Kings News: Fiala to for 2022 first-round pick and Brock Faber

[Axl Rhoadz]

In a vacuum? Sure.


In reality, no, you don't. Cost was too high, return is insignificant regardless of how well he plays. The team wasn't ready to take a step forward yet and you could easily add that type of player when you are ready. Now expectations are increased and the kids who need those minutes to grow and thrive are kept to 8 minutes on the 4th line in roles not suited for their skill set or scratched entirely.

Glad you guys enjoy your highlights, keep them handy when the team is bounced early.

You are so wrong, it's gross.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

At the time, King's had some more pressing needs. It may have been better to bring in a defender first. Goal wasn't a known issue at the time the trade was made.

Scoring was the Kings biggest issue last year -- 20th overall in GF.

Today they are 10th.

 

[head eyes]

Pretty great stuff from a guy who doesn't make your team better.

Now we just need a Brock Faber highlight reel...

Maybe we can get a highlight reel of Faber's intangibles. Like his day at the children's hospital, taking care of his disabled sister, getting the boys together to get their athletic trainer a birthday gift, etc.

 

[Sol]

“Dear Lord, please keep Kevin safe. I have a job because of him and so does that moronic panda. I don’t know what I’m doing. Love you Kevin, my sweet sultry Swiss seductress”

 

[Choralone]

In a vacuum? Sure.


In reality, no, you don't. Cost was too high, return is insignificant regardless of how well he plays. The team wasn't ready to take a step forward yet and you could easily add that type of player when you are ready. Now expectations are increased and the kids who need those minutes to grow and thrive are kept to 8 minutes on the 4th line in roles not suited for their skill set or scratched entirely.

Glad you guys enjoy your highlights, keep them handy when the team is bounced early.

I don't think a player like Fiala grows on trees, or is available exactly when you need him. We got him, what, maybe two years too early for the team? He'll be 28 then, and yes most likely have already peaked, but still should be comfortably productive for what, another 3 years?

If we want to give more minutes to the kids, there are other players that could be jettisoned that bring less to the table.

 

[Nasti]

Would you care to revisit this, sir? Kempe has proven to be probably the best pure shooter on the team and has made himself even better in defensive elements of his game. Kaliyev can produce on the PP, but the jury is still out on him being a complete player. Kempe's contract is pretty nice if he can maintain his level of production. He was pretty good in the playoffs last year as well.

No revisiting needed. Kempe gets top line minutes and is streaky. Kaliyev gets 4th line minutes and is coming off a broken foot. He’s also younger and has a better shot. Out of those two and Fiala, yes, Kempe is the expendable one.

 

[Herby]

I'm getting behind Petersen this year. I think he's got a bum rap after last year.

Congrats on finishing 2nd place to my “The Bruins will fall off big this year” comment for biggest whiff on this board for 2022

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Congrats on finishing 2nd place to my “The Bruins will fall off big this year” comment for biggest whiff on this board for 2022

Oh I've worn this one all year for sure!

 

[Sol]

Congrats on finishing 2nd place to my “The Bruins will fall off big this year” comment for biggest whiff on this board for 2022

Wow that is pretty bad lol. I think my worst take might have been Vilardi being done last year.

However I’m still not sold on QB yet. He’s not progressing as fast as I’d want him to do. His game has improved a bit but the snails pace is testing my patience. I don’t see very much confidence ever in his game which is pretty concerning to me. I feel that QB is one small injury derailment away from falling off. His development seems super fragile. He’s been showing improvement and skills but it’s very slow. I hope my QB take whiffs. But he’s not even close to being out of the woods which is concerning to me.

 

[bmr]

No revisiting needed. Kempe gets top line minutes and is streaky. Kaliyev gets 4th line minutes and is coming off a broken foot. He’s also younger and has a better shot. Out of those two and Fiala, yes, Kempe is the expendable one.

I'm gonna have to go ahead and kind of disagree with you on this one. If anyone is expendable out of the Fiala/Kempe/Kaliyev grouping it's gonna be Kaliyev. I'm not sure there are many Kings fans who would rather have him over Kempe. Streaky or not, Kempe is going to easily be the goal leader and now has the best +/- on the team. He's also only 26 years old. It's clear that he has elevated his game this year. Kaliyev still has some work to do to prove that he's not just a PP specialist.

I'm not sure why any of these players needs to be expendable though?

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

I'm not sure why any of these players needs to be expendable though?

Exactly. One of the biggest gripes on this board in the last couple of years has been the inability of this org to draft/develop a top 6 forward.

We finally have a proven one and now they are expendable? Lol, #twilightzone

 

[Statto]

I don't think a player like Fiala grows on trees, or is available exactly when you need him. We got him, what, maybe two years too early for the team? He'll be 28 then, and yes most likely have already peaked, but still should be comfortably productive for what, another 3 years?

If we want to give more minutes to the kids, there are other players that could be jettisoned that bring less to the table.

That’s my take. The signing of Fiala was a great move, the issue was not clearing space elsewhere on the roster whilst filling the hole on LD. That surely has to happen before the end of the summer.

 

[bmr]

Exactly. One of the biggest gripes on this board in the last couple of years has been the inability of this org to draft/develop a top 6 forward.

We finally have a proven one and now they are expendable? Lol, #twilightzone

Lol - The same thought did cross my mind! Unless he's a key piece in a trade we really want to make, I have no idea why we would entertain the idea of dumping Kempe.

How many 35-40 goal scorers do you know in this league at a 5.5 mill cap hit?

 

[BigKing]

I'm gonna have to go ahead and kind of disagree with you on this one. If anyone is expendable out of the Fiala/Kempe/Kaliyev grouping it's gonna be Kaliyev. I'm not sure there are many Kings fans who would rather have him over Kempe. Streaky or not, Kempe is going to easily be the goal leader and now has the best +/- on the team. He's also only 26 years old. It's clear that he has elevated his game this year. Kaliyev still has some work to do to prove that he's not just a PP specialist.

I'm not sure why any of these players needs to be expendable though?

I feel Kaliyev is further ahead in his development than Kempe was at his age. If you are worried about W/Ls for this current season than it is a slam dunk but when you take in to account age/cap/potential, you've got a real argument for Kaliyev.

Kempe gets six-to-seven minutes more ice time a night and averages three shots per game: Kaliyev is already at two shots per game in his limited TOI. Kempe didn't start scoring until his total shots for the season skyrocketed past previous years, plus he's somehow hitting at a 14% and 16% shooting percentage the past two seasons. I think Kaliyev has a better shot and is the more natural goal scorer. Kempe gets better PP time and has nine power play goals to Kaliyev's eight with AK missing time with the broken foot. Not that I don't like Kempe but Kaliyev's shot is a special weapon.

 

[bmr]

I feel Kaliyev is further ahead in his development than Kempe was at his age. If you are worried about W/Ls for this current season than it is a slam dunk but when you take in to account age/cap/potential, you've got a real argument for Kaliyev.

Kempe gets six-to-seven minutes more ice time a night and averages three shots per game: Kaliyev is already at two shots per game in his limited TOI. Kempe didn't start scoring until his total shots for the season skyrocketed past previous years, plus he's somehow hitting at a 14% and 16% shooting percentage the past two seasons. I think Kaliyev has a better shot and is the more natural goal scorer. Kempe gets better PP time and has nine power play goals to Kaliyev's eight with AK missing time with the broken foot. Not that I don't like Kempe but Kaliyev's shot is a special weapon.

I'm a big Kaliyev fan and i'm excited to see how he develops, but we won't know until it happens.

It still begs the same question - why are we even asking who's expendable between these 3? We don't need to make that decision right now.

 

[Surf Nutz]

No way you wait on locking this guy up for 8 years, when he is willing, with the rate of inflation.
I have already seen Cozens, Stutzle and other less established players sign comparable deals.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

The problem is we're still having to play chicken-and-egg games with some of these kids.

Are they not producing enough because they aren't up in the lineup? Or are they not up in the lineup because they're not producing enough? Obviously a little bit of shades of both but it's not a coincidence that every one of these kids experiences a (sometimes huge) bump in play when they're played with skilled experienced players instead of quarantined for 6-10 minutes with other rookies or JAGs.

 

[Surf Nutz]

I feel Kaliyev is further ahead in his development than Kempe was at his age. If you are worried about W/Ls for this current season than it is a slam dunk but when you take in to account age/cap/potential, you've got a real argument for Kaliyev.

Kempe gets six-to-seven minutes more ice time a night and averages three shots per game: Kaliyev is already at two shots per game in his limited TOI. Kempe didn't start scoring until his total shots for the season skyrocketed past previous years, plus he's somehow hitting at a 14% and 16% shooting percentage the past two seasons. I think Kaliyev has a better shot and is the more natural goal scorer. Kempe gets better PP time and has nine power play goals to Kaliyev's eight with AK missing time with the broken foot. Not that I don't like Kempe but Kaliyev's shot is a special weapon.

Very one dimensional analysis.
Kempe only got top tier linemates last season.
Kali can not carry and maintain possession of the puck, skate or make defensive plays, anywhere close to Kempe.
Kempe is very durable.
Kali is not this year.

 

[King'sPawn]

I'm gonna have to go ahead and kind of disagree with you on this one. If anyone is expendable out of the Fiala/Kempe/Kaliyev grouping it's gonna be Kaliyev. I'm not sure there are many Kings fans who would rather have him over Kempe. Streaky or not, Kempe is going to easily be the goal leader and now has the best +/- on the team. He's also only 26 years old. It's clear that he has elevated his game this year. Kaliyev still has some work to do to prove that he's not just a PP specialist.

I'm not sure why any of these players needs to be expendable though?

Kempe has upped his game for certain. I do think he's still too streaky to be a top-line forward. And by streaky, I don't just mean his production. I mean his engagement and effort into the forecheck.

I don't think "expendable" would be the best word - but the Kings have a lot of forwards and a hole in goaltending and left defense. It makes sense to trade from a position of surplus to fill this hole.

With Kempe, he has a few issues surrounding him:
Fiala is more skilled.
Kaliyev is producing at a better clip at the same age as Kempe was. With the Kings needing to build a younger core, it doesn't make sense to trade him (if the Kings already had a new core in, trading Kaliyev would be more defensible).
Viktor Arvidsson is more consistent in his execution
Danault, Lizotte, Iafallo, and Moore fill more niche roles.

So, it's not so much about "expendable" but more about trying to fill holes. Kempe provides the best value to fill a quality player, and the Kings would be hurt the least (long term and short term) to trade Kempe. Plus, they need to have cap space for all these contracts.

 

[AbsentMojo]

I'm gonna have to go ahead and kind of disagree with you on this one. If anyone is expendable out of the Fiala/Kempe/Kaliyev grouping it's gonna be Kaliyev. I'm not sure there are many Kings fans who would rather have him over Kempe. Streaky or not, Kempe is going to easily be the goal leader and now has the best +/- on the team. He's also only 26 years old. It's clear that he has elevated his game this year. Kaliyev still has some work to do to prove that he's not just a PP specialist.

I'm not sure why any of these players needs to be expendable though?

Yes, a strange hypothetical to begin with but ill chime in that Kaliyev will never skate anywhere near Kempe. That is an extremely valuable quality in a wing that Kaliyev will never have...Kaliyev may end up being a tweener 3rd liner sub into 2nd line when needed and PP specialist. Ive made my case clear that if we have to move a forward it should AI or RV.

 

[Nasti]

I'm gonna have to go ahead and kind of disagree with you on this one. If anyone is expendable out of the Fiala/Kempe/Kaliyev grouping it's gonna be Kaliyev. I'm not sure there are many Kings fans who would rather have him over Kempe. Streaky or not, Kempe is going to easily be the goal leader and now has the best +/- on the team. He's also only 26 years old. It's clear that he has elevated his game this year. Kaliyev still has some work to do to prove that he's not just a PP specialist.

I'm not sure why any of these players needs to be expendable though?

How many of the same type of player do we need? All three are left handed scoring wingers who aren’t overly physical. At some point, you need to fill holes from an area of strength. Kempe took how many years to become a 50 point player? Yeah the 30+ goals is nice but he doesn’t do a hell of a lot when he’s not scoring goals. He’d also get you a bigger return right now. Kaliyev very well could surpass that, if given the opportunity, at a younger age.

 

[Nasti]

Kempe has upped his game for certain. I do think he's still too streaky to be a top-line forward. And by streaky, I don't just mean his production. I mean his engagement and effort into the forecheck.

I don't think "expendable" would be the best word - but the Kings have a lot of forwards and a hole in goaltending and left defense. It makes sense to trade from a position of surplus to fill this hole.

With Kempe, he has a few issues surrounding him:
Fiala is more skilled.
Kaliyev is producing at a better clip at the same age as Kempe was. With the Kings needing to build a younger core, it doesn't make sense to trade him (if the Kings already had a new core in, trading Kaliyev would be more defensible).
Viktor Arvidsson is more consistent in his execution
Danault, Lizotte, Iafallo, and Moore fill more niche roles.

So, it's not so much about "expendable" but more about trying to fill holes. Kempe provides the best value to fill a quality player, and the Kings would be hurt the least (long term and short term) to trade Kempe. Plus, they need to have cap space for all these contracts.

Bingo.

 

[Nasti]

Yes, a strange hypothetical to begin with but ill chime in that Kaliyev will never skate anywhere near Kempe. That is an extremely valuable quality in a wing that Kaliyev will never have...Kaliyev may end up being a tweener 3rd liner sub into 2nd line when needed and PP specialist. Ive made my case clear that if we have to move a forward it should AI or RV.

Being a great or fast skater is overrated. Yeah it’s nice to have if other parts of your game are high level but I stopped putting that on my priority list in the days when Craig Johnson was constantly shoved down our throats. The most note worthy thing his legs produced were Adam Deadmarsh’s final concussion.

 

[Kudelski37]

Kaliyev seems to have trouble getting his shot off if there is any pressure. If this is the case, that limits his ceiling to a middle six/pp specialist.

Kempe, Vilardi, RV, and Fiala don't have an issue getting shots off with pressure.

I'm not saying trade Kaliyev, but I'm not as high on him as some.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Being a great or fast skater is overrated. Yeah it’s nice to have if other parts of your game are high level but I stopped putting that on my priority list in the days when Craig Johnson was constantly shoved down our throats. The most note worthy thing his legs produced were Adam Deadmarsh’s final concussion.

Yes re AD I remember that it was Craig Johnson - it was at Phoenix and it was not televised. I never saw the footage of it if there was any - if you have a link pls post it. But Craig Johnson is not a good counter to the point that speed is something that Kaliyev will never have in his arsenal.. Kempe has a shot, and together with speed it means he can get that shot off more often in high danger areas than someone with same shot but not the same speed.. thats my point. I guess another way to put it is that Kaliyev upside is a bit capped, not that speed is the most important factor always.. there are plenty of cases like Luc and Sakic whose release were their secret weapon.