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

[doug93003]

Blake is worthless...you mean Doughty? I think 7m Kopitar has value as a 2nd line player...Maybe Toronto will take him in a 3 way deal where they trade Marner to some desperate for talent, lots of cap team like Utah. But Doughty, who I feel is an above average 2nd pair defenseman at 11m per year at 37yo until he's 40? Luc-y, you got some retainin' to do.

Seriously though I think the young-ish guys who will command something will be guys like Kempe, Danault, Moore, Gavrikov, etc. I think each of those guys might be worth close to or more than a 1st...probably the exact guys you don't want to trade but I think we're way, way more than a couple pieces away. Assuming we don't re-sign Roy or Arvidsson, we will get like 10.5m back when Kopitar's new salary kicks in. That's enough cap room to get one top player. But right now we are missing all three, 1C, 1D and 1G. That's a rebuild to me.

I did mean Doughty.

I agree we are more than a couple players away....but keeping good solid role players around while shedding overpaid past their prime contracts IMO is a better strategy. You'll still lose a shit ton of games over the next few years and be able to draft quality players while developing what you already have in the system by moving them onto a NHL roster. Then trade or FA sign the missing pieces. Sort of a soft rebuild....or resting of a blown opportunity. You can't do it with Luc the backstabber and Blake, though you could have done it with Lombardi.

So Blake has one more year on his deal. Letting him cook (pun intended) his last year and not firing him is one thing, Giving him an extension is another. So if thing sdon't improve, it's a natural progression they hire someone else -- since they don't have to fire him and pay him multiple years. Assuming of course they don't do something stupid like extend him.

My question for the board: what about Luc's contract? Anyone know what kind of term he has? I think he'll find a way to blame the future failures on others and stay. But just contract wise, if AEG doesn't want to pay someone to go away and would wait out his contract...what's he got left on his current deal?

I'm down with this. You just can't let him trade, sign FA's or begin a rebuild. Neither of the three is his strong suit. What's his title again?

 

[shuchukfan]

But “passion” is one of the words Luc put on the wall. That counts for something, doesn’t it?

I think Luc accidentally wrote "passion" instead of "poisson". He wanted to let everyone know that fish is for lunch after the press conference.

 

[Statto]

The Bernier part I'm not surprised about. I can see some brass from AEG saying, "We spent a 1st rounder on this awesome goalie, get him in the line up now." If Heckle and Jeckle were running the show Quick would have never seen the light of day in this organization.

Quick would still be in the AHL paying his dues.

 

[kilowatt]

Maybe if Kaliyev was a Brisson client he wouldn’t get this much bs.

I can't believe Kaliyev didn't do much with his 5:58 average time on ice in six games after the trade deadline. I mean he only scored half as many goals (1) as Dubois did (2) in that time frame, while Dubois only averaged 15:33 over the final twenty games of the season.

He also scored the same number of goals post-trade deadline as Byfield, Doughty, and Lewis, but yeah. Kaliyev really needed to step it up. I can see why we're getting rid of him.

 

[tigermask48]

I don't really see why the Kings wouldn't create space for Portillo and see what he can do. He'll be 24 on opening night. They slow-played Petersen too much in the AHL and look what happened to him.

This would make sense the way this front office has "developed" goalies. They just signed Ingham recently, and they have almost always had a prospect and a veteran in the AHL at all times.

So Portillo and a veteran in the NHL, and Ingham backing up a veteran in the AHL does track with past behavior. Of course that method has yielded zero results over the past 7 years.

 

[Choralone]

The exit interview on Youtube has 5850 views as I type this with 103 likes. I mean, I know that’s an embarrassingly low number of likes but I can’t help wonder who those 103 are. Actually, I think I know three of them.

Three guys, plus each has thirty-three alt accounts.

 

[Statto]

I can't believe Kaliyev didn't do much with his 5:58 average time on ice in six games after the trade deadline. I mean he only scored half as many goals (1) as Dubois did (2) in that time frame, while Dubois only averaged 15:33 over the final twenty games of the season.

He also scored the same number of goals post-trade deadline as Byfield, Doughty, and Lewis, but yeah. Kaliyev really needed to step it up. I can see why we're getting rid of him.

It seems unlikely it’s an on-ice issue. If so I would not expect to know the details. It’s not about goals, IMO.

 

[Telos]

Kaliyev is going to be an amazing pickup for another team. Easily one of the dumbest mishandles of player development in recent memory. He may not be an elite top 6 player and he definitely can have issues defensively, but they did nothing for him, didn't develop him at all, didn't use him to his strengths, told him to go f*** himself while our PP was passing the puck around trying to setup Kempe for a single one-timer a night. Just stupid. But don't worry, the guys that brought you zero powerplay goals this postseason know how to develop and drive offense out of these players and prospects.

 

[Telos]

It seems unlikely it’s an on-ice issue. If so I would not expect to know the details. It’s not about goals, IMO.

I would expect Kaliyev to have a poor attitude. We know the prospects are fed up with the bullshit development system the Kings have in place, TMac admitted so during one of his pressers that there are frustrations from the prospects over playing time. He said that they gave Kaliyev a list of things to do in the offseason and he did them, only to get insta demoted and banned. Sure, it could be worse and all valid, but given our track record with prospects I kind of side with Kaliyev at this point. PLD gets his shoes personally licked every morning by Kings brass, but Thomas, Turcotte, Clarke, and Kaliyev are put in their kennels for 23 out of every 24 hours in a day.

 

[tny760]

He also scored the same number of goals post-trade deadline as Byfield, Doughty, and Lewis

ouch

 

[tigermask48]

I would expect Kaliyev to have a poor attitude. We know the prospects are fed up with the bullshit development system the Kings have in place, TMac admitted so during one of his pressers that there are frustrations from the prospects over playing time. He said that they gave Kaliyev a list of things to do in the offseason and he did them, only to get insta demoted and banned. Sure, it could be worse and all valid, but given our track record with prospects I kind of side with Kaliyev at this point. PLD gets his shoes personally licked every morning by Kings brass, but Thomas, Turcotte, Clarke, and Kaliyev are put in their Kennels for 23 out of ever 24 hours in a day.

Yep, goes back to even last year when Clarke was being messed with.

The favoritism shown to certain players has been present for a long time with this group, going back as far as Kovalchuk's time here.

It's all so frustratingly obvious at this point that there is different expectations for different players. Problem is it's seemingly totally random. I can't for the life of me figure out why Laf gets rewarded and stuck on the top line while not producing, but Kaliev, Turcotte get 5 minutes a game while producing whith the little they are given.

 

[Omni Owl]

Yep, goes back to even last year when Clarke was being messed with.

The favoritism shown to certain players has been present for a long time with this group, going back as far as Kovalchuk's time here.

It's all so frustratingly obvious at this point that there is different expectations for different players. Problem is it's seemingly totally random. I can't for the life of me figure out why Laf gets rewarded and stuck on the top line while not producing, but Kaliev, Turcotte get 5 minutes a game while producing whith the little they are given.

Same goes for just about any work environment. People play favorites, there's always politics and hierarchy involved, its unfortunately ingrained into human nature. Kaliyev is obviously on the lower end of the pyramid, but its really got me wondering what he did off-ice to warrant such snubbing. PLD was given way more chances and even his ice time diminished towards the end of the season cuz he was just so shit bad. I have a white hot disdain for him right now, its looking like the worst trade in franchise history.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

Yep, goes back to even last year when Clarke was being messed with.

The favoritism shown to certain players has been present for a long time with this group, going back as far as Kovalchuk's time here.

It's all so frustratingly obvious at this point that there is different expectations for different players. Problem is it's seemingly totally random. I can't for the life of me figure out why Laf gets rewarded and stuck on the top line while not producing, but Kaliev, Turcotte get 5 minutes a game while producing whith the little they are given.

It's also just a product of the Kings system/philosophy in general. With the Kings it's always a very 'safe', rigid, 'defense first' mindset.

It's the same reason why Kopitar's minutes will remain sky high as long as he's still playing decent hockey - he's a 'safe' option. Same with Danault - safe and responsible. They're both very good players so it's hard to really fault coaches in giving them minutes but this safe/responsible/defense first mindset actually starts to explain a lot with the Kings.

It explains why Fagemo doesn't get more than a cup of coffee with limited minutes despite destroying the AHL and the Kings needing offense. It explains why Turcotte got like 5 mins in half of the games he played. It explains the Kaliyev situation. Explains why Spence and Clarke had to rotate in and out of the lineup instead of actually playing both of them at the same time. Explains why Trevor Lewis was a staple in the lineup every night. Explains why Lizotte was playing 3C over Dubois and why Blake & co are still hesitant to move Byfield back to center.

Nearly every confusing/questionable decision made by Kings management & coaching can more or less be explained by the fact that they ALWAYS go with the safe/responsible player with lower upside over the potentially risky player with more upside.

 

[Statto]

I would expect Kaliyev to have a poor attitude. We know the prospects are fed up with the bullshit development system the Kings have in place, TMac admitted so during one of his pressers that there are frustrations from the prospects over playing time. He said that they gave Kaliyev a list of things to do in the offseason and he did them, only to get insta demoted and banned. Sure, it could be worse and all valid, but given our track record with prospects I kind of side with Kaliyev at this point. PLD gets his shoes personally licked every morning by Kings brass, but Thomas, Turcotte, Clarke, and Kaliyev are put in their kennels for 23 out of every 24 hours in a day.

I’m not blaming Kaliyev in that post, just saying what I think is the issue.

I’m sure there’s blame on both sides but that assumes our guesses on what the issue is (mine is similar to yours) are correct. Without knowing the actual issue it’s hard to objectively decide where the blame sits. I know what my gut tells me though.

 

[tigermask48]

It's also just a product of the Kings system/philosophy in general. With the Kings it's always a very 'safe', rigid, 'defense first' mindset.

It's the same reason why Kopitar's minutes will remain sky high as long as he's still playing decent hockey - he's a 'safe' option. Same with Danault - safe and responsible. They're both very good players so it's hard to really fault coaches in giving them minutes but this safe/responsible/defense first mindset actually starts to explain a lot with the Kings.

It explains why Fagemo doesn't get more than a cup of coffee with limited minutes despite destroying the AHL and the Kings needing offense. It explains why Turcotte got like 5 mins in half of the games he played. It explains the Kaliyev situation. Explains why Spence and Clarke had to rotate in and out of the lineup instead of actually playing both of them at the same time. Explains why Trevor Lewis was a staple in the lineup every night. Explains why Lizotte was playing 3C over Dubois and why Blake & co are still hesitant to move Byfield back to center.

Nearly every confusing/questionable decision made by Kings management & coaching can more or less be explained by the fact that they ALWAYS go with the safe/responsible player with lower upside over the potentially risky player with more upside.

But then explain Durzi and Laf without the above logic starting to fail.

Durzi was a tirefire defensivley and was getting PK time.

Laf was killing every line offensively he was put on down the stretch, and saw his time increase.

There really is no pattern to it when you start closely analyzing the situations.

 

[tbrown33]

It's also just a product of the Kings system/philosophy in general. With the Kings it's always a very 'safe', rigid, 'defense first' mindset.

It's the same reason why Kopitar's minutes will remain sky high as long as he's still playing decent hockey - he's a 'safe' option. Same with Danault - safe and responsible. They're both very good players so it's hard to really fault coaches in giving them minutes but this safe/responsible/defense first mindset actually starts to explain a lot with the Kings.

It explains why Fagemo doesn't get more than a cup of coffee with limited minutes despite destroying the AHL and the Kings needing offense. It explains why Turcotte got like 5 mins in half of the games he played. It explains the Kaliyev situation. Explains why Spence and Clarke had to rotate in and out of the lineup instead of actually playing both of them at the same time. Explains why Trevor Lewis was a staple in the lineup every night. Explains why Lizotte was playing 3C over Dubois and why Blake & co are still hesitant to move Byfield back to center.

Nearly every confusing/questionable decision made by Kings management & coaching can more or less be explained by the fact that they ALWAYS go with the safe/responsible player with lower upside over the potentially risky player with more upside.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

But then explain Durzi and Laf without the above logic starting to fail.

Durzi was a tirefire defensivley and was getting PK time.

Laf was killing every line offensively he was put on down the stretch, and saw his time increase.

There really is no pattern to it when you start closely analyzing the situations.

That's what happens when you look at it through one lens and don't have the ability or desire to look at it from ALL AROUND....

I mean, Laf was killing every line offensively is so patently wrong.....it's funny.

 

[Nasti]

I think Luc accidentally wrote "passion" instead of "poisson". He wanted to let everyone know that fish is for lunch after the press conference.

Reheated in the microwave. Would still be less offensive than the presser.

 

[Sol]

If there is a way to sue the Kings for damages to future income, Kaliyev needs to go all in on that. Kings have done nothing but shaft him completely.

 

[bland]

But then explain Durzi and Laf without the above logic starting to fail.

Durzi was a tirefire defensivley and was getting PK time.

Laf was killing every line offensively he was put on down the stretch, and saw his time increase.

There really is no pattern to it when you start closely analyzing the situations.

Durzi was what, the 13th of 14 defensemen to play for the Kings that year? Who knows if he EVER would have seen NHL if not for all those injuries/waiver losses?

But the biggest issue is the stubborn insistence of using your #1 center (and #2 over the past two seasons) as your defensive match up pivot.

Sure, Kopitar is outstanding defensively, but you are severely taxing your teams offensive potential when your #1 center us routinely producing in the bottom third of top line centers. You need that role to be setting the pace, not reacting to the oppositions plan.

 

[King'sPawn]

One other notable answer came when Byfield shared he was “battling an illness for a while at the end of the year.” Although more details weren’t really discussed, Byfield did miss two consecutive games in late January (at Colorado and St. Louis) for what was reported at the time being due to illness, not injury. Further, as shared in the video below, Byfield added the situation was something he’d “need to deal with” during the offseason.

He had his tonsils removed on Tuesday. Perhaps that was part of it, not sure.

Byfield on Moving Back to Center, Laferriere Gets a New Number, and More

mayorsmanor.com

Also, Laferriere is changing his jersey number to 14.

 

[Fripp]

Where's Trent Crimm when you need him?

 

[SettlementRichie10]

How many lingering illnesses has Byfield struggled with over the past few years?

Hopefully removing the tonsils solves the problem.

 

[tigermask48]

That's what happens when you look at it through one lens and don't have the ability or desire to look at it from ALL AROUND....

I mean, Laf was killing every line offensively is so patently wrong.....it's funny.

Lol. Read what I said again. I'm looking at this from multiple angles and can'tfind a consistent reason for the bias some players get. If you know what it is, please by all means tell us.

The advanced stats support that Laf was one of the most ineffective forwards this year and he was given time on the top line to end the season, really only JAD was overall worse.

Even by the eye test he just wasn't much of anything other than a nice story.

I fail to see how even just looking at basic stats, how 23 points and a team worse -14 in 81 games earns any player time on the top line.

 

[Sol]

I think Laf does get unfair criticisms when you have useless players like Lewis on the team dodging it all