Speculation: Fire Rob Blake Blow it Up Offseason Thread (update: Robitaille, Blake and Hiller stay)
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KingsOfCali25
Start up the Tank!
I am going to try to put a positive spin on the summer.
As a fan since 1992 and season ticket holder for just under a decade, it's been rough since the last Cup. Especially as a fan of the "rough stuff," the Kings have been pretty soft since Lombardi/Sutter left. We did that one year of Kurtis MacDermid and Brendan Lemieux under Blake and TM, but that didn't last long as MacD was picked up by Seattle in the expansion draft the summer after Blake traded for Lemieux.
The Kings were paying PLD 8.5 million to play on the 4th line and with his size do nothing that a 4th liner should do. We also had an undersized yet hard working Lizotte and oft injured and inconsistent Grundstrom. The 4th line hasn't been good since Lemieux-Lizotte-Kayilev.
Now we have Jeannot and Foegele making a combined 6 million dollars - still 2.5 million short of PLD. They know their roles. LA is a place players like this shine - goal scorers usually don't match their point totals here that they had elsewhere, but role players or players who underachieved end up breaking thru here like Danault, Moore, and Lemieux.
The Kings will finally not get pushed around - two seasons ago when Lemieux was in and out the line-up with injuries and personal issues the Kings were bullied more than I have ever seen since Andy Murray said the power play was our "enforcer." They had to resort to trading for MacEwen, who was tooled in his first fight by Hague and barely did anything after that except challenge Evander Kane in the one playoff game he played.
Now, looking toward this season the Kings have a full year of a new coach and plan on FINALLY playing the youth in Turcotte, Thomas and Clarke. Of course they need to surround them with tough players to protect them. Edmundson is overpaid, no doubt, but he just turned 31. Most the players who received big contracts Monday were 33-35 years old. He will be 35 by the time his contract is over. He didn't cost anything except money and even adding all the additions together of Edmundson, Jeannot and Foegle, it adds up just over what PLD was making.
Also, FINALLY the Kings kept their 1st round and drafted a solid player in Greentree and also netted a steal in the 2nd round in Carter George. The goaltending pipeline went from Portillo and no one else to Portillo, George, and Slukynsky. I like also how the age groups are spread out a bit - Portillo will turn 24 soon, Hampton just turned 19 and George just turned 18. So when Portillo takes over the other kids are just turning pro.
The defense (especially the right side) was gutted with the losses to Roy, Durzi, and Walker and graduation of Spence to the show, but now with Mania, Dvorak, and Woolley - there is some hope. Kirsanov might finally make the jump over to the US and Booth are making the jump to pro. Jack Sparkes is marinating in college, he could end up being a Chara type D.
I am going into the summer with a good attitude and can't wait until September.
As a fan since 1992 and season ticket holder for just under a decade, it's been rough since the last Cup. Especially as a fan of the "rough stuff," the Kings have been pretty soft since Lombardi/Sutter left. We did that one year of Kurtis MacDermid and Brendan Lemieux under Blake and TM, but that didn't last long as MacD was picked up by Seattle in the expansion draft the summer after Blake traded for Lemieux.
The Kings were paying PLD 8.5 million to play on the 4th line and with his size do nothing that a 4th liner should do. We also had an undersized yet hard working Lizotte and oft injured and inconsistent Grundstrom. The 4th line hasn't been good since Lemieux-Lizotte-Kayilev.
Now we have Jeannot and Foegele making a combined 6 million dollars - still 2.5 million short of PLD. They know their roles. LA is a place players like this shine - goal scorers usually don't match their point totals here that they had elsewhere, but role players or players who underachieved end up breaking thru here like Danault, Moore, and Lemieux.
The Kings will finally not get pushed around - two seasons ago when Lemieux was in and out the line-up with injuries and personal issues the Kings were bullied more than I have ever seen since Andy Murray said the power play was our "enforcer." They had to resort to trading for MacEwen, who was tooled in his first fight by Hague and barely did anything after that except challenge Evander Kane in the one playoff game he played.
Now, looking toward this season the Kings have a full year of a new coach and plan on FINALLY playing the youth in Turcotte, Thomas and Clarke. Of course they need to surround them with tough players to protect them. Edmundson is overpaid, no doubt, but he just turned 31. Most the players who received big contracts Monday were 33-35 years old. He will be 35 by the time his contract is over. He didn't cost anything except money and even adding all the additions together of Edmundson, Jeannot and Foegle, it adds up just over what PLD was making.
Also, FINALLY the Kings kept their 1st round and drafted a solid player in Greentree and also netted a steal in the 2nd round in Carter George. The goaltending pipeline went from Portillo and no one else to Portillo, George, and Slukynsky. I like also how the age groups are spread out a bit - Portillo will turn 24 soon, Hampton just turned 19 and George just turned 18. So when Portillo takes over the other kids are just turning pro.
The defense (especially the right side) was gutted with the losses to Roy, Durzi, and Walker and graduation of Spence to the show, but now with Mania, Dvorak, and Woolley - there is some hope. Kirsanov might finally make the jump over to the US and Booth are making the jump to pro. Jack Sparkes is marinating in college, he could end up being a Chara type D.
I am going into the summer with a good attitude and can't wait until September.
Last edited:
Steve Zissou
I'll order you a red cap and a Speedo.
- May 9, 2014
- 5,826
- 8,240
I agree. I posted in the Edmundson thread that I actually think the roster balance is better. My concern is that it’s too late and would be better if 8/11 were younger. In other words the right approach but a few years late.
I agree that the prospect pool has evolved and if some those late round guys continue their progress then Yannetti will look like a genius. The goalie pipeline is now pretty exciting, like you I think George is a steal. I’ve watched more stuff since draft day and really like him.
SettlementRichie10
Registered User
- May 6, 2012
- 10,241
- 8,534
The players aren’t good enough to get creative. Maybe if Kopitar and Doughty were a decade younger we could let them loose, but there’s a reason these coaches lean toward safe 1-3-1 style systems. The top players aren’t good enough to do anything else.
No Name The Nameless
Registered User
The roster sucks. Kings are going to have to wall hack and cheat code their way to wins.
King'sPawn
Enjoy the chaos
- Jul 1, 2003
- 23,211
- 24,143
Interesting remarks from Hiller on the latest KotP re: Kaliyev.
He said that with Kaliyev, teams used the diamond a lot more this past season, which nullifies the one-timer shot. Also talked about how having a right-hand shot changes the dynamic on the power play, too.
As far as the season, it led to Kaliyev getting frustrated and losing confidence. That, in turn, left coaches lacking confidence.
Still looking forward to him getting a fresh start next season (no, that doesn't mean a fresh start on another team).
As far as lacking confidence in Kaliyev, seems to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. This just looks more like the Kings have struggles with managing the emotional aspect of the game.
He said that with Kaliyev, teams used the diamond a lot more this past season, which nullifies the one-timer shot. Also talked about how having a right-hand shot changes the dynamic on the power play, too.
As far as the season, it led to Kaliyev getting frustrated and losing confidence. That, in turn, left coaches lacking confidence.
Still looking forward to him getting a fresh start next season (no, that doesn't mean a fresh start on another team).
As far as lacking confidence in Kaliyev, seems to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. This just looks more like the Kings have struggles with managing the emotional aspect of the game.
- May 9, 2014
- 5,826
- 8,240
Completely agree with the confidence part. The issue for me is that it then seemed to bleed into the rest of the process. His defensive work, board work etc which also suffered. We can argue he’s been misused but he still needs to follow the process which he stopped doing. I know PLD wasn’t either.
So hopefully there can be a reset and there was no big falling out along the way. IF (big if) they unlock his potential then it’s a very different narrative.
- Mar 9, 2002
- 7,220
- 4,965
We need scorers. Looking at the bank account and looking at who is left in free agency, barring a trade both Kaliyev and Fagemo are looking like sexier options.
Run them out there in scoring opportunities. Protect Fagemo with Kopitar and Kempe and Kaliyev with Danault and Moore and just let them play.
Even if one of the two takes the next step it’s a win.
Run them out there in scoring opportunities. Protect Fagemo with Kopitar and Kempe and Kaliyev with Danault and Moore and just let them play.
Even if one of the two takes the next step it’s a win.
- May 9, 2014
- 5,826
- 8,240
Kinda speaks to Futa’s importance tooFun tool from the "By The Numbers" board
basically re; drafting LA is awesome, Lombardi is awesome, and Blake sucks a bag of dicks. It's obviously not perfect but it jives with many other evaluation tools whether they go by GP, points, or other adjusted criteria PLUS more importantly it fits my confirmation bias so suck it
Grading each NHL team's draft performance
I've created a tool that, building on a some previous work (see Acknowledgements below), allows us to score each NHL team's draft performance. Basically, for each NHL draft pick 1 through 200ish we can look at the average number of NHL games played by each pick. Schuckers notices that there's...forums.hfboards.com
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Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
I appreciate you but I will believe ANY of this when I see it and recent history tells us to expect none of it. I can't share your attitude until I see literally even one of these things as possible.
Jeannot and Foegele know their roles? history tells me they're gonna get overplayed into the top 6 and not do what you think.
Not get pushed around? I'll believe that when I see it. Not sure I can handle another year of Laf having more fights than other roster regulars.
FINALLY playing the youth? hahahahahahahahahaha
Kept their 1st rounder? I'm not as confident as you that this sticks. Edit: oh I see you meant THIS year, okay yeah I like their draft.
There is no help coming this year on defense, the d-core is arguably worse with drew a year older and spence and clarke unallowed to carve out roles, we have an ok top pairing and then 4 glass and outs to get caved in.
tny760
Registered User
- Mar 12, 2017
- 20,809
- 22,689
that's probably exactly what it is but holy f*** i can't stand this PURE x's and o's approach to the game. like oh shit they set up in a diamond can't give PP2 even a sniff of ice any more! game over! it's like they've got a plan A but the moment anything goes wrong it's just f***in abandon ship, can't be saved
probably trickles down to the players honestly, if they're never prepared for someone taking a run or crossing the line somehow, they're rudderless from that point forward
I mean the first unit ran into the same thing and they just started giving Fiala the shot instead, it’s not like they benched Kempe
KingPuckChoo
Go kinGs Go !
- Jun 24, 2007
- 10,130
- 4,059
If you enjoy torturing yourself, or you're one of those still in denial, this video sums up the Blake/Bergevin era quite well.
When Leafs analysts poke fun at the Kings you're a special kind of team.
When Leafs analysts poke fun at the Kings you're a special kind of team.
kovacro
Uvijek Vjerni
Good clip. It's crazy how quickly they come to the realization that it essentially all went wrong when the Kings hired Bergevin
FSL KINGS
Registered User
- May 10, 2021
- 3,283
- 2,973
I'd like to apologize for this post in advance. It may be worse than my recent post in the other thread.
Just glancing at Cap Friendly (RIP 7/6). This year is probably a bubble year, if the King's are lucky.
Gavrikov has 1 year left. Does he want to stay on a team heading for a rebuild or see if a contender has a spot open?
Then players with 2 years (1 year left after burning next season with truculence)
Kopitar, 2 more years to age, probably still 1C.
Kempe, this one hurts. He's a huge part of the team & @ 5.5 one of the best value contracts in the league after putting 40 up & his zone entries on the PP. Not to mention his hair. Like Roy, he's going to get market value in 2 seasons & the cap advantage will be gone.
3 years out
Doughty, King's won't be on the hook for 11M anymore.
Danault, this is another big value contract.
This retool is going to burn off a couple of the best contracts the King's have & unless they're making a strong push for the playoffs, the King's should start dealing them.
There should be a new GM before the next rebuild.
Just glancing at Cap Friendly (RIP 7/6). This year is probably a bubble year, if the King's are lucky.
Gavrikov has 1 year left. Does he want to stay on a team heading for a rebuild or see if a contender has a spot open?
Then players with 2 years (1 year left after burning next season with truculence)
Kopitar, 2 more years to age, probably still 1C.
Kempe, this one hurts. He's a huge part of the team & @ 5.5 one of the best value contracts in the league after putting 40 up & his zone entries on the PP. Not to mention his hair. Like Roy, he's going to get market value in 2 seasons & the cap advantage will be gone.
3 years out
Doughty, King's won't be on the hook for 11M anymore.
Danault, this is another big value contract.
This retool is going to burn off a couple of the best contracts the King's have & unless they're making a strong push for the playoffs, the King's should start dealing them.
There should be a new GM before the next rebuild.
King'sPawn
Enjoy the chaos
- Jul 1, 2003
- 23,211
- 24,143
Hope more media piles on.
No Name The Nameless
Registered User
This checks out. I appreciate you sharing that. I’m not a hockey guy, but it feels good to read a coach quote that I agree with.
FrozenKing18
Registered User
Then this goes on the coaches AND players. So if the one timer is nullified, then what's the alternate route? Find space? find a n opening? look for a wrister. Like @tny760 said, these guys just abandons ship when it doesn't go their way. Shit is frustrating.
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
Oh that's easy
After 1st unit burns 1:40 of PP time, start Kaliyev in the other end as far away from the ozone as possible with arguably the worst dman in the NHL and then wonder why he didnt' score with 20s of PP time, bench, repeat
Fripp
Registered User
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