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

[Lt Dan]

Did Yushkevich have a prime?

He currently subscribes to Amazon Prime

and his favorite transformer is Optimus Prime

 

[All The Kings Men]

Just to be clear... the author of that piece for The Hockey News is a person named Spencer Lazary.

Spencer Lazary​

Spencer Lazary is a writer at The Hockey Writers covering the Toronto Maple Leafs. He loves to talk about all things Maple Leafs as well as scouting and prospects, he has been writing about Hockey and Prospect Scouting since 2020, and he also is a co-host of a Maple Leafs-themed podcast called "Leafs Talk Forever"

His twitter bio says Devils & Kings writer.

EDIT: And I'm failry certain he "covers" the Utah Hockey Club as well.

 

[MonkeysUncle]

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings/latest-news/kings-should-try-and-trade-kaliyev-to-the-sharks

This shit is such a joke at this point. What has Kaliyev done to deserve quite possibly the worst mishandling of a young talent I’ve ever seen in recent history.

If any of the Kings journalists have an ounce of credibility they should report what the real issue is with Kaliyev than keeping this disgusting mismanagement a secret.

"If any of the Kings journalists have an ounce of credibility they should report what the real issue is with Kaliyev than keeping this disgusting mismanagement a secret"
This is why I wish we had media like they do in Canada , New York.
I highly doubt this management group would still be here, not to mention their moves would be called out on a daily basis time and time again.
The media here alot of the times seem to be to worried about upsetting people in the organization and losing sources or getting their passes revoked.

 

[King'sPawn]

Did I miss someone invoke the names of Erik Rasmussen and Esa Pirnes?

 

[KINGS17]

Did I miss someone invoke the names of Erik Rasmussen and Esa Pirnes?

Say it with me

 

[goosh]

This teams next GM, and the entire hockey ops needs to be fresh faces, like it was in the summer of 2006. The firing of the bosses to promote the people below them failed miserably in 2017 and it's very likely to fail again if the Kings go down that path.

Yannetti has for years now gone onto these various podcasts and defended the slow-cook and taken shots at many other teams around the league for more aggressive player development, which is now the norm in the NHL, especially with high picks. Is he being a loyal soldier to his employer? Maybe, but he sure seems to enthusiastically defend it, I really doubt if he were named GM that he is going to do a complete 180, based on his comments every summer. But that is exactly what the team needs, a total 180 in player development.

When the BLuc nightmare is over, my hope is the Kings bring in some kind of older steward that will be in charge of interviewing and hiring the next GM. The Kings will likely be going through a complete teardown, and one of the most important things is to make sure that the new GM has a philosophy that is more in-line with the rest of the league when it comes to player development. The Kings will very likely be picking for 3-4 years squarely in the Top 10, if not Top 5 and the expectation has to be that those picks are contributing players for a good chunk of their ELC's. You just can't have an organizational philosophy that requires those four players to play 300 combined AHL games as was the case with this generations high picks (Byfield, Turcotte, Clark and Vilardi). In a cap league that gets younger and younger it's imperative to be young and talented at the NHL level.

Yannetti pokes holes in the "aggressive" development path that prospects from other teams often take (like you said), but he also stated during the podcast that his personal preference is "somewhere in the middle" (i.e. between the Kings' ultra-conservative development path and the fast-track one that teams like Ottawa and Detroit have been employing recently). He made it clear that the slow-roast method the Kings use is a mandate that comes down from the top.

 

[Surf Nutz]

Yannetti pokes holes in the "aggressive" development path that prospects from other teams often take (like you said), but he also stated during the podcast that his personal preference is "somewhere in the middle" (i.e. between the Kings' ultra-conservative development path and the fast-track one that teams like Ottawa and Detroit have been employing recently). He made it clear that the slow-roast method the Kings use is a mandate that comes down from the top.

Could it be the mandate is make the playoffs and try to run from there more than marinate and slow roast prospects.

If profits are continually increasing under this model, it makes financial sense.

Blake always acquires veteran or semi veteran players and that keeps the youth down or having to truly rise above to solidify a spot on the team.

This ensures the team meets the make the playoff mandate.

I feel its that simple, and many of the tribe here have drunk too much fire water and gone way off the reservation, Kimosabe...

 

[All The Kings Men]

The media here a lot of the times seem to be to worried about upsetting people in the organization and losing sources or getting their passes revoked.

I feel compelled yet again to insist that nobody has ever had their access revoked or limited based on negative coverage.

"The Media" is also a fairly ambiguous title.

Eric Stephens and Andrew Knoll are the only credentialed journalists that are paid by organizations with an active editorial process and "serious profile" in "the industry".

Eric Stephens covers three different teams (if not four?) and I'm willing to bet most of you don't pay close attention to anything Andrew Knoll has to say. I certainly never see his name mentioned around here.

 

[tbrown33]

Jaroslav Bednar

 

[MonkeysUncle]

I feel compelled yet again to insist that nobody has ever had their access revoked or limited based on negative coverage.

"The Media" is also a fairly ambiguous title.

Eric Stephens and Andrew Knoll are the only credentialed journalists that are paid by organizations with an active editorial process and "serious profile" in "the industry".

Eric Stephens covers three different teams (if not four?) and I'm willing to bet most of you don't pay close attention to anything Andrew Knoll has to say. I certainly never see his name mentioned around here.

I dont talk about anyone in general, never said that anybody has been revoked, I said it seems at times like some could be worried for multiple reasons. I do pay attention to the people that cover the team and your right there are a couple of peole who cover the team that you would call legit media, but in today's day and age, some podcasters or people who cover team with there own sites that have access to the , that would be a type of media, again in todays day and age

 

[Sol]

"If any of the Kings journalists have an ounce of credibility they should report what the real issue is with Kaliyev than keeping this disgusting mismanagement a secret"
This is why I wish we had media like they do in Canada , New York.
I highly doubt this management group would still be here, not to mention their moves would be called out on a daily basis time and time again.
The media here alot of the times seem to be to worried about upsetting people in the organization and losing sources or getting their passes revoked.

Same, it's disappointing how NOTHING has come out from the most mismanaged Kings rookie in as long as I can remember. How is there nothing about this from the media? What a joke.

 

[King'sPawn]

Say it with me

We have 7 top-6 forwards!

 

[All The Kings Men]

Same, it's disappointing how NOTHING has come out from the most mismanaged Kings rookie in as long as I can remember. How is there nothing about this from the media? What a joke.

Just out of curiosity... what would you like covered?

People asked about it throughout the season and got fairly straight forward answers from McLellan.
People have discusses it on official team channels since then and got fairly non-ambiguous comments.
Blake was asked about it.
Hiller was asked about it.

He doesn't have a new contract. He may get a new one. He may get traded. Nobody knows until it happens. It's the middle of the somewhere so no "media" people are around here. There's no camps theres no practices theres no reason to be around the practice facility which is where the offices are located so...

What more would you like?


EDIT: To be perfectly clear I am not trying to silence criticism. If you want more scathing opinion pieces or more lengthy articles written by Hoven or Stanovich covering the career and critiquing the decisions made at the various cross roads in his career then ok that's what you're looking for but this is a genuine question from me about what it is people are looking for.

 

[Sol]

Just out of curiosity... what would you like covered?

People asked about it throughout the season and got fairly straight forward answers from McLellan.
People have discusses it on official team channels since then and got fairly non-ambiguous comments.
Blake was asked about it.
Hiller was asked about it.

He doesn't have a new contract. He may get a new one. He may get traded. Nobody knows until it happens. It's the middle of the somewhere so no "media" people are around here. There's no camps theres no practices theres no reason to be around the practice facility which is where the offices are located so...

What more would you like?


EDIT: To be perfectly clear I am not trying to silence criticism. If you want more scathing opinion pieces or more lengthy articles written by Hoven or Stanovich covering the career and critiquing the decisions made at the various cross roads in his career then ok that's what you're looking for but this is a genuine question from me about what it is people are looking for.

Tell me, when you heard those answers, did it seem substantive to you or did it seem like they're avoiding answering the real issues with him For example, he's a very productive player on the powerplay, he's a sniper, and he's performed well and he's also performed poorly but his ups and downs have had a lot to do with his deployment. There's many many times where he's doing well and he randomly got sidelined. The excuses have always been he's not playing "our style". What is that style? Was PLD playing that "style" when he wasn't getting sidelined. Do you actually buy into the bullshit? Why did Lewis get a contract? Whats the point of retaining a player like Lewis when he pretty much does zero to help the Kings when it matters. PK specialist that absolutely gets blown up by Edmonton. Im not insulting you by saying this but to buy into their bullshit they're saying is devoid of common sense. There is ZERO reason why Kaliyev should be out and someone like Lewis gets a contract. Kings aren't loaded up on talent exactly that they can afford to cut ties with Kaliyev.

Is he an asshole? Does he have drama with team mates? Is he a locker room cancer? Are the Kings organization xenophobic? Does he have personal issues? Health issues? This isn't performance based, this is 100% personal. The fact that no one in the media isn't pushing hard for the truth is absolutely mindblowing. You're cutting ties with a really solid sniper? You get absolutely blown out by Edmonton and struggle heavily to score against Edmonton, but you don't play him? You don't even considering holding onto Kaliyev but you hold onto Lewis? There's zero logic here.

 

[Surf Nutz]

Just out of curiosity... what would you like covered?

People asked about it throughout the season and got fairly straight forward answers from McLellan.
People have discusses it on official team channels since then and got fairly non-ambiguous comments.
Blake was asked about it.
Hiller was asked about it.

He doesn't have a new contract. He may get a new one. He may get traded. Nobody knows until it happens. It's the middle of the somewhere so no "media" people are around here. There's no camps theres no practices theres no reason to be around the practice facility which is where the offices are located so...

What more would you like?


EDIT: To be perfectly clear I am not trying to silence criticism. If you want more scathing opinion pieces or more lengthy articles written by Hoven or Stanovich covering the career and critiquing the decisions made at the various cross roads in his career then ok that's what you're looking for but this is a genuine question from me about what it is people are looking for.

Thanks for serving up the whoppers to the difficult customers with the "special orders don't upset us." attitude.
Image tagged in doordash,uber eats,burger king,delivery,i have your order,im on my way

 

[Surf Nutz]

Tell me, when you heard those answers, did it seem substantive to you or did it seem like they're avoiding answering the real issues with him For example, he's a very productive player on the powerplay, he's a sniper, and he's performed well and he's also performed poorly but his ups and downs have had a lot to do with his deployment. There's many many times where he's doing well and he randomly got sidelined. The excuses have always been he's not playing "our style". What is that style? Was PLD playing that "style" when he wasn't getting sidelined. Do you actually buy into the bullshit? Why did Lewis get a contract? Whats the point of retaining a player like Lewis when he pretty much does zero to help the Kings when it matters. PK specialist that absolutely gets blown up by Edmonton. Im not insulting you by saying this but to buy into their bullshit they're saying is devoid of common sense. There is ZERO reason why Kaliyev should be out and someone like Lewis gets a contract. Kings aren't loaded up on talent exactly that they can afford to cut ties with Kaliyev.

Is he an asshole? Does he have drama with team mates? Is he a locker room cancer? Are the Kings organization xenophobic? Does he have personal issues? Health issues? This isn't performance based, this is 100% personal. The fact that no one in the media isn't pushing hard for the truth is absolutely mindblowing. You're cutting ties with a really solid sniper? You get absolutely blown out by Edmonton and struggle heavily to score against Edmonton, but you don't play him? You don't even considering holding onto Kaliyev but you hold onto Lewis? There's zero logic here.

Wow.

I guess he went you to bug the team offices...

And violate HIPAA law, as well.

 

[All The Kings Men]

Tell me, when you heard those answers, did it seem substantive to you or did it seem like they're avoiding answering the real issues with him.

When Todd McLellan addressed in January I won't say it was "substantive" but it seemed fairly clear to me that it wasn't an "on ice" issue.

 

[Sol]

When Todd McLellan addressed in January I won't say it was "substantive" but it seemed fairly clear to me that it wasn't an "on ice" issue.

Can you show me the quote you're talking about because I am looking at the some comments from Todd from January and to paraphrase he said that he doesn't like how he's playing.

Its been nothing but cryptic and vague wording. If there's an issue with Kaliyev off-ice then it should be said as much. I don't need the exact reason but there should be at minimum some information about whats going on with him.

The Kings have done a shitty job with him and communicating what the deal is. If the Kings cant say it then Its pretty crazy nothing is getting leaked into the media which also surprises me to have media that is so milquetoast in all aspects.

 

[tny760]

Can you show me the quote you're talking about because I am looking at the some comments from Todd from January and to paraphrase he said that he doesn't like how he's playing.

this is the quote i remember, the "good teammate" thing

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings/latest-news/los-angeles-kings-former-top-prospect-requests-a-trade

 

[Sol]

this is the quote i remember, the "good teammate" thing

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings/latest-news/los-angeles-kings-former-top-prospect-requests-a-trade

"He's got to fit the team, okay," said McLellan. "I know some of you guys are nodding because you're around the group long enough and you get it. You have to work hard to fit. And you've got to be a good, and I'm not saying that Arthur's not a good teammate, but you've got to be able to fit and want to be successful. And when he does that, he'll play again."

from the article,

At worst from this it can be read that he has poor work ethic. He was producing when he was given the chance as rare as that was. I dont see how it can be a work ethic issue when Dubois literally didn't even try at any point this year. Where's the consistency? Dubois was given such insane rope and he didn't do shit. Kaliyev had zero rope and in the rare chance he got to play he produced.

 

[tny760]

"He's got to fit the team, okay," said McLellan. "I know some of you guys are nodding because you're around the group long enough and you get it. You have to work hard to fit. And you've got to be a good, and I'm not saying that Arthur's not a good teammate, but you've got to be able to fit and want to be successful. And when he does that, he'll play again."

from the article,

At worst from this it can be read that he has poor work ethic. He was producing when he was given the chance as rare as that was. I dont see how it can be a work ethic issue when Dubois literally didn't even try at any point this year. Where's the consistency? Dubois was given such insane rope and he didn't do shit. Kaliyev had zero rope and in the rare chance he got to play he produced.

pld might have been a practice superstar, who knows

it's bullshit either way but i'm personally pretty tired of being upset about it, the damage is done far as i'm concerned. i've expended all my good will towards the org

 

[Sol]

pld might have been a practice superstar, who knows

it's bullshit either way but i'm personally pretty tired of being upset about it, the damage is done far as i'm concerned. i've expended all my good will towards the org

It's just angers me man that they'd rather just f***ing let this guy and keep a bum like Lewis. You have a free asset in your hand who adds a rare dynamic to your team. Why are you f***ing with this guy?

Just such bullshit, I wish this organization got hiroshima'd.

 

[Surf Nutz]

It's just angers me man that they'd rather just f***ing let this guy and keep a bum like Lewis. You have a free asset in your hand who adds a rare dynamic to your team. Why are you f***ing with this guy?

Just such bullshit, I wish this organization got hiroshima'd.

On a serious note, the season is shaping up as what may be the most young players transitioning into roles, so having a player like Lewis to show them the

ropes does not seem like a mystery to me.

They extended Lewis and he was a big part of the PK was much improved and yes it still struggled against the historic Oiler PP.

There are 3 young players potentially back from last years team; Spence, Laferriere and maybe Kaliyev.

There are 4 potential new young players Clarke, Akil, Turcotte, Fagemo.

That is quite a few, especially for the Kings.

Don't Worry Be Happy!

 

[Herby]

Just out of curiosity... what would you like covered?

It's tough to focus on one thing, because we just get such little coverage vs, what other professional sports teams get. I know it's hockey, but even by hockey standards the Kings are so weirdly covered.

I'd just like to see the end to total Baghdad Bob style content that comes from certain obvious places covering this team (no not you).

Here is an example, somebody has on a guest that they claim is a "straight shooter" and "open to all questions". The topic of the 2019 draft is brought up, now if I am a host and I have on a guest who I say is a "straight shooter", I think a reasonable question would be something like..,.

"The 2019 draft was one that many Kings fans anticipated was going to produce a big chunk of the teams future, but as we sit here, over 5 years later it's clear that it didn't come to fruition, what do you think went wrong?"

That is in no way a controversial question, or one that should really be that difficult, it's just a reality of the situation from that draft.

Instead we get this...

"The 2019 draft is obviously going to be very fruitful for the LA Kings"

Keep in mind the facts of this draft are...

- The least productive Top 5 pick forward through 5 seasons since the Clinton administration

- Another 1st round pick lost to waivers for nothing

- A player taken at the top of the 2nd who is very likely on the outs for little or no return

- Another 2nd round pick already lost to waivers once

I'm sorry, but that was insulting to the fanbase and insulting to the profession as a whole. If a media member is not comfortable asking tough questions about failures that his guest or the team has had, just don't bring it up at all. Don't insult us by giving a Baghdad Bob response about the draft being "very fruitful", we weren't born yesterday.

And there are numerous other examples of an unwillingness to ask any kind of difficult question to guests that may be seen as negative in any way, they don't ask any follow-up questions to factually incorrect statements made. The organization feeds this person guest after guest after guest, from players to coaches to development members to even the assistant GM, and all they end up being is puff piece interviews where none of the valid concerns or questions that fans may have are answered at all.

It would just be nice to hear members of this organization have to give something that resembles a tough interview from a media member willing or allowed to ask valid questions that managers from other sports slubs around the country have to answer. Now I will say, maybe there just isn't a demand in the independent media to conduct an interview with members of the Kings organization. But at this point I'd almost rather hear nothing than to listen to Baghdad Bob give another "everything is ok" interview.

 

[All The Kings Men]

"He's got to fit the team, okay," said McLellan. "I know some of you guys are nodding because you're around the group long enough and you get it. You have to work hard to fit. And you've got to be a good, and I'm not saying that Arthur's not a good teammate, but you've got to be able to fit and want to be successful. And when he does that, he'll play again."

And when he does that he'll play AGAIN

At worst from this it can be read that he has poor work ethic.

I didn't see anything about a work ethic.

He was producing when he was given the chance as rare as that was. I dont see how it can be a work ethic issue when Dubois literally didn't even try at any point this year.

I didn't see anything about work ethic.

Where's the consistency? Dubois was given such insane rope and he didn't do shit. Kaliyev had zero rope and in the rare chance he got to play he produced.

Valid observations.

Where's the mystery?