Duck...just you wait and see.
I am hoping that we can all learn a lesson from watching teams like the Rangers fail over and over by trying to sign every tip top bestest ever UFA that comes along.
Teams that win the cup are teams that have balance and great goaltending.
Should we upgrade our top 6 LW? Yep.
Do we need to make a few changes this offseason? Sure.
But going after a big name isn't the only or best way to address our needs.
We have most of what we need in our own system. Signing a Richards would only be a setback at this point. Unless we moved Stoll and Vey which wouldn't be an improvement.
Least not to me anyways.
Rangers problem is their game plan. dump the puck out, dump the puck in and wish for some bounce. then you combine it with torture(lla) who benches guys for losing some 50/50 situation on ice. No wonder players lose their confidence. You really think it's just bad luck that players fail in rangers more than any other team?
Agreed, but the Kings did go after Richards in a massive way in the summer of 2011. We are indeed extremely fortunate that he signed with NY, but Lombardi and Co. made every effort to bring him to LA.
I remember and was happy it didn't work out then too. Can't blame DL for trying but had we got BR we wouldn't have gotten MR and or Carter.
Besides, I am just not a fan. Ziggy's outline for how the Wings handled UFA signings during their heyday is right on the money for how it can be done successfully. We are learning but then in todays cap heavy league you have to wonder how many big UFA's will actually end up signing with contenders.
Will Iggy sign with the Pens next off season. That sort of thing.
We traded for Mike Richards, then we went after Brad as a Free agent. DL and the Kings's Brass had every intention to bring in BR.
interesting point ziggy
Funny how cyclical these discussions are. Whenever a sexy UFA comes onto the market, the whole board goes on blast when we miss out on them. Then when we make a trade to get that piece, eveyrone gives DL crap for not signing the UFA piece "for free" and giving up a lot of pieces (like simmonds + schenn or picks) through trade.
of course, years later, we all pat ourselves on the back for being "skeptical" about signing the UFA. I really wish we could thread all our contradicting words together, it'd just be hilarious to read.
What about burns? I know you like the sharks a lot so I'm just wondering .
SJ will keep him. But no. Not a good enough forward and we don't need a PMD.
interesting point ziggy
Funny how cyclical these discussions are. Whenever a sexy UFA comes onto the market, the whole board goes on blast when we miss out on them. Then when we make a trade to get that piece, eveyrone gives DL crap for not signing the UFA piece "for free" and giving up a lot of pieces (like simmonds + schenn or picks) through trade.
of course, years later, we all pat ourselves on the back for being "skeptical" about signing the UFA. I really wish we could thread all our contradicting words together, it'd just be hilarious to read.
trade board has a proposal for SJ-NYR involving Burns for Giradi+Kreider+. Rags fans already looking at the traditional way for a NY team to 'fix' their failure. throw money at it
as silly as it sounds this could be a great way for SJ to cash in for the inevitable departure of Boyle, Thornton and Marleau
I don't remember too many fans being torn apart over not signing Brad Richards. In the past, I do recall fans were miffed when they had no chance of signing guys like Drury, Briere and Gomez (and thank God those never happened).
I think those are the only players, along with Chara, that the Kings made attempts to sign, at least to my knowledge. The one fans were most disappointed with was Kovalchuk, but fans got over that one. Some had hopes of signing Parise last summer but I don't think too many were disappointed that he didn't sign here.
With the cap going down next season and with a number of important players to re-sign, I don't foresee the Kings being active in free agency this summer. Which is a very good thing as the team doesn't have many holes to address.
Kreider is going to be a monster once he gets a good coach under him. I would wet myself if we could pry him away from the Rags for A Mart in some way.
Jeesh it would be fun to have that kid under our system. He would be brutal.
Funny watching the Rags go through their motions on "fixing" their troubles. Typical big money failure problems.