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

[BaileyFan]

4 OA - Hickey (waivers - no assets returned)
5 OA - Turcotte (time is a tickin'... 1 concussion away from hanging it up)
11 OA - Tukonen (traded for Clune... lol)
13 OA - Tuebert (hey at least the trade returned Pennercakes)
22 OA - Bjornfot (waivers - no assets returned)
33 OA - Kaliyev (Blake tanked his value by only playing a handful of games)
41 OA - JAD (waivers - no assets returned)

Which NHL teams have drafted the best and worst since 2007? Ranking 16-1

LA Kings ranked #16.

And this ranking only goes up to 2018, where the actual vs expected wins starts to nosedive. I’m going to guess that the trend only gets worse from 2019 on.

 

[Piston]

4 OA - Hickey (waivers - no assets returned)
5 OA - Turcotte (time is a tickin'... 1 concussion away from hanging it up)
11 OA - Tukonen (traded for Clune... lol)
13 OA - Tuebert (hey at least the trade returned Pennercakes)
22 OA - Bjornfot (waivers - no assets returned)
33 OA - Kaliyev (Blake tanked his value by only playing a handful of games)
41 OA - JAD (waivers - no assets returned)

Which NHL teams have drafted the best and worst since 2007? Ranking 16-1

LA Kings ranked #16.

It could get worse. Bjornfot was picked up by Bill Zito, the 'defenseman whisperer'. I'm willing to bet he goes on to have a very successful career. What really scares me is the possibility he turns into another Gustav Forsling who had a similar career trajectory before becoming an absolute stud in Florida.

 

[Statto]

It could get worse. Bjornfot was picked up by Bill Zito, the 'defenseman whisperer'. I'm willing to bet he goes on to have a very successful career. What really scares me is the possibility he turns into another Gustav Forsling who had a similar career trajectory before becoming an absolute stud in Florida.

Whilst I wouldn’t rule it out he has only actually played one game in Florida so hasn’t had the greatest start there. I liked the pick though and the handling of him was bizarre at best. Given his age he has every chance of having a solid NHL career and the way they handled him was a complete waste of draft capital. They should probably have given him another year or two in Sweden, but if you bring him over to NA at 18 years old you have to commit to that decision and ride out the inevitable bumps in his development. I think he was a decent pick completely wasted, in part due to the premature end to the rebuild.

 

[raswilliam]

wonder what Arber Xhekaj would cost from the Habs?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1798369204066021501

 

[Herby]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1798369204066021501

Oh cool, this again, the "Lets make the 2nd year one-way so if we waive him in year one maybe we won't lose him"

How about not bringing back guys like Lewis and Lizotte and giving this guy a chance at the NHL level without the fear that any mistake is going to have him back in the AHL. The guy turns 25 next season, he's not a kid anymore, it's the Kings once again thinking their prospects age like the Lost Boys (and many fans here are guilty of this too, not realizing just how young the league is now)

Whilst I wouldn’t rule it out he has only actually played one game in Florida so hasn’t had the greatest start there. I liked the pick though and the handling of him was bizarre at best. Given his age he has every chance of having a solid NHL career and the way they handled him was a complete waste of draft capital. They should probably have given him another year or two in Sweden, but if you bring him over to NA at 18 years old you have to commit to that decision and ride out the inevitable bumps in his development. I think he was a decent pick completely wasted, in part due to the premature end to the rebuild.

He was yet another victim of the Kings AHL obsession. Every development decision made by this organization on its prospects is to get them in the AHL as young as possible and then keep them their longer than any team (save Nashville) would. What is terrifying is it totally failed with 1st rounders Kupari, Turcotte, Bjornfot and high 2nd rounders Grans and Kaliyev, yet they went with the same strategy with Clarke (as well as Helenius), they just continue to double down on failed strategies. Even a guy like Byfield, if someone had told you on draft night that Byfield would play 60 games over three seasons for Ontario and in year four would "breakout" and be a 20 goal, 55 point winger nobody would have been happy. A quicker traditional path for Byfield, that probably every other team in the NHL would have used, putting him at C and just letting him play, would have very likely resulted in a quicker more impactful first four seasons (3 of which the team was trying to contend). A sign of a bad management in any business is an inability to adjust your strategies when the results say they aren't working.

Nashville has for years used this strategy, and they "coincidently" have the same problems that the Kings do, a complete inability to draft and develop top of the lineup players and thus relying on players drafted 12 and 16 years ago (sound familiar) Depth is great if you have the horses at the top, but as we have learned with Nashville and the Kings, trying to out-depth opponents in the playoffs who are trotting out McDavid, Draisaitl, Hughes and Petterrson is a recipe for early tee-times.

But hey, "How could Blake have known" or now the new one "Blake was unlucky"

 

[tny760]

seriously that 2nd year stip is so insulting to him

thanks for your all your hard work, yeah maybe when you're 26 we'll have a 4th line slot for you, get on the bus kid

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Lizotte has to be on his way out. His effort in the first couple of months was admirable, but his diminutive size is a hindrance, and he clearly can't handle the rigors of playoff hockey.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Reviewing the goalie market, and it's looking pretty thin after Ullmark. I don't see them going for a Markstrom or Demko, so perhaps they'll take another look at the UFA market.

Moving on from Cam Talbot, the only attractive options in the open market appear to be:
Anthony Stolarz
Alex Nedeljkovic

Then you have a drop off where the top remaining options are the likes of James Reimer, Scott Wedgewood, and Antti Raanta.

Not exactly the types who anyone here would consider long-term solutions in net.

Given their limited options, they better hope and pray that Portillo is the future in between the pipes.

 

[kovacro]

Oh cool, this again, the "Lets make the 2nd year one-way so if we waive him in year one maybe we won't lose him"

How about not bringing back guys like Lewis and Lizotte and giving this guy a chance at the NHL level without the fear that any mistake is going to have him back in the AHL. The guy is turns 25 next season, he's not a kid anymore, the Kings once again thinking their prospects age like the Lost Boys (and many fans here are guilty of this too, not realizing just how young the league is now)

View attachment 879722



He was yet another victim of the Kings AHL obsession. Every development decision made by this organization on its prospects is to get them in the AHL as young as possible and then keep them their longer than any team (save Nashville) would. What is terrifying is it totally failed with 1st rounders Kupari, Turcotte, Bjornfot and high 2nd rounders Grans and Kaliyev, yet they went with the same strategy with Clarke (as well as Helenius), they just continue to double down on failed strategies. Even a guy like Byfield, if someone had told you on draft night that Byfield would play 60 games over three seasons for Ontario and in year four would be a 20 goal, 50 point winger nobody would have been happy. A quicker traditional path for Byfield, that probably every other team in the NHL would have used would have very likely resulted in a quicker more impactful first four seasons (3 of which the team was trying to contend). A sign of a bad management in any business is an inability to adjust your strategies when the results say they aren't working.

Nashville has for years used this strategy, and they "coincidently" have the same problems that the Kings do, a complete inability to draft and develop top of the lineup players and thus relying on players drafted 12 and 16 years ago (sound familiar) Depth is great if you have the horses at the top, but as we have learned with Nashville and the Kings, trying to out-depth opponents in the playoffs who are trotting out McDavid, Draisaitl, Hughes and Petterrson is a recipe for early tee-times.

But hey, "How could Blake have known" or now the new one "Blake was unlucky"

I think Detroit was known for keeping guys on the farm for awhile, but not sure Nashville is a comparison. They seem to give their high draft picks a shot, the exception would be Askarov but that's because Saros is there.

Absolutely the Kings stubborn reluctance to not permitting their top end kids a look at the NHL level sooner or off the hop, is fuggin' ridiculous.

 

[kovacro]

Reviewing the goalie market, and it's looking pretty thin after Ullmark. I don't see them going for a Markstrom or Demko, so perhaps they'll take another look at the UFA market.

Moving on from Cam Talbot, the only attractive options in the open market appear to be:
Anthony Stolarz
Alex Nedeljkovic

Then you have a drop off where the top remaining options are the likes of James Reimer, Scott Wedgewood, and Antti Raanta.

Not exactly the types who anyone here would consider long-term solutions in net.

Given their limited options, they better hope and pray that Portillo is the future in between the pipes.

Ned was pretty good with the Pens this past season. I wonder if they resign him and deal Jerry.

Do you think the Kings could circle back to Vejmelka. Wonder if Utah puts him out there.

I'd be intrigued by Spencer Knight, but I think he is back up with the Panthers next season.

Ottawa has three intriguing young goalies in their system. I could see them moving one out.

 

[Lt Dan]

Oh cool, this again, the "Lets make the 2nd year one-way so if we waive him in year one maybe we won't lose him"

How about not bringing back guys like Lewis and Lizotte and giving this guy a chance at the NHL level without the fear that any mistake is going to have him back in the AHL. The guy turns 25 next season, he's not a kid anymore,

indeed and to add to this... I can't remember the last time a prospect came up and made such an immediate impact. And how do they reward him? They send him back down and we are eliminated in 5 again
this is super solid and he was much cheaper than Lizotte and Lewis for a cash strapped team

 

[Schmooley]

Ned was pretty good with the Pens this past season. I wonder if they resign him and deal Jerry.

Do you think the Kings could circle back to Vejmelka. Wonder if Utah puts him out there.

I'd be intrigued by Spencer Knight, but I think he is back up with the Panthers next season.

Ottawa has three intriguing young goalies in their system. I could see them moving one out.

I also like Vejmelka and Knight as guys the Kings should target. Knight is a gamble at a sizable cap hit but theres a lot of upside. Sometimes you have to take that swing. If it works he can be a true #1 goalie or if it doesnt turn out its worst case scenario like PLD.

 

[Lt Dan]

I also like Vejmelka and Knight as guys the Kings should target. Knight is a gamble at a sizable cap hit but theres a lot of upside. Sometimes you have to take that swing. If it works he can be a true #1 goalie or if it doesnt turn out its worst case scenario like PLD.

Vejmelka for Kaliyev would make a lot of sense

 

[Schmooley]

Vejmelka for Kaliyev would make a lot of sense

Yea its a fair deal considering he lost the starting job there.
Maybe try and squeeze Bjugstad and Vejmelka for a couple third round picks

 

[Sol]

Holding onto Lewis and lizotte is the dumbest shit you can do when you can easily make straight upgrades for the fourth line

 

[Lt Dan]

Holding onto Lewis and lizotte is the dumbest shit you can do when you can easily make straight upgrades for the fourth line

for less money on a cash strapped team

 

[Telos]

I think they will for sure sign Lizotte regardless if anyone wants them to or not, but hopefully they don't go full looney and re-sign Lewis as that would be an absolute disaster. Love Lewis as a player and remembering the past cups, but it is time to say goodbye for good.

 

[kovacro]

I think they will for sure sign Lizotte regardless if anyone wants them to or not, but hopefully they don't go full looney and re-sign Lewis as that would be an absolute disaster. Love Lewis as a player and remembering the past cups, but it is time to say goodbye for good.

Lewis goes back home to Utah on a 1-year deal or retires.

Lizotte does not get qualified and maybe comes back on a lesser deal.

 

[Lt Dan]

I think they will for sure sign Lizotte regardless if anyone wants them to or not, but hopefully they don't go full looney and re-sign Lewis as that would be an absolute disaster. Love Lewis as a player and remembering the past cups, but it is time to say goodbye for good.

Lewis is going to Utah, book it!

 

[Herby]

I think Detroit was known for keeping guys on the farm for awhile, but not sure Nashville is a comparison. They seem to give their high draft picks a shot, the exception would be Askarov but that's because Saros is there.

Absolutely the Kings stubborn reluctance to not permitting their top end kids a look at the NHL level sooner or off the hop, is fuggin' ridiculous.

I don't think it's factually correct to say Detroit was known for that

Historically, looking at the best players drafted by Detroit

Yzerman - 0 AHL games
Fedorov - 0 AHL games
Lidstrom - 0 AHL games
Primeau - 48 AHL games (42 & 6 over 2 seasons)
Kozlov - 45 AHL (45 & 2 over 2 seasons)
Osgood - 51 AHL games (45, 4 & 2 over 3 seasons)
Holmstrom - 6 AHL games
Datsyuk - 0 AHL games
Zetterberg - 0 AHL games
Franzen - 0 AHL games
Larkin - 0 AHL games
Hronek - 115 AHL games (over 3 seasons)
Seider - 49 AHL games (1 season)
Raymond - 0 AHL games


Compare that to Nashville

Suter - 63 AHL games (1 season)
Weber - 46 AHL games (1 season)
Hornqvist - 49 AHL games (1 season)
Josi - 74 AHL games (2 seasons)
Ekholm - 59 AHL games ( 1 season)
Ellis - 68 AHL games (3 seasons)
Jones - 0 AHL games
Fiala - 121 AHL games (3 seasons)
Arvidsson - 87 AHL games (2 seasons)
Askarov - 92 games (2 seasons)
Forsberg - 47 games (1 season)

And the Kings 1st rounders under Rob Blake...

Vilardi - 75 AHL games (3 seasons)
Kupari - 75 AHL games (3 seasons)
Turcotte - 126 AHL games (4 seasons)
Bjornfot - 109 AHL games (4 seasons)
Byfield - 59 AHL games (3 seasons)
Clarke - 55 AHL games (2 seasons)


These players were taken with 2, 5, 8, 11, 20 and 22 picks.

 

[BaileyFan]

I think Detroit was known for keeping guys on the farm for awhile, but not sure Nashville is a comparison. They seem to give their high draft picks a shot, the exception would be Askarov but that's because Saros is there.

Absolutely the Kings stubborn reluctance to not permitting their top end kids a look at the NHL level sooner or off the hop, is fuggin' ridiculous.

Hoven had an article last month where he suggested that the reason for Dubois’ terrible season was…because Columbus never put him in the AHL as a teenager 7 years ago and he’s still not ready for a big-money NHL contract as a result. He actually wrote that. I think that says all you need to know about how this organization views their development program.

 

[Herby]

Hoven had an article last month where he suggested that the reason for Dubois’ terrible season was…because Columbus never put him in the AHL as a teenager 7 years ago and he’s still not ready for a big-money NHL contract as a result. He actually wrote that. I think that says all you need to know about how this organization views their development program.

Surfin Muzz said the same thing on this forum about the Rangers and Alexis Lafreniere. Give them credit, they are completely all-in on this.

Maybe one day this simple question will be answered next time Muzz visits Pravda or one of the other shows.

"You guys have been vocal about your belief that AHL time is very important in the development process, with so many players around the league making the jump straight from junior, college and Europe and immediately contributing to NHL teams, do you believe that perhaps the team should be more open to giving guys a look at the NHL level at a younger age?"

^^^^^

All the media tours made by the organization, and never once could a simple question like this be asked. I guess to afraid of hurting peoples feelings. Either that or "what's your favorite arena to visit" is something Kings fans would rather have answered than why their first round picks spend more time in the AHL than any other teams do.

I wonder what Pravda will say a year from now if Blake is gone? We have seen he is more than willing to call out Lombardi (2 time cup winner) for his dreadful and terrible moves (paraphrasing) but has been quiet about Blake (zero playoff series wins) who's terrible moves have largely dwarfed the terrible moves of Lombardi. Is Blake his buddy so he won't say anything, or will Blake be open-game because he is of no use to them anymore?

 

[kovacro]

I don't think it's factually correct to say Detroit was known for that

Historically, looking at the best players drafted by Detroit

Yzerman - 0 AHL games
Fedorov - 0 AHL games
Lidstrom - 0 AHL games
Primeau - 48 AHL games (42 & 6 over 2 seasons)
Kozlov - 45 AHL (45 & 2 over 2 seasons)
Osgood - 51 AHL games (45, 4 & 2 over 3 seasons)
Holmstrom - 6 AHL games
Datsyuk - 0 AHL games
Zetterberg - 0 AHL games
Franzen - 0 AHL games
Larkin - 0 AHL games
Hronek - 115 AHL games (over 3 seasons)
Seider - 49 AHL games (1 season)
Raymond - 0 AHL games


Compare that to Nashville

Suter - 63 AHL games (1 season)
Weber - 46 AHL games (1 season)
Hornqvist - 49 AHL games (1 season)
Josi - 74 AHL games (2 seasons)
Ekholm - 59 AHL games ( 1 season)
Ellis - 68 AHL games (3 seasons)
Jones - 0 AHL games
Fiala - 121 AHL games (3 seasons)
Arvidsson - 87 AHL games (2 seasons)
Askarov - 92 games (2 seasons)
Forsberg - 47 games (1 season)

And the Kings 1st rounders under Rob Blake...

Vilardi - 75 AHL games (3 seasons)
Kupari - 75 AHL games (3 seasons)
Turcotte - 126 AHL games (4 seasons)
Bjornfot - 109 AHL games (4 seasons)
Byfield - 59 AHL games (3 seasons)
Clarke - 55 AHL games (2 seasons)


These players were taken with 2, 5, 8, 11, 20 and 22 picks.

Appreciate the data. As mentioned, Nashville doesn't let too many of their guys idle in the minors for very long based on the numbers above. I do remember Fiala struggling with the Preds before he got shipped to Minny for Granlund at/near the deadline in 2019. The change in organization served him well.

I don't even think anyone is relatively close to LA in terms of holding back their top prospects on the farm, say in the last 10 years.

 

[AbsentMojo]

I don't think it's factually correct to say Detroit was known for that

Historically, looking at the best players drafted by Detroit

Yzerman - 0 AHL games
Fedorov - 0 AHL games
Lidstrom - 0 AHL games
Primeau - 48 AHL games (42 & 6 over 2 seasons)
Kozlov - 45 AHL (45 & 2 over 2 seasons)
Osgood - 51 AHL games (45, 4 & 2 over 3 seasons)
Holmstrom - 6 AHL league games
Datsyuk - 0 AHL league games
Zetterberg - 0 AHL games
Franzen - 0 AHL games
Larkin - 0 AHL games
Hronek - 115 AHL games (over 3 seasons)
Seider - 49 AHL games (1 season)
Raymond - 0 AHL games


Compare that to Nashville

Suter - 63 AHL games (1 season)
Weber - 46 AHL games (1 season)
Hornqvist - 49 AHL games (1 season)
Josi - 74 AHL games (2 seasons)
Ekholm - 59 AHL games ( 1 season)
Ellis - 68 AHL games (3 seasons)
Jones - 0 AHL games
Fiala - 121 AHL games (3 seasons)
Arvidsson - 87 AHL games (2 seasons)
Askarov - 92 games (2 seasons)
Forsberg - 47 games (1 season)

And the Kings 1st rounders under Rob Blake...

Vilardi - 75 AHL games (3 seasons)
Kupari - 75 AHL games (3 seasons)
Turcotte - 126 AHL games (4 seasons)
Bjornfot - 109 AHL games (4 seasons)
Byfield - 59 AHL games (3 seasons)
Clarke - 55 AHL games (2 seasons)


These players were taken with 2, 5, 8, 11, 20 and 22 picks.

Nice research. It seems obvious in the cap era, you'd want to get contributions as early as possible in a player's career.. not only havent they done that, they've burned through entire ELCs and gotten very little or nothing for quite a few players. Compounding their problem with that approach is the mistaken notion they are a cup contender and using that illusion to often give young guys a very short leash in positions they were not drafted for. Yup, that's LAK hockey - delusion from the president down through every facet of the org.