Kings Article: Is Andrej Sekera worth It?

[kingsfan]

I think the Kings have to keep him to stay competitive, even if it means paying him 5-6 million. He's a guy who can carry a second pair which is something I have not seen from any other d-man on the team other than Doughty and maybe Muzzin (not counting Voynov atm). You obviously aren't gonna get a guy like that in free agency on a decent contract unless you get incredibly lucky. Can the Kings afford another 1st + top prospect type of trade? Probably not, even if there is a player like that to be found.

No you just gotta sign him, even if you have to send some guys packing to afford it sign him (sorry Martinez). If at some later point Sekera becomes a luxury the Kings no longer can afford he's an asset that likely wouldn't be hard to move and could yield a pretty good return.

You don't HAVE to keep very many players, and the ones you do are limited to guys like Quick and Doughty and, IMO anyways, Kopitar. Sekera is not a must keep. He is a good supporting piece, but at that amount of cap, that's just to much.

$5.5 mill represents eight per cent of your total cap space. That's a lot for a non-top pairing player.

Worse yet, for 10 forwards, six D-men and Quick, the club has already committed over $64 million, so Sekera's demands eat up over 100 per cent of the available cap space left, and if we start trading guys to make room we still need to replace them. We also need to resign Toffoli and Jones as well, and likely add a few depth pieces as well.

Sekera is simply a luxury we can't afford. Let's not forget everyone thought our goose was cooked in 2013 when Jeff Schultz had to come in in round two after being in the minors all season and look how well he did. The Kings are successful because of their system moreso than the players. We'd do just fine with someone less skilled than Sekera.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Face it. We lost Roland McKeown and a 1st round draft pick for 15 games of Sekera.

Simply can't afford him.

So, what would you do?

You don't HAVE to keep very many players, and the ones you do are limited to guys like Quick and Doughty and, IMO anyways, Kopitar. Sekera is not a must keep. He is a good supporting piece, but at that amount of cap, that's just to much.

$5.5 mill represents eight per cent of your total cap space. That's a lot for a non-top pairing player.

Worse yet, for 10 forwards, six D-men and Quick, the club has already committed over $64 million, so Sekera's demands eat up over 100 per cent of the available cap space left, and if we start trading guys to make room we still need to replace them. We also need to resign Toffoli and Jones as well, and likely add a few depth pieces as well.

Sekera is simply a luxury we can't afford. Let's not forget everyone thought our goose was cooked in 2013 when Jeff Schultz had to come in in round two after being in the minors all season and look how well he did. The Kings are successful because of their system moreso than the players. We'd do just fine with someone less skilled than Sekera.

I agree with the 'slotting' of cap space, but again I ask, what's the alternative?

Schultz treaded water in a small sample size, asking him to do that in 20 minutes all season is asking for a lottery pick. If we're trying to be a team that can complete a stick-to-stick pass out of the zone, we don't need any more big, slow, glass-and-outers, especially one that soft. We might do 'fine' with someone lesser than Sekera, but I doubt 'fine' is the goal for next year. Are we going for it, or aren't we?

 

[Ron*]

Pay the man his money.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Complain online.

 

[kingsfan]

So, what would you do?



I agree with the 'slotting' of cap space, but again I ask, what's the alternative?

Schultz treaded water in a small sample size, asking him to do that in 20 minutes all season is asking for a lottery pick. If we're trying to be a team that can complete a stick-to-stick pass out of the zone, we don't need any more big, slow, glass-and-outers, especially one that soft. We might do 'fine' with someone lesser than Sekera, but I doubt 'fine' is the goal for next year. Are we going for it, or aren't we?

I was using Schultz as an example of the importance of of system over the importance of a player. It may have been a small sample size but it was also in the 2nd and 3rd round of the playoffs too.

Do we really think if Sekera goes to UFA the price tag is going to go up much from $5.5 million? We don't even know for sure the cap is going up yet. I doubt he gets much more in UFA and he could get less. Play a bit of hardball. And if we don't get him then we don't. Why is it a must have? We might end up with a D of Doughty-Muzzin-Martinez-Greene-McNabb-Forbort? That's not exactly a bad D and we still could have Voynov to add to that.

the sky doesn't fall in if Sekera walks. He's so overrated on here its insane. He's as valuable to us as Scuderi was and Mitchell was and both walked and we carried on fine. We finished this year with the 4th best D in the league and we did it without Sekera for all but 14 games, no Mitchell and all of six games of Voynov. We'll be just fine without Sekera.

 

[KINGS17]

I was using Schultz as an example of the importance of of system over the importance of a player. It may have been a small sample size but it was also in the 2nd and 3rd round of the playoffs too.

Do we really think if Sekera goes to UFA the price tag is going to go up much from $5.5 million? We don't even know for sure the cap is going up yet. I doubt he gets much more in UFA and he could get less. Play a bit of hardball. And if we don't get him then we don't. Why is it a must have? We might end up with a D of Doughty-Muzzin-Martinez-Greene-McNabb-Forbort? That's not exactly a bad D and we still could have Voynov to add to that.

the sky doesn't fall in if Sekera walks. He's so overrated on here its insane. He's as valuable to us as Scuderi was and Mitchell was and both walked and we carried on fine. We finished this year with the 4th best D in the league and we did it without Sekera for all but 14 games, no Mitchell and all of six games of Voynov. We'll be just fine without Sekera.

These are not the 2nd and 3rd pairing of a Stanley Cup Champion. As asked earlier, are the Kings going for it next year or not?

 

[damacles1156]

These are not the 2nd and 3rd pairing of a Stanley Cup Champion. As asked earlier, are the Kings going for it next year or not?

Again, the Hawks might win the Cup playing literally Four Defenders(regularly) All season long. What would help the Kings Defense immensely is; A-Mart not sucking so much that Muzzin has to drop down in the lineup, also A-Mart being able to play 20+ minutes a night regularly, to match his 4 million dollar salary.


Doughty/Muzzin
McNabb/A-Mart
Forbort/Greene

I actually think that is a deeper Defense, than the Hawks have on the ice right now.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Would also help if the offense actually showed up for all 82 games.

 

[triplcrown]

I say, offer Sekera no more than Voynov makes ($4.15Mil/per).
Very fair and appropriate amount, IMO.

Sekera's good, but he's not that good.

If he had a Cup ring, maybe he could ask for more than that.
But he doesn't, so forget it.

If he won't take that, then I do not want him.

 

[The Night King]

Would also help if the offense actually showed up for all 82 games.

Especially against teams like Buffalo.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Look away Ron.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=400563826

 

[KingsFan7824]

You could see what Lombardi had in mind last summer. Traded for McNabb last deadline knowing Mitchell was 37, and Muzzin and Martinez needed to be signed. Mitchell, being 37, and with needing to sign Muzzin and Martinez, left. Regehr was still around for another year, allowing McNabb to ease into the lineup. Greene is still a physical guy, a leader in the room, and right handed.

Going into next season, Muzzin/Doughty, McNabb/Voynov, Martinez/Greene. A defense that would be young, signed, and ready to go. It was something Lombardi wouldn't have to worry about.

 

[Kingspiracy]

Who do you have in mind?

I looked at literally every roster in the league and can't see a 2nd pairing guy better than Sekera that woudn't cost us an arm, a leg, and a 1st.

Not saying they're better than Sekera, but i wonder what someone like Ryan Ellis is worth (2.5m x4) or if we could get philly to retain on Schenns final year, they have like 8 dmen under contract

 

[bob77]

So, what would you do?



I agree with the 'slotting' of cap space, but again I ask, what's the alternative?

Schultz treaded water in a small sample size, asking him to do that in 20 minutes all season is asking for a lottery pick. If we're trying to be a team that can complete a stick-to-stick pass out of the zone, we don't need any more big, slow, glass-and-outers, especially one that soft. We might do 'fine' with someone lesser than Sekera, but I doubt 'fine' is the goal for next year. Are we going for it, or aren't we?

As far as big, slow, glass and outers, I think you'll find Forbort skates better than Greene, McNabb, and Schultz! I wouldn't include him in that category. Forbort will skate away with the puck a few feet or so to elude forechecking, and then make the open first pass. The other three were more prone to being beat in foot races to the puck, or when they won, go into "eat" mode and protect the puck with their body, and then many times just rim it around the boards, etc. but the forechecking was always already set up. Muzzin, doughty, and Martinez don't tend to eat the puck, nor did Sekera. Forbort plays more like these four when handling the puck in his own end. I think he's going to do fine next year!

 

[BigBrown]

Again, the Hawks might win the Cup playing literally Four Defenders(regularly) All season long. What would help the Kings Defense immensely is; A-Mart not sucking so much that Muzzin has to drop down in the lineup, also A-Mart being able to play 20+ minutes a night regularly, to match his 4 million dollar salary.


Doughty/Muzzin
McNabb/A-Mart
Forbort/Greene

I actually think that is a deeper Defense, than the Hawks have on the ice right now.

The Hawks have two really good pairs and one garbage one, the Kings would have one really good and two okay ones. Yes that would be deeper but would it be better? I doubt it. And there are way too many question marks in that lineup, just look at it. What if Greene continues his downward spiral? What if McNabb has a sophomore slump? What if Forbort can't handle the NHL? Sekera instantly makes our d group respectable, he can carry the guy you pair him with then we just need two guys who can handle 12-13 minutes a night on the third pair and we're set.

 

[KINGS17]

Again, the Hawks might win the Cup playing literally Four Defenders(regularly) All season long. What would help the Kings Defense immensely is; A-Mart not sucking so much that Muzzin has to drop down in the lineup, also A-Mart being able to play 20+ minutes a night regularly, to match his 4 million dollar salary.


Doughty/Muzzin
McNabb/A-Mart
Forbort/Greene

I actually think that is a deeper Defense, than the Hawks have on the ice right now.

You're asking Alec Martinez to be something that he isn't.

 

[gnarls barkley]

You're asking Alec Martinez to be something that he isn't.

bingo

is Sekera worth 5.5-6m? no

is there anything else available for our 2nd pairing that isn't going to actively cost us wins? no


like most other decisions Dean has this offseason, between a rock and a hard place

 

[Ron*]

Pay the man his money.

 

[kovacro]

Pay the man his money.

 

[cyclones22]

Pay the man his money.

 

[bob77]

Pay the man his money.

If it were only that simple!!! Do we want Toffoli, Kopitar next year, maybe Jones, Amart traded, etc. DL might decide to do this, but others might not be here.

 

[cyclones22]

If it were only that simple!!! Do we want Toffoli, Kopitar next year, maybe Jones, Amart traded, etc. DL might decide to do this, but others might not be here.

Yeah, well I'd be surprised if Voynov is on the roster next season, regardless of his court outcome.

 

[kingsfan]

These are not the 2nd and 3rd pairing of a Stanley Cup Champion. As asked earlier, are the Kings going for it next year or not?

Not in your opinion they aren't. Do we all forget Muzzin in his rookie year and then how he looked in year two? McNabb looks a lot like Muzzin to me, expect him to make a step next year. Forbort I wager will be steady. As a #6 he'll only see 15 minutes a game anyways, likely paired with Greene who'll see that same as well. The big question marks are will A-Mart step up his play and will Voynov comeback. If even one of those is a yes, we should be more than fine.

I say, offer Sekera no more than Voynov makes ($4.15Mil/per).
Very fair and appropriate amount, IMO.

Sekera's good, but he's not that good.

If he had a Cup ring, maybe he could ask for more than that.
But he doesn't, so forget it.

If he won't take that, then I do not want him.

I agree. $4.15 million is very tolerable. $5.5 million or more isn't.

Pay the man his money.

And explain how you give him $5.5 million and also sign Toffoli, Jones, etc. What's the line up look like Ron?

 

[Jason Lewis]

Regehr was not awful and no, losing Regehr is not an upgrade. Not counting Voynov's six games, only Doughty and Muzzin played more minutes per game than Regehr and Regehr seen no powerplay time at all, so all his minutes were 5on5 or shorthanded. This on the fourth best defensive team in the league last year.

Also, if McNabb and Greene are going to eat up Regehr's minutes, you'd have them over 20 minutes per game. Wtf? Are you suggesting Greene at 20 minutes a game is a good idea? Regehr's awful but Greene at 20 minutes a game is fine? Greene would be spun inside out playing the big minutes Regehr did. The last time Greene even averaged over 17:30 a game was 2009-2010.

Regehr was the worst possession defenseman for the Kings. Every person he played with saw an extreme dip in possession stats. Doughty and Sekera both suffered.

Doughty when apart: 61.46 CF60, 47.32 CA60.
Doughty when w/regehr: 56.82 CF60, 51.26 CA60


Sekera when apart: 62.98 CF60, 52.46 CA60.
Sekera when w/Regehr: 52.57 CF60, 45.40 CA60.

It had to do with deployment, but it also had to do with Regehr not being able to execute out of his zone at the same level of Muzzin/McNabb. Those two saw great partnerships with Doughty and Sekera because they worked extremely well at zone exits and breakouts. Regehr gets a lot of praise as a shutdown guy, but Sutter completely overdid it. He shackled good quality offensive players to Regehr and ended up limiting their ability to breakout of the zone, thus leading to scoring plays or offensive zone possession. He was a boat anchor to our most creative and offensively gifted players. It is addition by subtraction. Blame it on Sutter, blame it on Regehr, but that is the simple truth. If Regehr was on the ice, you weren't going anywhere fast.

Also, for the praise he gets, Regehr had the highest number of relative high-danger scoring chances against him. Yes he received difficult minutes generally, but it is not like he was excelling at limiting those chances with tough deployments ala Nic Hjalmarsson or Barret Jackman. All in all, the Kings were a better shot suppression team without him on the ice. If you were an opposing team you probably loved seeing Regehr strapped to Doughty/Sekera. It meant that they were going to get awful deployment, not as many offensive opportunities, and the other team was likely going to get some solid scoring chances.

As far as the distribution goes, that's ridiculous to say that McNabb and Greene would take 20 minutes each. You would probably have McNabb take an extra bit mainly, something he showed capable of doing last year alongside Sekera. Replacing Regehr's minutes with the existing D corps won't be a problem. He played too much as is.

 

[cyclones22]

I'm 100% behind you, Jason. I'm thankful for the effort and heart that RR displayed while a member of the Kings, but they had a hard time getting out of the zone when he was in there. I'll miss his physicality and leadership by example of being a warrior, but not much else.