Speculation: Fire Rob Blake Blow it Up Offseason Thread (update: Robitaille, Blake and Hiller stay)

[Herby]

It was a good draft on paper, then...

Every draft for the most part is good on paper, and I think people were reasonable to expect good things from this draft, where you had that many good picks, including the organizations first Top 5 pick in a decade. But it's just absolutely mind boggling how in June 2024 anyone could say that draft is "Going to be very fruitful for the Kings". I would argue at this point it's one of the worst drafts in team history, especially if Kaliyev is traded for peanuts as is the expectation.

I know people don't like when it's brought up, but it's comments like this that lead people to believe what they do about the objectivity or lack there of from John Hoven when it comes to discussing big blunders made by the Kings. I don't even think the people here who are very supportive of the management would call this draft anything but a huge failure.

 

[Nasti]

Hi guys just curious as to what you value Danault at and is he pretty much a no go trade wise?

Sabres are almost certainly on his NMC list but I'm curious as to how you're viewing him. I'm sure the team is looking for changes (moreso on the GM front maybe less than the roster front)

The biggest issue I have with Danault is that signing him blocked younger players from developing into top 2 centers (ie Byfield). He is a really good player and would be very valuable on a contending team, but his rightful spot is at 3C, not 2C.

 

[MOGlLNY]

The biggest issue I have with Danault is that signing him blocked younger players from developing into top 2 centers (ie Byfield). He is a really good player and would be very valuable on a contending team, but his rightful spot is at 3C, not 2C.

Maybe something like 11th, Krebs and Ryan Johnson (LD is a need for you guys and he could definitely be a #7 this year but we will likely leave him in the cooker for another season. I'd hate to lose him because I think he's gonna be really good, like top 4 good. But we need someone now) for Danault and 21st?

Or maybe just Danault for Samuelsson (LD) straight up.

 

[Herby]

The biggest issue I have with Danault is that signing him blocked younger players from developing into top 2 centers (ie Byfield). He is a really good player and would be very valuable on a contending team, but his rightful spot is at 3C, not 2C.

This is all 100% correct.

Good player, just absolutely the wrong time to bring him in. The belief that he was brought in to insulate young players was just never going to be reality, he was paid handsomely and promised a 2C role. If Danault wasn't signed you have QB with 150-200 more games playing as a center.

You can't win a championship with Danault as a 2C, unless you have a McDavid or MacKinnon as the 1C, for anyone else, he has to be your 3C. And a big problem for the Kings right now is uncertainty at C. Kopitar is 37, one of these seasons it's going to fall off, Byfield has been on the wing for two seasons and struggled playing C and PLD is coming off a nightmare season.

 

[kingsboy11]

Behave everyone

 

[tny760]

i'm more against the kopitar extension than i am the danault signing

should things have gone differently i think danault would've been a good bridge 1C to keep pressure off 2C byfield on a (then) bad kings team and it would've allowed turc time to develop in depth. as it stands, danault's line's success deluded blake into thinking he was draisaitl jr and he started the spiral of bad decisions

danault has played out his contract admirably, blake just stubbornly refused to maximize it's value

 

[YP44]

Maybe something like 11th, Krebs and Ryan Johnson (LD is a need for you guys and he could definitely be a #7 this year but we will likely leave him in the cooker for another season. I'd hate to lose him because I think he's gonna be really good, like top 4 good. But we need someone now) for Danault and 21st?

Or maybe just Danault for Samuelsson (LD) straight up.

I would do your larger deal

 

[Surf Nutz]

People seem to forget Englund is what we have for an enforcer , so if you replace him we need some semblance of an enforcer like Englund, or better

 

[KingsHockey24]

People seem to forget Englund is what we have for an enforcer , so if you replace him we need some semblance of an enforcer like Englund, or better

That wouldn't be too hard.

Free Agents this Summer we have:

Dakota Joshua
Corey Perry
Brenden Dillon
Nikita Zadorov
Yakov Trenin
Patrick Maroon
Kyle Clifford
A.J. Greer
Sam Carrick
Brenden Smith
Liam O'Brien
Brandon Duhaime
Jani Hakanpaa
Ian Cole
Jarred Tinordi
William Carrier
Matt Martin
Ryan Lomberg
Austin Watson

 

[MonkeysUncle]

Very good defensive, checking forward. Players who are on his line generally play better with him than away from him. Biggest issue is offensive consistency - his line can disappear for weeks at a time. But when on, him and Trevor Moore are beastly.

Not sure if management has any interest in trading him, considering they're tripling down as far as going for it in the playoffs. If the Kings did trade him, I'd be disappointed if they got less than a late first, or a high second +. But I also suck at gauging value.

The highest rate of return would be at trade deadline, he should bring a First + 3rd, high prospect . He still has term and to contender would be very enticing

 

[King'sPawn]

The highest rate of return would be at trade deadline, he should bring a First + 3rd, high prospect . He still has term and to contender would be very enticing

Teams have certainly paid more for worse (*cough*PLD) but I am just generally speaking of where my expectation threshold is.

I'd totally be okay with a 1st and 3rd.

 

[Surf Nutz]

That wouldn't be too hard.

Free Agents this Summer we have:

Dakota Joshua
Corey Perry
Brenden Dillon
Nikita Zadorov
Yakov Trenin
Patrick Maroon
Kyle Clifford
A.J. Greer
Sam Carrick
Brenden Smith
Liam O'Brien
Brandon Duhaime
Jani Hakanpaa
Ian Cole
Jarred Tinordi
William Carrier
Matt Martin
Ryan Lomberg
Austin Watson

Maybe, but I see a lot of all forwards.

I wonder if the Kings like having it coming from a 3rd d pair, with Spence , or maybe Clarke next year.

Like Gavrikov, Englund is expiring UFA after next season, so if you are moving pieces then they make a lot of sense.

 

[Surf Nutz]

Projecting Matt Roy’s next contract

The defenseman could face a change of scenery for the first time in his NHL career. Player Overview What We Know Comparables Projection Player Overview Earning a full-time role with the Los Angeles…

hockeycomparables.com

I think these com parables are a bit low but maybe we should bring him back if we can get him at these prices.

Blake in particular may be motivated to do so to keep the D and PK mostly intact.

Also Gavri is gone after the end of the season. Maybe you could get him to waive his NMC before the deadline.


Pre deadline

MA -DD
Gav - Roy
Englund - Spence.
Moverare

Post Deadline

Clarke - DD
MA - Roy
Moverare - Spence

or

Clarke _DD
MA - Spence
Moverare - hole without Roy

Blake's gonna sign him unless he wants more money elsewhere.

Hopefully 5.5 or less

 

[Herby]

^^^^ LOL

He wants another 50 games of paying his dues and learning the system for Clarke.

You know it's not against the rules to have guys on their ELC playing in the NHL?

 

[MonkeysUncle]

Maybe, but I see a lot of all forwards.

I wonder if the Kings like having it coming from a 3rd d pair, with Spence , or maybe Clarke next year.

Like Gavrikov, Englund is expiring UFA after next season, so if you are moving pieces then they make a lot

Don't be shocked if Blake resigns Gavrikov , unfortunately..

 

[Peter James Bond III]

That wouldn't be too hard.

Free Agents this Summer we have:

Dakota Joshua
Corey Perry
Brenden Dillon
Nikita Zadorov
Yakov Trenin
Patrick Maroon
Kyle Clifford
A.J. Greer
Sam Carrick
Brenden Smith
Liam O'Brien
Brandon Duhaime
Jani Hakanpaa
Ian Cole
Jarred Tinordi
William Carrier
Matt Martin
Ryan Lomberg
Austin Watson

What happened to Tanner Jeannot? Really fell off after that 24 goal season...and TBL gave up Cal Foote and 5 picks for him? Only had 7 goals in 55 games. Missed games with lower body inj. 1 yr left at 2.65 M. Arty would probably do well in TB. The Kings would have to add. Loved that gig yr he had w Preds. Size and toughness on 4th line and someone to reckon with. When he's on his game, could move him up in the lineup. TBL have cap issues too. Arty would cost at least 1 M less.
It would be nice to get a player back for Arty...but something like a 3rd 2024 and possibly 4th or 5th 2025 seems like his value, at least guessing wise. If can't get a 2nd, would try to get 2 mid picks.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Fire Blake

 

[MonkeysUncle]

What happened to Tanner Jeannot? Really fell off after that 24 goal season...and TBL gave up Cal Foote and 5 picks for him? Only had 7 goals in 55 games. Missed games with lower body inj. 1 yr left at 2.65 M. Arty would probably do well in TB. The Kings would have to add. Loved that gig yr he had w Preds. Size and toughness on 4th line and someone to reckon with. When he's on his game, could move him up in the lineup. TBL have cap issues too. Arty would cost at least 1 M less.
It would be nice to get a player back for Arty...but something like a 3rd 2024 and possibly 4th or 5th 2025 seems like his value, at least guessing wise. If can't get a 2nd, would try to get 2 mid picks.

I would not add for Jeannot, his cap hit is $. It's to bad they mishandled Kaliyev so badly best case would've been he gets chance to play his stock up, instead Blake throws him under bus publically and completely wrecks his value. Guess Blake has never heard the phrase "keep behind closed doors"

 

[bland]

As a side note, Happy Cupiversary ladies and gents!

 

[Johnny Utah]

That wouldn't be too hard.

Free Agents this Summer we have:

Dakota Joshua
Corey Perry
Brenden Dillon
Nikita Zadorov
Yakov Trenin
Patrick Maroon
Kyle Clifford
A.J. Greer
Sam Carrick
Brenden Smith
Liam O'Brien
Brandon Duhaime
Jani Hakanpaa
Ian Cole
Jarred Tinordi
William Carrier
Matt Martin
Ryan Lomberg
Austin Watson

There is a big portion of fans and media who would rather have a D core without Englund and if that is the case, then the Kings def need at least two names from the list above.

I would remove Hakanpaa and Cole - they are not enforcers or even that tough. Cole is a punching bag.

Also, Maroon has major back issues - he might be done.

Clifford is an AHL player at this point.

Will Carrier hasn't fought in years.

Austin Watson is a punching bag also. He's won about one fight in the past five seasons.

I would be targeting Joshua, Trenin, Carrick (to replace Lizotte), and Duhaine. Matt Martin wouldn't be a bad addition either.

Zadorov is my fav, but he wants to get paid.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

If I’m Blake, I’d probably call Sakic and kick the tires on Nuke. You could probably get him + salary retention for a low end prospect/late draft pick.

I would also be targeting Yakov Trenin.

 

[Schrute farms]

I don't see how one token tough/fighter guy who isn't very good at hockey helps this team. They need 2-3 tough guys. Not necessarily all of them being guys who are huge and fight -- just that they have a 'don't f-with me/us' attitude and have good size (anti-Liz) and generally like to play a punishing/checking/physical game. It's more a mindset that is needed. Adding 2 (preferably 3) of those types will help raise the floor with others imo. LHD + 2 wingers (both 4th liners or one 4th line & one taking arvi's spot).

But alas, that's not going to happen. It's going to take a couple more years and some big development steps forward for the big/physical internal young guys to make the jump. Not to mention, be given the chance.

 

[AbsentMojo]

If I’m Blake, I’d probably call Sakic and kick the tires on Nuke. You could probably get him + salary retention for a low end prospect/late draft pick.

I would also be targeting Yakov Trenin.

I like D. Joshua game a lot... found a scoring touch last season with 18g. Was on very cheap contract last 2 seasons.. wonder what his value is now? Maybe get him for 2 mil AAV? He'd be a big upgrade at 4C over Liz

 

[Trash Panda]

I like D. Joshua game a lot... found a scoring touch last season with 18g. Was on very cheap contract last 2 seasons.. wonder what his value is now? Maybe get him for 2 mil AAV? He'd be a big upgrade at 4C over Liz

Joshua is going to get the bag this summer from a team willing to overpay.

I’d be shocked if he signed for a dime under 3 million.

 

[MonkeysUncle]

Joshua is going to get the bag this summer from a team willing to overpay.

I’d be shocked if he signed for a dime under 3 million.

Probably get around $3.25× 4