The buyout talk is based on a hypothetical scenario in which PLD keeps playing like he is now.
If it looks like this is who he is from here on out, a buyout has to be considered.
I assume at some point, he'll start playing better. Hopefully in the playoffs.
But so far he's been terrible. I can't stand watching him play. He makes watching the Kings so much less enjoyable. I've never seen a player consistently give such little effort.
When he plays bad, he plays very loudly and noticeably bad. The problem for the Kings is I think market pressure could actually be a benefit to him, in terms of motivation - I'm not sure the Kings have that, at least from the media/fan side of things - You'll need to find some sort of internal organizational motivation to replicate that.
I've said this before, but I thought you guys got him on a great contract, and would have had no problem with the Jets signing the exact same deal at the time - I worried he would fall off after he got his payday, but I kinda worry about that for every player, you just have to suck it up and sign the deal, that's the business hockey teams are in.
I still liked the Jets side of the deal better, probably because I had to deal with MTL fans gloating about how they'll give us a B-Prospect and a 3rd-rounder because he only wants to be in Quebec for two years straight.