Kings News: Holland officially GM

[KingsHockey24]

Think it's only the same year you retain on someone you can't trade for the player back.

The Provorov cap hit is up now. He's a UFA.

Either way, should be good.

Was that the Haglin for Pearson then trying to trade Haglin back to Put & getting denied

I'm not sure; I think we moved him to Washington?

All I know is that we moved Pearson for his poor production and Hagelin produced even less than he did.

 

[AbsentMojo]

I'm not sure; I think we moved him to Washington?

All I know is that we moved Pearson for his poor production and Hagelin produced even less than he did.

Pearson and Toffoli mailed it the F in for an entire season. Im not over it.

 

[Schmooley]

I don't think people realize just how bad it's going to be when 11&8 retire.

They basically made the playoffs twice without Doughty. Kopitar was mediocre at best for months this season. It wont be as bad as you think.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I don't think people realize just how bad it's going to be when 11&8 retire.

2017 1st - Gone
2017 2nd - Gone
2018 1st - Gone
2019 1st - Turcotte
2019 1st - Gone
2019 2nd - Gone
2019 2nd - Gone
2020 1st - Byfield
2020 2nd - Gone
2021 1st - Clarke
2021 2nd - Pinelli
2021 2nd - Helenius
2022 1st - Gone
2022 2nd - Gone
2023 1st - Gone
2023 2nd - Dvorak

That was supposed to make up a lot of your roster as we moved from the 2020's to 2030's and it's mostly just dust.

It's a simple numbers game, how can you trade that many 1st and 2nd round picks and expect to field an NHL capable roster? They are going to have to bring in a bunch of Thornton and Calder types and just hope like hell that they draft better than they have for the past 17 years.

I'm really struggling to think of a situation where this much was traded in such a short time, I assume teams like Detroit and Colorado did it back in the day, but just looking at all those picks traded is just wow.

15 first and 2nd round picks between 2017 and 2023 and you have Byfield, Clarke, Turcotte, Helenius, Pinelli and Dvorak to show for it. That is just incredible.

And the craziest thing is they are looking at these next two seasons like the 2001 Avs looked at that season, they are just completely all-in on winning and will be open to move whatever. I would venture to guess that we will see things like this years pick, and some of the guys taken in 2024 offered up between the draft and the deadline.

The good news at least is the Kings should be in a position to draft very close to the top of the draft for about 3-4 years in the late 2020's/early 2030's.
-------------------------------
@Axl Rhoadz Notes

• Key Players 11 & 8 Retiring: The team’s future looks bleak once these veteran anchors are gone.
• Lost Draft Picks: From 2017–2023, the Kings had 15 first- and second-round picks, but most are gone via trades or failed to pan out.
• Notable Remaining Players: Only Byfield, Clarke, Turcotte, Helenius, Pinelli, and Dvorak remain from those picks.
• Depth Issues Looming: The team traded away too many high picks to maintain a sustainable roster post-2020s.
• All-In Strategy: The Kings are currently in "win-now" mode, similar to the 2001 Avalanche, and may continue trading additional future assets.

If the draft was only two rounds, you'd be on to something,

2017 - Anderson
2018 - No one
2019 - Spence, Lee,
2020 - Laferriere, turned the 2nd into Fiala
2021 - Helenius, Kirasov
2022 - 2023 - 2024 - way too early to tell.

But I forgot, in your world there are no trades, there are no FA signings, nothing but drafting....

I mean, in 2017, no one drafted well past the 2nd round...right? Same in 2018, 2019, 2020 etc....

 

[johnjm22]

I get the apprehension and reluctance, but I truly hope those of you who don't care will reconsider.

For the past 8 years, we've had buddies and miscasts elevated in roles where they aren't qualified. Emerson becoming assistant GM in replacing Futa, who was an actual OHL GM, and he was phased out. Blake brought Willie Desjardins, who had no business being a coach, just to bide time to hire his former coach. Luc bringing in his friend Bergevin, and then making big plays for clients of his other friend, Brisson (Pacioretty and PLD).

Hiller, while he was not good in the playoffs, was also an outside hire and he did do good things this past year in the regular season.

I think this is a big step in Luc taking a reduced role. Holland, while he's someone Luc knows, is an outside hire. I truly feel this is the start of bigger changes within the organization.

I don't think the Kings are imminent either in winning a cup or a rebuild. And many immediately call that a black hole to turn it into a boogeyman. But if they are deviating from the cronyism that has permeated in the front office, I would take that over a rebuild with the same pieces.

Of course, if it turns out I'm wrong, I'll take my licks. I just hope you all come back at some point to join me and others in hopes for better things to come.

I'm surprised to read this from you. I've been arguing for awhile that this past year was overall good and a step in the right direction for LA. You didn't seem to agree.

I'm skeptical of the Holland hire. But I'll wait to see what he does. Will we continue to inch towards the right path? Or will he start selling the farm to prop up the current team?

The Kings' recent strategy seems to be: win now without mortgaging the future. It's better than what they were doing previously.

But if they are deviating from the cronyism that has permeated in the front office, I would take that over a rebuild with the same pieces.

Hard disagree. I'd rather have Blake do a rebuild, than Holland trying to 'win now'.

 

[unicornpig]

Go on a mini vacation and come home to this shit… ughhh would rather have kept Blake.

Can’t let Holland touch the scouting department

 

[King'sPawn]

I'm surprised to read this from you. I've been arguing for awhile that this past year was overall good and a step in the right direction for LA. You didn't seem to agree.

I didn't agree that getting 105 points and a first round exit for the fourth season in a row is a success.

It sucked. And like I said, a great regular season is meaningless.

That doesn't mean there weren't good things done.

I'm skeptical of the Holland hire. But I'll wait to see what he does. Will we continue to inch towards the right path? Or will he start selling the farm to prop up the current team?

The Kings' recent strategy seems to be: win now without mortgaging the future. It's better than what they were doing previously.


Hard disagree. I'd rather have Blake do a rebuild, than Holland trying to 'win now'.

I just don't see a major history of him making stupid blockbuster trades. The signings are questionable. But I think if the org continues to deviate from its own previously created country club, I'm all for it.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

14 minutes this time. Subtract the 5 minutes it took you to formulate and type that diarrhea, 9 minutes to respond, you are slipping Axl. I count on you hitting refresh all day everyday.

As of the conclusion of the 2024–25 NHL season, the following teams hold the longest active playoff series win droughts:

1. Buffalo Sabres – 18 seasons
   The Sabres last won a playoff series in the 2006–07 season. Since then, they've missed the playoffs 14 times and lost in the first round twice, in 2009–10 and 2010–11.
2. Detroit Red Wings – 12 seasons
   Detroit's most recent series win came in the 2012–13 season. They've made the playoffs three times since, losing in the first round each time.
3. Los Angeles Kings – 11 seasons
   After winning the Stanley Cup in 2013–14, the Kings have made six playoff appearances without a series win, including their most recent in 2024–25.

So going from 2 Stanley Cups in 3 years and immediately entering an 11 year (and counting) playoff drought isn't a major fall-off?

What would make it a major fall-off Axl? Would they need to have the longest drought for it to be a major fall-off

Congrats Axl, the only Kings fan on planet earth who thinks more highly of the 2025 Kings than the 2012 Kings. You are a national treasure.

The 2025 Kings: "well, at least we aren't Buffalo."

I don't think people realize just how bad it's going to be when 11&8 retire.

2017 1st - Gone
2017 2nd - Gone
2018 1st - Gone
2019 1st - Turcotte
2019 1st - Gone
2019 2nd - Gone
2019 2nd - Gone
2020 1st - Byfield
2020 2nd - Gone
2021 1st - Clarke
2021 2nd - Pinelli
2021 2nd - Helenius
2022 1st - Gone
2022 2nd - Gone
2023 1st - Gone
2023 2nd - Dvorak

That was supposed to make up a lot of your roster as we moved from the 2020's to 2030's and it's mostly just dust.

It's a simple numbers game, how can you trade that many 1st and 2nd round picks and expect to field an NHL capable roster? They are going to have to bring in a bunch of Thornton and Calder types and just hope like hell that they draft better than they have for the past 17 years.

I'm really struggling to think of a situation where this much was traded in such a short time, I assume teams like Detroit and Colorado did it back in the day, but just looking at all those picks traded is just wow.

15 first and 2nd round picks between 2017 and 2023 and you have Byfield, Clarke, Turcotte, Helenius, Pinelli and Dvorak to show for it. That is just incredible.

And the craziest thing is they are looking at these next two seasons like the 2001 Avs looked at that season, they are just completely all-in on winning and will be open to move whatever. I would venture to guess that we will see things like this years pick, and some of the guys taken in 2024 offered up between the draft and the deadline.

The good news at least is the Kings should be in a position to draft very close to the top of the draft for about 3-4 years in the late 2020's/early 2030's.
-------------------------------
@Axl Rhoadz Notes

• Key Players 11 & 8 Retiring: The team’s future looks bleak once these veteran anchors are gone.
• Lost Draft Picks: From 2017–2023, the Kings had 15 first- and second-round picks, but most are gone via trades or failed to pan out.
• Notable Remaining Players: Only Byfield, Clarke, Turcotte, Helenius, Pinelli, and Dvorak remain from those picks.
• Depth Issues Looming: The team traded away too many high picks to maintain a sustainable roster post-2020s.
• All-In Strategy: The Kings are currently in "win-now" mode, similar to the 2001 Avalanche, and may continue trading additional future assets.

Way too much effort, Herby. Just put your posts into ChatGPT and prompt it to rewrite it like you're a 5 year old who has eaten most of the crayons but want your special friend to understand your word pictures

 

[theMajor]

man this really f***in sucks

 

[Herby]

If the draft was only two rounds, you'd be on to something,

2017 - Anderson
2018 - No one
2019 - Spence, Lee,
2020 - Laferriere, turned the 2nd into Fiala
2021 - Helenius, Kirasov
2022 - 2023 - 2024 - way too early to tell.

But I forgot, in your world there are no trades, there are no FA signings, nothing but drafting....

I mean, in 2017, no one drafted well past the 2nd round...right? Same in 2018, 2019, 2020 etc....

The 1st and 2nd rounds are where the vast majority of your core players are found GBH, you know this. You know a that a gap like that where you add so few top-end players over a 7 draft period is going to come home to roost. You had to have known the consequences don the road, as you cheered on all the contending moves that have resulted in zero success so far.

They are 100% trading more youth and picks, it's just a matter of which ones. You remember the Mark Parrish/Brent Sopel trade. There is going to be another one like that. Hopefully the veterans are better than Parrish and Sopel, but the point is more youth is going to be sacrificed at the altar of 2026 and 2027 runs.

They basically made the playoffs twice without Doughty. Kopitar was mediocre at best for months this season. It wont be as bad as you think.

One year they had Vezina goaltending. I am not saying Doughty is still some star, but his loss (coupled with others declining due to age is going to be felt)

Kempe 31 (7)	Byfield 25 (2)	Fiala 31 (2)
Moore 31 (1)
Greentree 21 (2)		Lafferiere 26 (?)
Turcotte 26	Helenius 25 (?)

Gavrikov 32 (4)	Clarke 24 (?)
Anderson 28 (4)
Edmundson 34 (1)	Spence 26 (?)

Byfield has a few different outcomes. He could take a really big step like some of you think and be a point-per-game center, he could also have his third straight 55-60 point season and you maybe have to say that is just who he is. Or it's what I think, and he meets both results in the middle and is a 65-70 point guy. But whatever the result he is the 1C by default.

I like Clarke a lot, but I also think he suffered more than any player the Kings have drafted under Blake . The Turcotte decisions were more bizarre and inexplicable, but it turned a good middle six ceiling into a fringe 3rd/4th liner, where as I think Clarke had he been handled more traditionally, could have been a perennial 65-70 point offensive wizard on the blueline. He's a special talent.

 

[BaileyFan]

The Kings' recent strategy seems to be: win now without mortgaging the future. It's better than what they were doing previously.

I think when you try to take a middle road between winning now and building for the future you just end up doing neither of them well. Our future still looks bleak and we still aren’t close to contending.

I agree that rebuilding is the best choice but going to the opposite extreme and going all-in is still better than the half-in, half-out approach they’ve been doing. It’s why I was on board when the Clarke+ for Rantanen rumors were floating around.

 

[MonkeysUncle]

Kopitar wouldn’t fit our window. The hope is the top draft picks will be good to go by the 2026-27 season. If we are going to trade Larkin, we are going to want someone who is in his early 20s or thereabouts to fit that timeline.

Kopi ain't waiving to go anywhere, he'll play out last and retire

 

[Herby]

I get the apprehension and reluctance, but I truly hope those of you who don't care will reconsider.

For the past 8 years, we've had buddies and miscasts elevated in roles where they aren't qualified. Emerson becoming assistant GM in replacing Futa, who was an actual OHL GM, and he was phased out. Blake brought Willie Desjardins, who had no business being a coach, just to bide time to hire his former coach. Luc bringing in his friend Bergevin, and then making big plays for clients of his other friend, Brisson (Pacioretty and PLD).

Hiller, while he was not good in the playoffs, was also an outside hire and he did do good things this past year in the regular season.

I think this is a big step in Luc taking a reduced role. Holland, while he's someone Luc knows, is an outside hire. I truly feel this is the start of bigger changes within the organization.

I don't think the Kings are imminent either in winning a cup or a rebuild. And many immediately call that a black hole to turn it into a boogeyman. But if they are deviating from the cronyism that has permeated in the front office, I would take that over a rebuild with the same pieces.

Of course, if it turns out I'm wrong, I'll take my licks. I just hope you all come back at some point to join me and others in hopes for better things to come.

What happened here with the cronyism should never have been allowed to happen, and shame on AEG for allowing it. They failed to learn from the disastrous results of the Oilers cronyism under Kevin Lowe. Ultimately you blame the guys who hired Emerson and Murray., but how on Earth is there no corporate oversight of an NHL franchise worth billions? I have always been pretty pro-AEG, but what has happened here the last 8 years has me questioning that. I don't want Jerry Jones or George Steinbrenner, but I want somebody who is at least paying attention.

As far as the Holland signing and the plan, my brother brought up a good point, he said its a compromise to both ends of the fanbase. You let the fans like Axl and GBH who want to continue to make a playoff push do it for two more years, you act like you are the 2001 Avs or 2021 Lightning and try your best to win. And then you give people like me and RJ what we want, which is a traditional teardown and rebuild. And I think it does line up well, you say goodbye to Kopitar, Doughty, Danault, and Kuemper in the summer of 2027 and suddenly you have a (mostly) clean slate for Holland's successor. There would be some decisions that would have to be made with QB (thanks again for the 5 year deal Blake!) and then Kempe or anyone else they gave a long-term deal too during the final two-year push.

I am ok waiting two more years and hoping for a miracle send-off for our two franchise icons, just as long as once it's over we do a traditional build.

 

[BigBrown]

Hope Kopi plays until he's 42 just to spite the losers hating on him.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

The 1st and 2nd rounds are where the vast majority of your core players are found GBH, you know this. You know a that a gap like that where you add so few top-end players over a 7 draft period is going to come home to roost. You had to have known the consequences don the road, as you cheered on all the contending moves that have resulted in zero success so far.

They are 100% trading more youth and picks, it's just a matter of which ones. You remember the Mark Parrish/Brent Sopel trade. There is going to be another one like that. Hopefully the veterans are better than Parrish and Sopel, but the point is more youth is going to be sacrificed at the altar of 2026 and 2027 runs.


One year they had Vezina goaltending. I am not saying Doughty is still some star, but his loss (coupled with others declining due to age is going to be felt)

Kempe 31 (7)	Byfield 25 (2)	Fiala 31 (2)
Moore 31 (1)
Greentree 21 (2)		Lafferiere 26 (?)
Turcotte 26	Helenius 25 (?)

Gavrikov 32 (4)	Clarke 24 (?)
Anderson 28 (4)
Edmundson 34 (1)	Spence 26 (?)

Byfield has a few different outcomes. He could take a really big step like some of you think and be a point-per-game center, he could also have his third straight 55-60 point season and you maybe have to say that is just who he is. Or it's what I think, and he meets both results in the middle and is a 65-70 point guy. But whatever the result he is the 1C by default.

I like Clarke a lot, but I also think he suffered more than any player the Kings have drafted under Blake . The Turcotte decisions were more bizarre and inexplicable, but it turned a good middle six ceiling into a fringe 3rd/4th liner, where as I think Clarke had he been handled more traditionally, could have been a perennial 65-70 point offensive wizard on the blueline. He's a special talent.

Yes they are, got me thinking, look at EDM

2017 - 1st gone, 2nd gone
2018 - 1st Bouchard, 2nd gone, 2nd gone
2019 - 1st gone, 2nd gone
2020 - 1st gone, 2nd gone
2021 - 1st - Bourgault, 2nd gone
2022 - 1st gone, 2nd gone
2023 - 1st gone 2nd Akey

Florida

2017 - 1st gone, 2nd gone
2018 - 1st gone, 2nd gone
2019 - 1st gone, 2nd gone
2020 - 1st Lundell, 2nd gone
2021 - 1st Samskoveich -2nd ECHL mineas well be gone
2022 - 1st gone, 2nd gone
2023 - 1st gone, 2nd Sawchyn

Vegas

2017 - 1st (all 3 gone) 2nd Hague and the other one gone
2018 - 1st gone, 2nd gone
2019 - 1st gone, 2nd Korzack
2020 - 1st gone, 2nd gone
2021 - 1st gone, 2nd gone
2022 - 1st gone, 2nd Sapolaiv
2023 - 1st Edstrom, 2nd gone.


Maybe it's not as uncommon as you think? Granted these are only 3 teams, and you can find teams like Dallas..........but 3 of the top teams in the league this past year have drafts of the 1st and 2nd round very similar to LA.....

 

[Statto]

Yes they are, got me thinking, look at EDM

2017 - 1st gone, 2nd gone
2018 - 1st Bouchard, 2nd gone, 2nd gone
2019 - 1st gone, 2nd gone
2020 - 1st gone, 2nd gone
2021 - 1st - Bourgault, 2nd gone
2022 - 1st gone, 2nd gone
2023 - 1st gone 2nd Akey

Florida

2017 - 1st gone, 2nd gone
2018 - 1st gone, 2nd gone
2019 - 1st gone, 2nd gone
2020 - 1st Lundell, 2nd gone
2021 - 1st Samskoveich -2nd ECHL mineas well be gone
2022 - 1st gone, 2nd gone
2023 - 1st gone, 2nd Sawchyn

Vegas

2017 - 1st (all 3 gone) 2nd Hague and the other one gone
2018 - 1st gone, 2nd gone
2019 - 1st gone, 2nd Korzack
2020 - 1st gone, 2nd gone
2021 - 1st gone, 2nd gone
2022 - 1st gone, 2nd Sapolaiv
2023 - 1st Edstrom, 2nd gone.


Maybe it's not as uncommon as you think? Granted these are only 3 teams, and you can find teams like Dallas..........but 3 of the top teams in the league this past year have drafts of the 1st and 2nd round very similar to LA.....

Fair but they have very different results

 

[Run the Jewels]

Kopi ain't waiving to go anywhere, he'll play out last and retire

Understood, I was replying to someone suggesting the Wings acquire him in a trade that would send Larkin to the Kings.

 

[bland]

Hope Kopi plays until he's 42 just to spite the losers hating on him.

You must really enjoy losing.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Fair but they have very different results

100% they do......but maybe 1st and 2nd round success don't always correlate to on-ice success, or in otherwords, maybe there is more than one way to skin a cat.

 

[Sol]

I don't think people realize just how bad it's going to be when 11&8 retire.

2017 1st - Gone
2017 2nd - Gone
2018 1st - Gone
2019 1st - Turcotte
2019 1st - Gone
2019 2nd - Gone
2019 2nd - Gone
2020 1st - Byfield
2020 2nd - Gone
2021 1st - Clarke
2021 2nd - Pinelli
2021 2nd - Helenius
2022 1st - Gone
2022 2nd - Gone
2023 1st - Gone
2023 2nd - Dvorak

That was supposed to make up a lot of your roster as we moved from the 2020's to 2030's and it's mostly just dust.

It's a simple numbers game, how can you trade that many 1st and 2nd round picks and expect to field an NHL capable roster? They are going to have to bring in a bunch of Thornton and Calder types and just hope like hell that they draft better than they have for the past 17 years.

I'm really struggling to think of a situation where this much was traded in such a short time, I assume teams like Detroit and Colorado did it back in the day, but just looking at all those picks traded is just wow.

15 first and 2nd round picks between 2017 and 2023 and you have Byfield, Clarke, Turcotte, Helenius, Pinelli and Dvorak to show for it. That is just incredible.

And the craziest thing is they are looking at these next two seasons like the 2001 Avs looked at that season, they are just completely all-in on winning and will be open to move whatever. I would venture to guess that we will see things like this years pick, and some of the guys taken in 2024 offered up between the draft and the deadline.

The good news at least is the Kings should be in a position to draft very close to the top of the draft for about 3-4 years in the late 2020's/early 2030's.
-------------------------------
@Axl Rhoadz Notes

• Key Players 11 & 8 Retiring: The team’s future looks bleak once these veteran anchors are gone.
• Lost Draft Picks: From 2017–2023, the Kings had 15 first- and second-round picks, but most are gone via trades or failed to pan out.
• Notable Remaining Players: Only Byfield, Clarke, Turcotte, Helenius, Pinelli, and Dvorak remain from those picks.
• Depth Issues Looming: The team traded away too many high picks to maintain a sustainable roster post-2020s.
• All-In Strategy: The Kings are currently in "win-now" mode, similar to the 2001 Avalanche, and may continue trading additional future assets.

I think you are grossly over estimating where Kopitar and Doughty are in their career. Kopitar is still a good player in a smaller role. Doughty is not good anymore. Kings were doing better without Doughty. And if the Kings have a good captain then it can potentially turn around the culture on the Kings. Kopitar and Doughty leaving the Kings would by far be the best thing for the team.

 

[Sol]

Hope Kopi plays until he's 42 just to spite the losers hating on him.

Yeah the the zero series wins under his captaincy have been amazing.

If the Kings had balls they’d ship out Kopitar and Doughty for something tangible and younger.

They serve no purpose for the Kings and some bum team would probably pay a bit for them just for their name plates.

 

[Run the Jewels]

Hoping Holland can bring the magic he had with the wings to the kings.

As a Red Wings fan, here are the keys to Holland’s ‘magic’ with Detroit.

1. No salary cap: allowed Detroit to trade for Mike Vernon, Dom Hasek, Brendan Shanahan and Chris Chelios.
2. Early start to European scouting: allowed Red Wings to draft Sergei Fedorov, Nick Lidstrom, Vlad Konstantinov, and Vyacheslav Kozlov.
3. Head of Euro scouting who still works for Detroit: the guy who drafted Datsyuk, Kronwall, Franzen and Zetterberg, and also had a big hand in recently drafting Seider, Edvinsson, Raymond and Kasper.

I have heard that Holland tried to take the head of Euro scouting with him to Edmonton, but he decided to stay in Detroit. If he brings Tyler Wright with him to LA, you guys are turbo f**ked. Better to trade those picks rather than attempt to draft and develop as part of your retool.

 

[FSL KINGS]

As a Red Wings fan, here are the keys to Holland’s ‘magic’ with Detroit.

1. No salary cap: allowed Detroit to trade for Mike Vernon, Dom Hasek, Brendan Shanahan and Chris Chelios.
2. Early start to European scouting: allowed Red Wings to draft Sergei Fedorov, Nick Lidstrom, Vlad Konstantinov, and Vyacheslav Kozlov.
3. Head of Euro scouting who still works for Detroit: the guy who drafted Datsyuk, Kronwall, Franzen and Zetterberg, and also had a big hand in recently drafting Seider, Edvinsson, Raymond and Kasper.

I have heard that Holland tried to take the head of Euro scouting with him to Edmonton, but he decided to stay in Detroit. If he brings Tyler Wright with him to LA, you guys are turbo f**ked. Better to trade those picks rather than attempt to draft and develop as part of your retool.

How cute. An outsider explaining to us about GM's blowing drafting.

 

[Statto]

100% they do......but maybe 1st and 2nd round success don't always correlate to on-ice success, or in otherwords, maybe there is more than one way to skin a cat.

It’s about what you do with and manage those assets, either as picks, prospects or roster players. We can debate why all day long but I think it’s reasonable to say we have had less value from those assets than those other teams. Be that drafting, development, trades or just bad luck. Getting value guarantees nothing but it gives you a better chance.

 

[Kingkopitar]

I felt like this was always the guy where I thought " pheww, atleast he aint our gm". don't remember though.