Game 18: Edmonton Oilers 2 @ Los Angeles Kings 4 F 11/17/16

[AlphaBravo]

Forbort won't be and maybe Gravel won't be a rookie next year. Vinny got the job done last year? Really, how far did we get in the playoffs? The guy couldn't skate.

Gagner, yeah sure there's a Sutter player. Boyle is a 4th line center.
Hanzal with be 4m + and Bonino worse than that.

Kempe? Just learning to play center and you're worried about rookies? Please.

"If we can't sign any of these players, no problem. There is the trade route". Sure, trades cost assets -- say someone like AMart.

If signing a 3rd line center was so easy and not a problem the Kings would have gotten one earlier. The reality is they have one now that is big, strong and fast not to mention still cheap. Dowd will not be exposed to save AMart.

The irony here is that #4 Dmen will be readily available since so many teams will lose one. Vegas will be wheeling and dealing like crazy.

Lecavs did get the job done for us on the 3C. If you think we got kicked out in the first round because of Lecavs you clearly don't understand anything about hockey. We lost in the first round because Martinez was injured and we did not have a replacement for Voynov (the major reasons).

The team will not collapse with a rookie 3C in Kempe. The 3C doesn't shut down the opposing team's top lines. That is Kopitar and Carter. However, good luck having a rookie defenseman (or defenseman with one year exp) playing against the opposing team's top lines in the playoffs.

Lol at top 4 defenseman falling from the sky simply because of the expansion draft. Even if a team thinks they need to trade a legit top 4, they will want the sky and the moon. You think you can get a top 4 for a 2nd round pick or a collection of bottom sixers?

 

[HookKing]

It took us a few months to fill the 3C role this year. Last year we got Lacavs who filled that role in 2015-2016. But we lost one top 4 defenseman--Voynov--and have not filled that spot to date. Now the ppl on this board want to expose A-Mart instead of Dowd? That's insane.

Look I love what Dowd brings to us. And I hope DL can strike a deal so that Vegas doesn't take him. But if I had to choose between keeping AMart or Dowd, I would pick AMart without a doubt.

Right -- but from inside the org. Going outside just isn't feasible because even if you find a fit he will cost too much or not be right for the Kings' system. Remember we still have to sign Pearson and Toffoli.

I still think there's a great chance Vegas will take Gaborik if he looks good by year end.