GDT: Kings off-season thread

[BigBrown]

Ha in the exit interview Quick didn't even know he only had a year left on his contract, didn't sound like he's thinking of retiring next year.


As long as we still have Ranford I wonder if this will actually be a problem. Everytime we pick up a journeyman goalie Ranford turns them into a stud.

Has it happened since Dusty Imoo left the organization though? Starting to get the feeling he was the true goalie whisperer. Cal Petersen is close to a journeyman himself by now and every season his save percentage gets lower and his GAA higher. Whatever Ranford is doing with him isn't working.

 

[tkb81]

Honestly, I think we got to rebuild the rebuild. This year was a step forward in the small picture but a step backwards big picture. As it is the Kings are not building a contender, they're building a pretender

All our top forward prospects are looking like busts. By now it should be obvious to even the most optimistic of observers. Some might turn out to be fine players but they aren't guys you build your team around. There is no new Kopitar in the system. There is not even a new Dustin Brown in the system. The heir apparent in goal looking like Jason Labarbera.

Next season is gonna be tough. They'll be expected to improve on this season when they're already massively overachieving. We're unlikely to have another season like this from Danault. I don't see Kempe scoring 35 again. Kopitar is gonna get worse. I'm not confident they'll even make the playoffs.

They have plenty of players with trade value. Now is the time to trade them. Sign a bunch of good character but terrible players over the summer and gut it out for a couple more years, then come back stronger.

First, identify whether drafting or development is the problem and let the axe come down on them, hard. Get someone who knows what they're doing in charge instead. Oh, and get a head coach who gives a shit about player development or at least knows something about it.

well arnet you a ray of sunshine ... did we do anything good ?

 

[lumbergh]

Durzi just had one of those moments. Are you ok with him on the team?

I'm still not pleased with Durzi throwing his hands up and arguing with officials about a non-call while the play is still live during game 7 with a one goal deficit. Maybe he doesn't get back in time to stop McDavid on that goal, but that's just not excusable.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

well arnet you a ray of sunshine ... did we do anything good ?

We need to bookmark all these clown posts so we can revisit them next year....you know, when the Kings are worse.

 

[tkb81]

What's the deal with Sturm? I thought you guys generally liked him?

we may like him .. but we dont like his PP scoring rate .. haha

We need to bookmark all these clown posts so we can revisit them next year....you know, when the Kings are worse.

wow, I was just pointing out the complete negativity .. when their was some positives in the season dont you agree?

 

[lumbergh]

I'd be reluctant to trade Kupari.

He has all the attributes.

He's progressed further along each year.

I think he's sort of a slow burn prospect. He'll be a quality NHLer, but his path is long.

Kupari reminds me of a young Kempe. He has all the tools, but hasn't figured out how to maximize their usage yet. He did a decent job in the role of a defensive centerman during the playoffs, but he needs to produce more on the offensive side to stay. I don't know if he'll ever figure it out, but he has potential.

I wouldn't be afraid to trade him, but I agree that he will be a quality player in the future.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

we may like him .. but we dont like his PP scoring rate .. haha


wow, I was just pointing out the complete negativity .. when their was some positives in the season dont you agree?

ha, sorry, wasn't referring to your post...was referring to the post you were commenting on.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Genuine questions: Should LA explore offloading Petersen?

Is he ever going to solidify himself as the starter? A $5 million backup is a lot. I don't want to give up on him, but he is already going to be 28 this summer...

All of those questions point to, who would want a 28 year old $5m goalie signed for multiple seasons who hasn't proven he can be the guy? Don't say Arizona.

Good or bad, he's a King for the next few years. Outside of a buyout, but that's at least a year away. And he'd have to be really bad next year.

 

[Schrute farms]

Petersen was disappointing this year. But the combo of Quick/Petersen is not bad. Petersen as a backup is pretty good. The problem is he is paid to be more and was expected to be more; in addition to being a prime piece of the future. For now, that doesn't appear to be the case. But the $10M/year cost of JQ/Petersen is not that bad.

What's is bad is long-term goalie situation. Obviously that needs to be addressed. Next year is fine with JQ/Petersen again. Thereafter -- it's question marks and concerns. Hopefully Blake can make a trade for a young prospect goalie this offseason.

 

[YP44]

Petersen was such a disappointment this year. Looked so good in the worlds last summer and has had flashes in the past.
If a goalie desperate teams wants him I would rather have the cap space and try and find someone else.

 

[bmr]

Kupari reminds me of a young Kempe. He has all the tools, but hasn't figured out how to maximize their usage yet. He did a decent job in the role of a defensive centerman during the playoffs, but he needs to produce more on the offensive side to stay. I don't know if he'll ever figure it out, but he has potential.

I wouldn't be afraid to trade him, but I agree that he will be a quality player in the future.

I think Kupari is a more physical version of Kempe, but probably not the same offensive ceiling and speed. Kupari and Kaliyev seem like really nice complementary pieces to me. I'm hopeful that Kaliyev takes a big leap next year with his scoring. He's definitely rounded out his game more than a lot of people thought him capable of when he was drafted.

I'm still not pleased with Durzi throwing his hands up and arguing with officials about a non-call while the play is still live during game 7 with a one goal deficit. Maybe he doesn't get back in time to stop McDavid on that goal, but that's just not excusable.

I think most of us were unhappy about that, but a great learning moment for him that should stick with him for the rest of his playing career. He definitely cares about this team and winning, so chalking it up to a learning experience.

 

[bmr]

It’d be nice that whomever they get at defense that they can actually score goals from the blue line. 10 goals from a defender not named Doughty would be amazing.

Doughty 39 games 7 goals
Durzi 64 games 3 goals
Roy 67 games 2 goals
Edler 41 games 3 goals
Spence 24 games 2 goals
Anderson 57 games 2 goals
Maatta 66 games 1 goal
Bjornfot 70 games 0 goals

20 goals from your defense is sad. 2012 had 44 goals and 2014 had 36 for reference.

I'm confident this number will go up next year. Too much talent on the back end and more experience will make the difference.

 

[bmr]

If they can move Cal they should. That contract is going to look quite ugly.

This contract was a bit of a head scratcher to me, but I think they saw Cal as the guy that would take the reigns from Quick. I thought he would be more of a 3-4 mill per guy. I just hadn't seen enough from him at the NHL level to make me feel confident that he is our guy. Still time to figure it out. I don't think any team will want that contract and it would be a poor decision for us to sell low.

 

[kingsholygrail]

This contract was a bit of a head scratcher to me, but I think they saw Cal as the guy that would take the reigns from Quick. I thought he would be more of a 3-4 mill per guy. I just hadn't seen enough from him at the NHL level to make me feel confident that he is our guy. Still time to figure it out. I don't think any team will want that contract and it would be a poor decision for us to sell low.

It's gotta be the least thought out contract Blake has signed so far. It wasn't like Cal was in the top third of the league in stats and had pushed Quick out of the starting position. It was a pure potential based contract. If they can't get out of it, we can only hope Cal becomes the butterfly he was projected to be.

 

[All The Kings Men]

Ha in the exit interview Quick didn't even know he only had a year left on his contract

I'm fairly certain he was kidding...

 

[KingsFan7824]

This contract was a bit of a head scratcher to me, but I think they saw Cal as the guy that would take the reigns from Quick. I thought he would be more of a 3-4 mill per guy. I just hadn't seen enough from him at the NHL level to make me feel confident that he is our guy. Still time to figure it out. I don't think any team will want that contract and it would be a poor decision for us to sell low.

He was going to be a UFA.

 

[bmr]

He was going to be a UFA.

Yeah - I get that part, but I don't think another team was going to offer him that. Maybe we had to give him more money and less term and that was the compromise.

 

[Fat Elvis]

Iafallo+Walker+pick
to Buff
Portillo+Ryan Johnson+Peterka

Durzi+JAD
to Arizona
Crouse

I'm not good at these

 

[Piston]

Reading these Scheifele comments... If you have never watched a player, which is clear by some comments maybe best to not comment on them yet alone make statements that come off as factual.

I haven't watched him a lot but can say his hit on Evans in Game 1 last year against Montreal when the game was decided was the dirtiest, most selfish play I have ever seen and definitely cost his team a chance of advancing to the Conference Finals.

 

[lumbergh]

Two needs, top line forward, and physical defenseman for next season. I'm fine with the goaltender tandem.

Targets could be Vladimir Tarasenko, if he wants to leave St. Louis still, or Mark Scheifele, if he wants to leave Winnepeg. If the Kings get a center like Scheifele, they could have a three-headed monster down the middle, which would be hard to beat in the playoffs. Filip Forsberg and Johnny Gaudreau are also options but will cost a lot in dollars and years. Tarasenko would be my favorite target.

My top target on the back end would be Carson Soucy.

Iafallo, Vilardi, and a 2023 1st round pick for Scheifele:
1A: Byfield-Scheifele-Arvidsson
1B: Kaliyev-Kopitar-Kempe
1C: Moore-Danault-Grundstrom
4: Lemieux/JAD-Lizotte-Fagemo/Kupari
JAD/Lemieux/Kupari

I have no idea what the price would be for Tarasenko, but probably something similar. If the Kings acquired Tarasenko, he'd line up with Kopi and Kempe, Byfield would center "line 3" with Arvidsson and Kaliyev.

Durzi + 3rd round pick for Carson Soucy:
Anderson-Doughty
Bjornfot-Roy
Soucy-Spence
Moverare/Stetcher

Quick/Petersen

That would be my dream lineup for October. Three monster forward lines and a balanced, more physical back end. That's a deeeeeep lineup with playoff expectations.

Edit: I forgot about Kupari, whom I like in a defensive role.

 

[kovacro]

Iafallo+Walker+pick
to Buff
Portillo+Ryan Johnson+Peterka

Durzi+JAD
to Arizona
Crouse

I'm not good at these

From listening to their sports talk shows, it seems Buffalo management likes Portillo more than UPL. Don’t think he’s moving anytime soon.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Quick is already in summer beast mode... albeit against his kids.

 

[Herby]

Two needs, top line forward, and physical defenseman for next season. I'm fine with the goaltender tandem.

Targets could be Vladimir Tarasenko, if he wants to leave St. Louis still, or Mark Scheifele, if he wants to leave Winnepeg. If the Kings get a center like Scheifele, they could have a three-headed monster down the middle, which would be hard to beat in the playoffs. Filip Forsberg and Johnny Gaudreau are also options but will cost a lot in dollars and years. Tarasenko would be my favorite target.

My top target on the back end would be Carson Soucy.

Iafallo, Vilardi, and a 2023 1st round pick for Scheifele:
1A: Byfield-Scheifele-Arvidsson
1B: Kaliyev-Kopitar-Kempe
1C: Moore-Danault-Grundstrom
4: Lemieux/JAD-Lizotte-Fagemo/Kupari
JAD/Lemieux/Kupari

I have no idea what the price would be for Tarasenko, but probably something similar. If the Kings acquired Tarasenko, he'd line up with Kopi and Kempe, Byfield would center "line 3" with Arvidsson and Kaliyev.

Durzi + 3rd round pick for Carson Soucy:
Anderson-Doughty
Bjornfot-Roy
Soucy-Spence
Moverare/Stetcher

Quick/Petersen

That would be my dream lineup for October. Three monster forward lines and a balanced, more physical back end. That's a deeeeeep lineup with playoff expectations.

Edit: I forgot about Kupari, whom I like in a defensive role.

I think it’s pretty unlikely that Winnipeg would do that trade, although I definitely see Scheifele as someone the Kings would be heavily interested in, same with JT Miller.

I think this is the summer where Blake makes his big move for a veteran star.

 

[HookKing]

I think it’s pretty unlikely that Winnipeg would do that trade, although I definitely see Scheifele as someone the Kings would be heavily interested in, same with JT Miller.

I think this is the summer where Blake makes his big move for a veteran star.

That trade is laughable. Iafallo (for some reason) took most of the season off and Vilardi has virtually no trade value.

 

[YP44]

Iafallo+Walker+pick
to Buff
Portillo+Ryan Johnson+Peterka

Durzi+JAD
to Arizona
Crouse

I'm not good at these

I don;t think Buffalo does this first one (not sure I would either).

I would be all over the Arizona.