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

[johnjm22]

Fiala’s biggest issue is that he’s as dumb as rocks. That’s not something you can teach and it’s what separates him from the stars of the game.

Blakes big trade acquisitions:

Fiala. The dumbest player in the NHL.
PLD. The laziest player in the NHL.

 

[Lt Dan]

Fiala isn't an underachiever, although his playoff numbers aren't great. He is what he is which is perfectly fine.

If he's your leading scorer and the guy you look to transcend a game when you have to have someone do it, you aren't a contender.

Preferring Faber and the pick over Fiala does not equal hating Fiala. Blake put the icing on the cake before the cake was finished.

or it could be said he was the guy who blew his load three minutes in to the orgy

 

[King'sPawn]

Fiala has the most points among Kings players since joining the team, and he's done so while mostly playing with grinders.

Dubois is an underachiever. Fiala is not.

You are right. Underachiever may not be the right term, but he hasn't tipped the scales for LA in a way he was brought in to do yet.

 

[King'sPawn]

Minor move, but as he's still part of the org:


Can't say I'm surprised

 

[tny760]

nvm i was thinking of someone else

 

[Schmooley]

Minor move, but as he's still part of the org:


Can't say I'm surprised

Yea I was wondering what they were going to do with so many LHD in Ontario.
Moverare, Dvorak, Booth, Hicketts, Krygier, rumors of Kirsanov coming over. All 6 are lefties and they have no right dmen to start there unless they keep down Clarke.

 

[YP44]

Mayor thinks 2-3 years 4-5 million will be the bridge deal if thats the route they take...

then sign me up haha

Sens fans think they will get more than they paid for Chychrun in a trade...

They traded a 1st and two 2nd rounders for him, and now he only has one year left on his deal...

and worse numbers than before he went there.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Yea I was wondering what they were going to do with so many LHD in Ontario.
Moverare, Dvorak, Booth, Hicketts, Krygier, rumors of Kirsanov coming over. All 6 are lefties and they have no right dmen to start there unless they keep down Clarke.

friggin lol

 

[Lt Dan]

Minor move, but as he's still part of the org:


Can't say I'm surprised

Tell me more

IDK anything about him except that he has a girl's name

 

[Surf Nutz]

You are the one that brought up Fiala. No one cares about him winning the mvp of a tournament after he sucked in the playoffs and his goal in the series was a flukey floater from the boards.
His 5 vs 5 usage with Lizotte and Lewis was a joke. But dont you think that Moore and Danault said to the coach they like playing with Arvidsson better and Kopitar and Kempe said they like playing with Byfield better?
Also dont forget Fiala played on the first powerplay unit and there were a lot of times they were out nearly the full 2 minutes and didnt get a single goal the whole playoff.
Fiala is good but his impact in big games leaves a lot to be desired. Hed be making 10-11 million if he was the player you think he is.

Not sure why you insist on making blanket representation for everyone on this blog that are just not true.

Sol cares about FIALA MVPing and so do I and likely others too.

The reason it is important is because it indicates that Kings COACHING/ management are not using the players they acquired or extended correctly.

Here IMO is what the Kings need to do with each player.

PLD: although he has not really earned it, he needs to be on the top line with skilled players ala Winnipeg.

Fiala also needs to be on the top line

QB also slots in there.

Fiala-QB- PLD or QB -PLD - Fiala.

Kopitar and Kempe therefore need to bump down to L2, although if the above L1's do not click I would bump Kempe up, and Moore could get a look too.

Kopitar should be L2 C , full stop, with Kempe, anyone who falter on line 1 above, and/or additions held or the other winger. Fagemo, Laferierre, Arvidson if

resigned. Moore as a last resort.

Danault and Moore should be the nucleus on L3 , unless Moore is needed further up the lineup, if other's above falter. A 2nd winger pieced in here
.
So

PLD - QB - Fiala

Auditions - Kopitar - Kempe

Auditions - Danault - Moore

These guys also comprise the forwards on PP 1 and 2.

L4 is a big problem because they contributed to a very successful PK, but not much 5 on 5 and looked weak in the playoffs.

They are all FA's so Blake is definitely trying to figure out what to do here.

He needs robust durable bodies and that can PK here.

I would like to see Clarke with DD to learn from DD , as QB did from Kopi and Kempe.

However Clarke's defense is still suspect so it may not work with him on his off wing.

So maybe you slot him with Gavri or Englund.

Spence has kinda earned a shot at RD2 as Roy can not be retained when he tests market.

Blake needs to not back himself into a corner like he did with PLD's salary last year.

You make assessments during the season and target guys to get rid of and areas of need before the trade deadline.

You need some cap space to add for a potential playoff run.


All the successful teams did this and the Kings won only one game, as they were cornered from the time the PLD was acquired and extended.

 

[Lt Dan]

Minor move, but as he's still part of the org:


Can't say I'm surprised

LOL I haven't seen anything from the Mayor for a while. He has me blocked on twitter

 

[King'sPawn]

Tell me more

IDK anything about him except that he has a girl's name

Smaller (5'8) LHD Finnish prospect who came to NA. Just doesn't have the skills to compensate for his smaller size.

 

[tny760]

QB does not get launched to 1C this coming season on any planet, if he even gets his own line it's the 3rd
danault did not come here to be a 3C

logic dictates you admit wrongdoing and move PLD to top line wing(rewarded for sucking, love it) with kopi and kempe
danault centers moore and whoever
byfield gets to champion a line and go in raw against 3rd liners with fiala
4th line whoever's good out of camp

 

[KingsOfCali25]

Fiala isn't an underachiever, although his playoff numbers aren't great. He is what he is which is perfectly fine.

If he's your leading scorer and the guy you look to transcend a game when you have to have someone do it, you aren't a contender.

Preferring Faber and the pick over Fiala does not equal hating Fiala. Blake put the icing on the cake before the cake was finished.

My only problem with Fiala (other than dumb penalties) was that he was picked up at the wrong time. He's a guy you trade for when your team is complete but you need that extra scoring touch to get you over the top (ala Gaborik). Not someone to grab during a "rebuild" when the team isn't built.

Also, I hated what the Kings gave up for Fiala. Minnesota couldn't resign him and LA had them over a barrel, but instead just gave them full value. We could have given up a Grans/Bjornfot/Madden + 2nd and gotten him but they gave up way to much.

 

[lumbergh]

Was there anyone good in the playoffs this year?

Quinton Byfield, 4 assists in 5 games and a team high +4.

 

[Surf Nutz]

QB does not get launched to 1C this coming season on any planet, if he even gets his own line it's the 3rd
danault did not come here to be a 3C

logic dictates you admit wrongdoing and move PLD to top line wing(rewarded for sucking, love it) with kopi and kempe
danault centers moore and whoever
byfield gets to champion a line and go in raw against 3rd liners with fiala
4th line whoever's good out of camp

There could be a lot of fluidity on who is L1, L2 and L3 at different times

Minutes could be evenly spread and/or go to who is clicking at times.

I look at things from a problem solving perspective for attempted roster construction.

So you and I are in agreement on PLD.

However having the most gifted offensive player since Palffy on L3 is another fiasco.

He needs to be higher up bottom line.

I would still favor Kopi and Danaults lines, still with Kempe and Moore respectively against the opponents best lines but otherwise would look for every opportunity to

get QB, PLD and Fiala on the ice ASMAP.

 

[Surf Nutz]

My only problem with Fiala (other than dumb penalties) was that he was picked up at the wrong time. He's a guy you trade for when your team is complete but you need that extra scoring touch to get you over the top (ala Gaborik). Not someone to grab during a "rebuild" when the team isn't built.

Also, I hated what the Kings gave up for Fiala. Minnesota couldn't resign him and LA had them over a barrel, but instead just gave them full value. We could have given up a Grans/Bjornfot/Madden + 2nd and gotten him but they gave up way to much.

You make it sound so easy and it's not. Obviously Blake tried to trade lesser assets before incoming sophomore slumping Faber.

Wild were in a bind and you had to get Fiala then or never,

There were other offers out there and Blake likely had to outbid them and Guerin is no dummy.

Blake and the invisible hand management team, pick who they want and pay what it takes to get their chosen player.

 

[lumbergh]

Fiala had quite a decent season, particularly when he was paired with Danault and Moore. 73 points pretty much what you can expect from him. Pretty decent defensively as well.

Arvidsson coming back from injury kinda broke that line up. Bad move on Hiller's part, IMO.

 

[lumbergh]

Was there anyone good in the playoffs this year?

Jordan Spence also had a fine series, albeit with protected minutes.

 

[tny760]

Fiala had quite a decent season, particularly when he was paired with Danault and Moore. 73 points pretty much what you can expect from him. Pretty decent defensively as well.

Arvidsson coming back from injury kinda broke that line up. Bad move on Hiller's part, IMO.

that was what i opened dobber's site for before i summarily forgot why i opened it. arvidsson coming back made me forget what he was running up there with danault

he's definitely suitable up there but i would like to offer QB some help if he's gonna be centering his own line

 

[DoktorJeep]

Let’s be real, who do fans think are the guys that we can win a cup with right now. Guarantee the list is small and none of them are getting paid more than the majority of the roster.

 

[tny760]

Let’s be real, who do fans think are the guys that we can win a cup with right now. Guarantee the list is small and none of them are getting paid more than the majority of the roster.

this team ain't winning a cup, period

all of the teams left have several bondafide stars on their rosters, we have a handful of good players and a couple "maybe future stars if the light hits them right". just ain't there.

 

[Schrute farms]

Not sure why you insist on making blanket representation for everyone on this blog that are just not true.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Let’s be real, who do fans think are the guys that we can win a cup with right now. Guarantee the list is small and none of them are getting paid more than the majority of the roster.

McDavid and Shesterkin

 

[johnjm22]

QB does not get launched to 1C this coming season on any planet, if he even gets his own line it's the 3rd
danault did not come here to be a 3C

logic dictates you admit wrongdoing and move PLD to top line wing(rewarded for sucking, love it) with kopi and kempe
danault centers moore and whoever
byfield gets to champion a line and go in raw against 3rd liners with fiala
4th line whoever's good out of camp

PLD doesn't want to play wing.

There's not much difference in 5v5 TOI between the top 3 lines.