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Herby said:
I'm pretty sure the Richards fiasco was a big factor in ownerships decision to move on. That was the single most perplexing move I can think of maybe in the history of the franchise. There have been plenty of bad draft picks, signings and trades by Kings GM's, but that one, I mean I just don't know how you watch that guy play in 2014 and then decide to commit 6 more years at almost $6m a year. But that was just the biggest example of loyalty and marrying players that just doomed DL.

I think Blake will do what Dean did in 2006 when he arrived and make a big splash trade, very likely it will be Muzzin but who knows I think anyone could be had for the right price.

I think they need to get more skilled, a bit faster and younger.
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It's really not perplexing once you sort through the minutiae of the story.

Richards contributed in the 2014 run. In fact, the big narrative throughout that run was about the Kings center depth, and Mike Richards anchoring their fourth line and killing penalties. He was not 2012 Richards, no, but he was a productive piece.

Don't forget that Lombardi flew out to Kenora to personally talk to Mike about his future with the franchise. Richards convinced Lombardi that he was going to recommit to fitness, he was clean, etc. Lombardi decided to believe him.

Really not a murder she wrote. Dean believed Richards could turn it around, and that Richards problems were entirely physical, and therefore fixable. Lombardi didn't have a ton of data to pour over, either. He had Richards's great 11/12 campaign, another good year in 12/13 (including a dynamite playoffs), the bad 13/14 regular season, and decent 13/14 playoffs.

Yes, he should have seen a depreciating hockey player and bought him out. I'm not dredging up this debate all over again. Just pointing out that I totally see how Lombardi justified this to himself when he WANTED to keep Richards and was sailing full bore into confirmation bias land.
 
DryIslandBartender said:
Like what instances? Specifically.
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knocking sedin on his ass comes to mind.

I liked a clip in one of the cup run dvds that I watched recently (cant remember which series), he was firing the guys up, going up to each guy on the ice "screaming" down that end (or something similar) Doughty included (I think) when we were struggling. He was taking no ********.
 


Not surprised really. If they had done it, my guess would've been right before the 5 day break. In hindsight, they should've just to see if anything could snap them out of their scoring slump..
 
Telos said:
We just got significantly downgraded on experience. For better or worse we will see what that gets us. Not too crazed about DL getting the boot. Especially from being ejected from the entire organization. I guess at the very least his tell-all book with be very interesting...
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I hope he does write the book.

Final Chapter entitled, "Luc 'Brutus' Robitaille"
 
For all the talk about DL learning from his mistakes, lets not forget it was not even a year ago the man offered Milan Lucic a 7 year deal. After everything he went through with Brown, Richards, Gaborik and Greene to do that I think just showed that he doesn't have a firm grasp on the cap and how crippling those long term deals can be. Either that or he just couldn't help himself.

Could you imagine Lucic for 6 more years, in addition to all the other deals.
 
Knight of the Realm said:
9 pages of buck Blake and Luc.

Did these guys crap in your cereal people?

95% of this board wanted moves to be made and a change in philosophy.

I will hold judgement off until there is something to actually moan about.

From what Hoven said, Blake and Luc advocated for youth early on. Which is what many want to see happen in LA.

Lot up in the air still. Coaches (Stothers included) (Futa)

Heck, Futa might not even have wanted the GM job.

What makes you think they are gonna bring back old mates too? Pure speculation.

I get the shock but Wow! What did you expect? Scotty Bowman to step in.

I loved Blake as a kid. Luc too. Blake has a history that many of us have no inside information on and can't judge. I won't judge them specifically on this job tho until there is something to judge.
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You're kidding, right? You don't think Luc had anything to do with Blake landing the assistant GM job?

Robitaille and Blake will turn to the guys they know. I will be surprised if Futa and Yannetti are still around by this time next year.

Some of you want some inside info on Luc? I will pass along this little tidbit. My kid worked for the Kings as an intern several years ago in the in-game experience department. Bailey was her boss. Yes, Bailey. As some of you might be aware Luc was in charge of that department and other PR areas. I learned there were times Luc would place a call to their office and as soon as they picked up, he would forget why he called. God's honest truth, my kid would pick up the phone, say hello, find out it was Luc, asked, "What can I do for you Mr. Robitaille?" and "Uh, I forget why I called."

This is going to be a disaster if Blake isn't some kind of hockey personnel prodigy.

Herby said:
wow yeah, looks like Luc is in complete control.

He is like Lieweke except he is a former player so will probably be more hands on with regards to hockey decisions.

Luc seems like he is one of the most powerful people in the league now.
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I am just shaking my head. I wonder how many of you have sat down and spent any time with Luc one-on-one. I'm sorry, I was not impressed, and I wish I could say I was impressed. Loved him as a player, but he is not the right fit to lead an entire organization.
 
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Not even worth pulling the trigger on a coaching change midseason, especially this midseason. What does that accomplish?

I still think the whole Richards and Voynov sagas altered Dean's reasoning. Post-2014 was dreadful. Than last season he does a complete u-turn on his "loyalty" policy by ******** all over Greene in that disastrous, weak, loser move last ditch effort to re-sign Lucic, and then strips Brown of the C (apparently at the request of a coach many advisors told him to let go). Total amateur hour.

These aren't your children, and even as a parent you have to draw a line. This is a business and in any business there is a bottom line. The bottom line is contending for and winning Stanley Cups. Every move you make needs to align to that goal. I was a huge Richards supporter, but you simply can't take that risk when you have an ace in the hole. Preaching culture should be defined by winning and winning only happens when you put the team and organization above individuals. "Does keeping Mike Richards help the Kings win 3-5 years from now?" No. The most important decisions are usually the toughest and Dean didn't make the tough decisions. As a result the Kings are currently a fringe playoff team with a weak pipeline and complacent roster.

This Blake/Robitaille move doesn't seem like a thought out move at all. Blake is simply a promotion up a peg and Robitaille is purely a marketing move. What does Robitaille actually do that makes the on ice product more successful? Marketing and jerseys only go so far. As for Blake I wish him the best, and I have to imagine we see more youth injected because he knows Ontario better than anyone outside of Stothers. I think he's a lot smarter than most want to admit.

Better to trade a player a year early than a year late and that can't happen when you're loyal to everyone.
 
All I get from KINGS17 post is that Bailey may or may not be our coach next season. That and Luc may forget all the dreadful trades he has cooked up in his head before he calls Rob.
 
Stanley Cup on the line, Kings down by 1, 1:30 remaining, faceoff in the opposing end.

Nolan, Lewis, Clifford, Shore, Doughty. And Quick is in net.
 
Wow, Glad my account is still intact. Goodluck DL and Sutter, you brought 2 Cups to an inept franchise with thirsty ass fans and I'll always luv you for it.
 
KINGS17 said:
You're kidding, right? You don't think Luc had anything to do with Blake landing the assistant GM job?

Robitaille and Blake will turn to the guys they know. I will be surprised if Futa and Yannetti are still around by this time next year.

Some of you want some inside info on Luc? I will pass along this little tidbit. My kid worked for the Kings as an intern several years ago in the in-game experience department. Bailey was her boss. Yes, Bailey. As some of you might be aware Luc was in charge of that department and other PR areas. I learned there were times Luc would place a call to their office and as soon as they picked up, he would forget why he called. God's honest truth, my kid would pick up the phone, say hello, find out it was Luc, asked, "What can I do for you Mr. Robitaille?" and "Uh, I forget why I called."

This is going to be a disaster if Blake isn't some kind of hockey personnel prodigy.



I am just shaking my head. I wonder how many of you have sat down and spent any time with Luc one-on-one. I'm sorry, I was not impressed, and I wish I could say I was impressed. Loved him as a player, but he is not the right fit to lead an entire organization.
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If we were to listen to you we'd believe he's not suited to pump gas. He's well respected and has the job. I think we should trust him until proven otherwise.
 
Kingspiracy said:
The whole team has benefited from his leadership.
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Gann's article on Bob Miller's retirement tells you everything you need to know about Dustin Brown's leadership. We as fans that watch the team on TV or from the stands don't get to see the leadership off the ice.

I had a picture of Bob Miller hoisting the Cup as my account picture for a year and never realized who was standing right next to him with the scraggly beard.
 
no name said:
If we were to listen to you we'd believe he's not suited to pump gas. He's well respected and has the job. I think we should trust him until proven otherwise.
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The Kings have also doubled their profits since Luc became President of Business Operations.

I'm not a fan of this Authortarian rule, but he obviously has some clue
 
Luc also put Hurricane victims up in his house.

The vitriol on this boar is something else.

I think Luc loves the Kings and wants to see them win.

I am eternally grateful to DL and DS. Sad to them go like this. I think they are brilliant hockey minds.

Luc and Blake have been working around the game for years.

So many here are acting like they were just now called out of retirement.

They could bomb or not. They have yet to make a single move.
 
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Axl Rhoadz said:
Not according to the LA TIMES:

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/18/sports/la-sp-kings-fyi-20130119

"Lombardi, who was hired by the Kings in 2006, signed a contract extension through the 2016-17 season."
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https://www.nhl.com/news/los-angeles-kings-fire-darryl-sutter-dean-lombardi/c-288667014

"Lombardi's 425 wins are the most among Kings general managers. Lombardi, hired in 2006, has another year left on his contract. Sutter has another year and an option."
 
I like how Blake is getting ripped for moves he hasn't even made yet. Don't hire Bylsma as the coach! When he's still not fired yet in Buffalo. He might bring in someone he knows? Really? Like damn near every job that exists? Like when Lombardi brought Hextall over with him from the Flyers?

He's not starting out from a position of strength here. The contracts aren't any more appealing with Lombardi gone. We keep arguing that emotion should be taken out of the evaluation equations. Lombardi is too soft, too attached, etc, etc, etc. Yet people get all emotional about what Blake did as the captain, and can't leave that in the past. Nobody knows what he'll do as a GM, good or bad, so the only option is the non-emotional let's see what he does first before the tar and feathers come out.
 
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