Game 13. Kings win by TD over Leafs. 7-0. Does this mean we're a finesse team?

[HookKing]

No he wont. I already posted above how we can protect both under the 8 skaters approach.

So how do the King compete for a cup without a 3rd line center?

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

Yeah it matters. Huge in fact. You don't protect a 30 year old average middle pair guy just to lose a 25 year old super cheap 1st pairing shut down guy with tons of upside. Vegas will laugh themselves silly if DL does that.

Also, the Kings cannot expose Dowd. The situation is even worse there. Kings have no center depth at all, in no way shape or form do they expose Dowd to keep AMart.

A little early to be calling Forbort a first pairing shut down guy with tons of upside when he's only played 2-3 games on the top pair against terrible opponents. He's really only made the team because he's out of options. Can he be a top pair guy? Sure, I don't see why not if he keeps playing well. But it's way too early to say that yet.

 

[AlphaBravo]

So how do the King compete for a cup without a 3rd line center?

Dowd is on our team this year. If we make the playoffs, he will be part of the cup run. The expansion draft is next year. We will see if Vegas takes Dowd or any of the other players we expose instead. If they do take Dowd, then we just find a replacement. Its a lot cheaper to get a 3rd line center than a player like Martinez. It cost the Oilers Taylor Hall to get Adam Larrson, who, although solid, is not an elite level defenseman.

 

[HookKing]

Dowd is on our team this year. If we make the playoffs, he will be part of the cup run. The expansion draft is next year. We will see if Vegas takes Dowd or any of the other players we expose instead. If they do take Dowd, then we just find a replacement. Its a lot cheaper to get a 3rd line center than a player like Martinez. It cost the Oilers Taylor Hall to get Adam Larrson, who, although solid, is not an elite level defenseman.

 

[kings11]

I think some of you need to review middle- and bottom-pairing d-men on other teams to understand how valuable Martinez is.

No one is saying Amart is chopped liver.
The question being asked is how do you go forward with the defensive corps "IF" both Forbort and Gravel prove to be the real deal...

We currently have 8 capable defensemen, all of which are playing pretty well so far. Again, I'm not stating anyone needs to be traded this season because that will play itself out in the end. My gripe is that people forget that this team thrived when we had capable defensive Dmen like Willie, Rob, Matt in 12' or Willie, Robyn, Matt in 14'. We have puck movers in Doughty, Muzzin, Martinez, Gilbert, and down on the farm we have LaDue and Clague. What we haven't had until now was a Forbort or Gravel, McNabb is ok even though i thought he'd be much better.

Having a defensive lineup of;
Forbort-Doughty
Muzzin-Gravel..im pretty sure he can play RD or was it Borts who shifted over ??
Amart-Greene/McNabb/Gilbert/LaDue...yes i know McNabb is a LD

would be ideal, I'm not stupid but also consider the need to resign Toffoli, Pearson, Dowd, Gravel, LaDue(if he makes the Kings),Andreoff, Shore, Setoguchi, Gilbert..Granted those last 4 depend on other variables and you see why Amart is the guy people view as expendable from our 3 big money Dmen, unless of course LV shocks everyone and takes Brownie or Gabby instead of McNabb or trying to steal away Toffoli, Dowd or Pearson...

So I just want to see how this season plays out and see how the kids play... I think the team is coming together nicely and will have a much better showing than last seasons especially in the playoffs...

 

[driller1]

I don't understand why people think AMart's contract is bad. His production at $4MM compared to Lewis at $2MM, King at $2MM, and Clifford at $1.3MM is much higher. If anything, Lewis and King should get moved well before AMart gets moved.

 

[HookKing]

I don't understand why people think AMart's contract is bad. His production at $4MM compared to Lewis at $2MM, King at $2MM, and Clifford at $1.3MM is much higher. If anything, Lewis and King should get moved well before AMart gets moved.

Someone said he had a bad contract?

 

[Choralone]

Martinez has been great. He's just the best candidate to move if the Kings need to free up some cap space without gutting the defense. He's got a decent-sized salary and he'd net a fair amount in a trade. This is all theoretical though - there's no push to trade him or anything.

 

[HookKing]

Martinez has been great. He's just the best candidate to move if the Kings need to free up some cap space without gutting the defense. He's got a decent-sized salary and he'd net a fair amount in a trade. This is all theoretical though - there's no push to trade him or anything.

Gee, ya think he was reading this thread today? -4 tonight, first time in his career.

 

[Trolfoli]

This thread is awesome!

Really I'd trade Muzzin before Martinez. He doesn't move the puck near as well. Kinda want to try having 5 of 6 D with the ability to move the puck up the ice quickly.

Edit: From last page, the Pen's D wasn't great last year. They had a Schultz and others that weren't great. Letang was taking dumb penalties.... They moved the puck out of the D-zone as fast as possible and used their offense to take pressure off the D. They did not rely on their D to win games.

 

[HookKing]

This thread is awesome!

Really I'd trade Muzzin before Martinez. He doesn't move the puck near as well. Kinda want to try having 5 of 6 D with the ability to move the puck up the ice quickly.

Edit: From last page, the Pen's D wasn't great last year. They had a Schultz and others that weren't great. Letang was taking dumb penalties.... They moved the puck out of the D-zone as fast as possible and used their offense to take pressure off the D. They did not rely on their D to win games.

I'm warming up to the idea. Although both M&M were absolutely brutal last night. Having Amart on his offside is not really working all that well. I expect Gravel to get sent back down and watching him run around all night. He also needs to get a lot stronger.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

You absolutely do not move a #2 defenseman who is on a salary of 4 mil/year. We'd be looking for all eternity for his replacement.

 

[PJ Kings Hockey]

Park and ride.