GDT: Calgary Flames at Los Angeles Kings - January 19, 2015 - 7:30 p.m. (PST)

[Jeff18]

I'd be fine getting a 2nd or 3rd back for Richards. The most valueble thing we'll get back is the cap space.

Probably no one else can hold the space though. A 2nd or 3rd would be a miracle (which I believe DL might pull off with the help of some really moronic GMs these days) but teams are going to be aware of that cap space we are trying to get rid of.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Been saying that for like a month + now.

The Switch needs to be flipped like a two weeks ago.

Totally agree. Just some historical perspective. This game was important and I know it sure feels painful to lose another game we were leading in the third but, personally, I almost feel like this team needs to know they are out of a playoff spot at the allstar break instead of holding on. But I've seen way too many good things over the last two games to throw them under the wheels of a truck.

 

[damacles1156]

Richards is not going to land 2nd round pick.

Most likely a third rounder, and the Kings will have to eat at least one million in salary for the remainder of his contract.

That would still be cheaper than buying him out cap space wise.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Kopitar, 2 goals and 5 points in 16 road games. Carter, 1 goal and 6 points in 19 road games. Now, the Kings won the Cup last year without a goal from Kopitar against the Hawks or Rangers, but that's crazy. You have to figure, in addition to many other things, they have to get more out of Kopitar an Carter with 6 of the next 7 on the road.

The Kings are surrounded by Minnesota, Philadelphia, Toronto, Arizona, Carolina, Edmonton, and Buffalo in road results. All bottom 10 teams in the league.

10-1 on the road in the 2012 playoffs. 3 Game 7 wins on the road in 2014. They either summon some of that magic, or things might not look great by mid-February.

 

[Reclamation Project]

1 million is still a deal.

 

[KingsOfCali25]

This exact date in 2012 we lost to the Flames 2-1 in a Shootout

We had 56 points in 48 games. Right now we have 52 in 46. There were just as many teams scrapping for those spots. We've seen this movie before, folks.

But where is our Voynov, King, and Nolan call ups or our trade for Carter going to come from?

 

[AKAY47]

Mike Richards was OK tonight. We played a solid game, just couldn't finish. Shore looks good, too. We miss Toffoli and Pearson, tbh. Nice seeing Regehr back, one little mistake by Martinez at the blue line and we probably win 1-0. It's unfortunate because we should really be 2-1 vs Calgary this, instead we're 0-1-2. Makes a big difference.

When was the last time a Stanley Cup champion missed the playoffs the following season? Asking for a friend.

 

[KingsOfCali25]

Kings bandwagoner since '99.

Kings bandwagoner since '88!

 

[damacles1156]

1 million is still a deal.

It's cheaper than buying him out. If a team offers Lombardi something like that, he should take it.

3rd rounder, retain one million for contract length.

Richards may be easier for some teams to take at a 4.5/4 million cap hit.

That's some leeway to play with, anything over 1.8 million I wouldn't do though.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

But where is our Voynov, King, and Nolan call ups or our trade for Carter going to come from?

Colin Miller, Weal, and O'Neill, and Hartnell from Columbus, duh

Kopitar, 2 goals and 5 points in 16 road games. Carter, 1 goal and 6 points in 19 road games. Now, the Kings won the Cup last year without a goal from Kopitar against the Hawks or Rangers, but that's crazy. You have to figure, in addition to many other things, they have to get more out of Kopitar an Carter with 6 of the next 7 on the road.

The Kings are surrounded by Minnesota, Philadelphia, Toronto, Arizona, Carolina, Edmonton, and Buffalo in road results. All bottom 10 teams in the league.

10-1 on the road in the 2012 playoffs. 3 Game 7 wins on the road in 2014. They either summon some of that magic, or things might not look great by mid-February.

I mean, those road stats are almost irrelevant seeing as they've been at home for all of January. They can't change them until the end of this month so citing them over and over is kinda dishonest since they haven't really had a full chance to correct them. Kopitar has been producing at a 150 point pace over the last stretch. Carter, dunno where he is. But he's just not the same player on wing.

 

[Chain]

Are you going to stick with them or just *****?

Bottom line is we can all sit in our chairs and ***** about these guys, but I have confidence in this team. They are still the defending champs that have to defend the title every ****ing game. This is a league that defines "parity." And this is hockey. One goal matters most nights.

Bottom line, believe in the team or get lost. These "**** this team" comments are childish.

I don't share your optimism. They've shown amazing resilience to adversity in the past but the way they're going, with this personnel, when it's all considered I think they're either not going to make the playoffs or get wasted in the 1st round at best. But I'd love to be wrong. I just think they need to make a change. Personnel, or at least Sutter needs to at least change up emphasis in practices or, I dunno, something different, if they're going to go anywhere in the playoffs.

I'll support the team either way, win or lose (except Voynov if he's guilty, in which case he can eat ****). I've never chosen which team to be a fan of based on records. Some of my happiest days as a Lakers fan were when their best player was Sedale Threatt, but they seemed like a good group of guys. I was happier with them more then than when they were winning more but had that idiot thug Artest on the team.

 

[Sacha Baron Corbin]

Addition by subtraction.

Exactly. Use his and Voynov's space to aquire a forward to help replace Pearson and another defenseman like Sekera.

Probably no one else can hold the space though. A 2nd or 3rd would be a miracle (which I believe DL might pull off with the help of some really moronic GMs these days) but teams are going to be aware of that cap space we are trying to get rid of.

Like I've been saying, Edmonton. You never know with MacT and Lowe running things.

 

[Holden Caulfield]

Kings bandwagoner since '99.

Hey same year for me!

 

[KingsFan7824]

I'd be fine getting a 2nd or 3rd back for Richards. The most valueble thing we'll get back is the cap space.

The Kings won't get out of it for free. Either a bad contract is coming back, or you're giving up something of value for someone to take him.

Buffalo, who has said they'll take bad contracts, wouldn't even make that deal. The only way Buffalo takes him is if you give them a 1st round pick/top prospect to do it.

 

[damacles1156]

Mike Richards was OK tonight. We played a solid game, just couldn't finish. Shore looks good, too. We miss Toffoli and Pearson, tbh. Nice seeing Regehr back, one little mistake by Martinez at the blue line and we probably win 1-0. It's unfortunate because we should really be 2-1 vs Calgary this, instead we're 0-1-2. Makes a big difference.

When was the last time a Stanley Cup champion missed the playoffs the following season? Asking for a friend.

Pretty sure Chicago did after their cup win in 2010, or they just played bad.

 

[Sacha Baron Corbin]

Pretty sure Chicago did after their cup win in 2010

I believe they made it but went out quick in the 1st round.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Hey same year for me!

My first hockey game was in 99. Consider it a starting point.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Pretty sure Chicago did after their cup win in 2010

They made the playoffs, but were a first round exit in 2011 and 2012 (Vancouver and Phoenix).

 

[AKAY47]

Pretty sure Chicago did after their cup win in 2010

Nah they haven't missed the playoffs in years. I think it's Carolina.

 

[CTKingsFan]

Pretty sure Chicago did after their cup win in 2010

They were the 8th seed that year. I think it was Carolina in 2007

 

[damacles1156]

Ahhh it was Carolina.

 

[chunkylover53]

Richards is not going to land 2nd round pick.

Most likely a third rounder, and the Kings will have to eat at least one million in salary for the remainder of his contract.

That would still be cheaper than buying him out cap space wise.

EDM would easily do that for a 3rd...heck may even take the contract full.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

This exact date in 2012 we lost to the Flames 2-1 in a Shootout

We had 56 points in 48 games. Right now we have 52 in 46. There were just as many teams scrapping for those spots. We've seen this movie before, folks.

These were the players out of that game Drewiske, Martinez, and Westgarth (scratched). Kings injuries were to Parse and Gagne

That team had Doughty, Scuderi, a better Greene, Mitchell, and Voynov

This year we never replaced Mitchell with someone capable of filling his minutes, Voynov has left a major hole, and Toffoli and Pearson's absence has just crippled what little secondary scoring the Kings had

This team has Doughty, Muzzin, a worse Greene, Regehr (just coming back), and Martinez.

This team is worse defensively and dealing with major absences that will likely not be returning anytime soon. That 2012 team wasn't and brought in a huge piece in Carter that this current team likely isn't capable of doing

Who's currently playing better on this Kings team than they were in 2012?

 

[Chain]

Pretty much this! That would mean Stoll should be traded at the TDL or not resigned in the offseason. Shore looks like he can handle a bottom 6 NHL role right now and easily replace him for cheap.

If the Kings have no chance at the playoffs, I'd trade Stoll, Williams, Nolan, and maybe Regehr.

One of King/Clifford/Andreoff could go too if needed be in a package.

I wouldn't trade Williams or Regehr unless you can get a really good return. It should be obvious the physicality Regehr brings to the team that and Williams isn't always on point but he is a proven clutch player. The rest of the guys, ya, we could move. I hate moving players from a SC winning team, but if a few need to be moved because they're not getting it done anymore, then I guess it has to happen.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

These were the players out of that game Drewiske, Martinez, and Westgarth (scratched). Kings injuries were to Parse and Gagne

That team had Doughty, Scuderi, a better Greene, Mitchell, and Voynov

This year we never replaced Mitchell with someone capable of filling his minutes, Voynov has left a major hole, and Toffoli and Pearson's absence has just crippled what little secondary scoring the Kings had

This team has Doughty, Muzzin, a worse Greene, Regehr (just coming back), and Martinez.

This team is worse defensively and dealing with major absences that will likely not be returning anytime soon. That 2012 team wasn't and brought in a huge piece in Carter that this current team likely isn't capable of doing

Who's currently playing better on this Kings team than they were in 2012?

It's certainly different circumstances and that team's identity was straight defense from top to bottom--but let's not pretend it's all sunshine and roses because they were ABYSMAL offensively. This team is more like the playoff Kings, let's try to outscore our problems and we have no clue what to do with a lead. Different identity, same ****. And I still think, despite a lot of the moving parts in injuries and Voynov, that DL has a big deadline deal in him. Lots of D-men out there, why couldn't he make a big splash on D like he could on offense? Who saw the Carter trade coming? Point is--one of the best GMs in the business recognized a major roster deficiency in 2012 and attacked it in a way that no one saw coming. We have a very crystal clear issue now and I'm counting on him to not just sit on his hands (though if he's thinking Voynov is coming back maybe we WONT see anything because is a Doughty-Muzzin Voynov-Regehr, Martinez-Greene McNabb defense really THAT much worse?).