GDT: Kings off-season thread

[Bandit]

Tonka had a great off-season while only being inserted into the lineup during the regular season every so often.

He's a RFA and easily should be signed.

Hard to understand what Todd's problem with him is. Other than Todd's a moron of course.

 

[Fripp]

Hard to understand what Todd's problem with him is. Other than Todd's a moron of course.

He got done wrong this year, for sure. Seemed like every game he was in the lineup he was creating chances.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Gentle reminder that grundstrom scored 3 games in a row and was unceremoniously benched with a 'sorry you did nothing wrong'

that was the sign that everything was amiss

if they dont re-sign him, I'll be pissed.

 

[Cheech89]

it's a good thing i'm not a gm because I would trade Durzi after seeing him stop and raise his hands after a legit hook instead of continuing to defend mcdavid.

That was my thought when I saw that too. I think Walker fills that spot and that we should trade him. He has good value in my opinion and can help us get a legit player if we package him.

 

[BigKing]

Durzi was 2nd on the team in fighting majors this season...with three. Kings only had 13 fights all season. Yikes.

Grundstrom led the team in hits in only 54 games with 11 minutes of average ice. Easy RFA signing for me.

 

[YP44]

I feel like Grundstrom and Vilardi are in Todd's shit house

Durzi was 2nd on the team in fighting majors this season...with three. Kings only had 13 fights all season. Yikes.

Grundstrom led the team in hits in only 54 games with 11 minutes of average ice. Easy RFA signing for me.

Can i ask what is the league average for fights in the season?

 

[Peter James Bond II]

I pretty much enjoyed watching EXIT interviews....but wanting to watch the first ENTRY interview on July 1 or so....who will it be? Or more than 1. Looking forward to draft, July 7-8.

Wishing the Kings had sent Byfield, Vilardi, Kupari and Spence to the Reign, after game 6, so they could have played game 3 for the Reigns' playoff. Or at least 3 of them and kept 1 forward - Kupari, for game 7 extra. (p[lus they had Lias)
The Riegn might have had a shot and these players would have got valuable playoff experience.

 

[Trash Panda]

I think Stetcher is gone, I'd move Walker to the left side, one of Edler/Maatta is gone.
Doughty/Anderson
Walker/Roy
Maatta/Durzi
Bjornfot, Moverare
Spence first callup

Wouldn't be surprised to see both Maatta AND Edler out with Moverare moving in instead of inevitably getting lost to waivers throughout the season. Experience isn't an issue anymore.

OR trade for Soucy and

Doughty Anderson
Walker Roy
Soucy Durzi
Moverare Bjornfot

With how Spence performed this season, I can’t see a world where it’s needed to bring either of our UFA d back. Neither were anything more than fill-in players for the entire season anyways.

Especially when the kings are gonna be forced into exposing players to waivers if they are brought back.

 

[King'sPawn]

it's a good thing i'm not a gm because I would trade Durzi after seeing him stop and raise his hands after a legit hook instead of continuing to defend mcdavid.

If we're trading away a rookie for making rookie mistakes, might as well trade them all.

 

[kingsholygrail]

If we're trading away a rookie for making rookie mistakes, might as well trade them all.

Whining to the refs while the play is still going is not a rookie mistake. It's a complete loss of composure.

 

[Bandit]

Whining to the refs while the play is still going is not a rookie mistake. It's a complete loss of composure.

Sure but in the grand scheme of things, if the Evander Kanes and Craig McTavishes of the world can get a second chance, I think we could consider this a teachable moment for Durzi....

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Wishing the Kings had sent Byfield, Vilardi, Kupari and Spence to the Reign, after game 6, so they could have played game 3 for the Reigns' playoff. Or at least 3 of them and kept 1 forward - Kupari, for game 7 extra. (p[lus they had Lias)
The Riegn might have had a shot and these players would have got valuable playoff experience.

Totally agree, can't understand the reasoning behind that.

 

[BigKing]

The Durzi thing is tough for me because his progression has been pretty amazing at each level. He has setbacks and then improves to be very good at whatever league he is in. If his rookie NHL season counts as his "setback" and he improves on defense to go along with his near .500 PPG and moxie, I'd hate to move this guy just because he is right handed. Pedigree isn't everything but he's got more of it than Walker and we've still never seen Walker play in an NHL game that actually mattered.

It's funny that everyone wants to trade him because he's worth something but nobody wanted to trade any of the forward prospects when they were worth something. You finally have one of these prospects acquired from the tank and talent liquidation take an opportunity and run with it and so many want to move him.

Would be a real tough call for Blake. If I'm Blake, I f***ing love this guy. I'm loving him, Anderson, Kaliyev and Spence if I'm old Bowlby.

 

[Statto]

The Durzi thing is tough for me because his progression has been pretty amazing at each level. He has setbacks and then improves to be very good at whatever league he is in. If his rookie NHL season counts as his "setback" and he improves on defense to go along with his near .500 PPG and moxie, I'd hate to move this guy just because he is right handed. Pedigree isn't everything but he's got more of it than Walker and we've still never seen Walker play in an NHL game that actually mattered.

It's funny that everyone wants to trade him because he's worth something but nobody wanted to trade any of the forward prospects when they were worth something. You finally have one of these prospects acquired from the tank and talent liquidation take an opportunity and run with it and so many want to move him.

Would be a real tough call for Blake. If I'm Blake, I f***ing love this guy. I'm loving him, Anderson, Kaliyev and Spence if I'm old Bowlby.

I don’t think it’s ‘because he’s worth something’ but because it’s a position of excessive depth and we have to move a piece with value. Clarke is going nowhere so unless they can successfully switch to the left one, if not two of Durzi, Spence and Faber eventually move. Spence emerging so unexpectedly in his first pro season means a lot of people think he had a higher upside than Durzi. This is without even thinking about Roy or Walker (I’d trade both before any of the other 3).

The discussion between Spence and Durzi is mostly based around some people liking his strengths but not his defensive game whilst thinking Spence has the overall higher ceiling. If I have to choose between the two I’m picking Spence. Therefore given someone has to be traded, based on what I’ve seen so far I’m moving Durzi. Primarily because I think he’s asset value is probably currently inflated based on his unexpected emergence and the role he was in during our improbable run. Moving a RHD is probably needed to fill the LHD role and whilst he’s just a piece in any such move, he’s probably an attractive one.

Don’t get me wrong, if they can fit everyone in without any ‘round pegs in square holes’ and have him play as a #6 pp specialist then great because I love the intangibles. I’m equally open to the idea he shows every doubter up and takes his game to another level, as he’s already made me eat crow once.

Not wanting to trade forward prospects is more around upside, the holes we have on the team and not seeing the point in selling low. It’s not the same type of discussion because it currently looks like most of our RHD guys are going to hit (even if that may change).

 

[Fishhead]

With how Spence performed this season, I can’t see a world where it’s needed to bring either of our UFA d back. Neither were anything more than fill-in players for the entire season anyways.

Especially when the kings are gonna be forced into exposing players to waivers if they are brought back.

I wouldn't call them fill-ins. Edler was exceptional before he got hurt, he and Roy were nails. Maatta was one of our best D down the stretch and into the playoffs.

I really don't want to bring either back, but Spence didn't outplay either of those guys, and I'm a big Spence fan. Personally, I'd move for that mean, youngish D we are missing. Just need someone to play with Doughty, Roy, Bjornfot, and Anderson.

 

[Steve Zissou]

I love all the Montreal fans who said Danault was only a 3rd line defensive specialist and only good for a few goals per year.

 

[Trash Panda]

I wouldn't call them fill-ins. Edler was exceptional before he got hurt, he and Roy were nails. Maatta was one of our best D down the stretch and into the playoffs.

I really don't want to bring either back, but Spence didn't outplay either of those guys, and I'm a big Spence fan. Personally, I'd move for that mean, youngish D we are missing. Just need someone to play with Doughty, Roy, Bjornfot, and Anderson.

Point is, both are aging guys who won’t be here when the roster is sharp enough to do any real damage in the post season, and are only taking minutes from youth that either will be or can be developed & traded to address a need.

Gotta make some holes for the kids to earn in camp. Plenty of waiver fodder to pounce on if they don’t.

 

[BigKing]

I don’t think it’s ‘because he’s worth something’ but because it’s a position of excessive depth and we have to move a piece with value. Clarke is going nowhere so unless they can successfully switch to the left one, if not two of Durzi, Spence and Faber eventually move. Spence emerging so unexpectedly in his first pro season means a lot of people think he had a higher upside than Durzi. This is without even thinking about Roy or Walker (I’d trade both before any of the other 3).

The discussion between Spence and Durzi is mostly based around some people liking his strengths but not his defensive game whilst thinking Spence has the overall higher ceiling. If I have to choose between the two I’m picking Spence. Therefore given someone has to be traded, based on what I’ve seen so far I’m moving Durzi. Primarily because I think he’s asset value is probably currently inflated based on his unexpected emergence and the role he was in during our improbable run. Moving a RHD is probably needed to fill the LHD role and whilst he’s just a piece in any such move, he’s probably an attractive one.

Don’t get me wrong, if they can fit everyone in without any ‘round pegs in square holes’ and have him play as a #6 pp specialist then great because I love the intangibles. I’m equally open to the idea he shows every doubter up and takes his game to another level, as he’s already made me eat crow once.

Not wanting to trade forward prospects is more around upside, the holes we have on the team and not seeing the point in selling low. It’s not the same type of discussion because it currently looks like most of our RHD guys are going to hit (even if that may change).

I think Spence is the overall smarter player and is more advanced at his age than Durzi was at the same age but, man. the guy is just the balls and they are trying to build a winning team.

Sure it's corny, but the Herb Brooks "looking for the right ones" quote applies here. I'd like to keep both.

 

[King'sPawn]

Whining to the refs while the play is still going is not a rookie mistake. It's a complete loss of composure.

So... rookies aren't allowed to lose their composure? Only veterans like Doughty?

 

[FSL KINGS]

Durzi vs Spence comes down to cap for me. Limited amount this off-season. If there is enough cap for Durzi great. Shouldn't be too expensive. If an extra million is needed to fill other roster positions, 3RD can be filled cheaply.

 

[crassbonanza]

So... rookies aren't allowed to lose their composure? Only veterans like Doughty?

Not that I agree about moving on from Durzi, but that is just an absolutely ridiculous comparison. Of course Doughty gets more leeway than Durzi, also I don't remember Doughty doing anything similar in the playoffs. Honestly, it is wild to me how fast people are to just shit all over guys like Doughty and Kopitar who carried the team offensively this year.

 

[King'sPawn]

Not that I agree about moving on from Durzi, but that is just an absolutely ridiculous comparison. Of course Doughty gets more leeway than Durzi, also I don't remember Doughty doing anything similar in the playoffs. Honestly, it is wild to me how fast people are to just shit all over guys like Doughty and Kopitar who carried the team offensively this year.

I'm just refuting the insinuation about trading a rookie for losing their composure during a high stakes situation, when other players (especially Doughty) can throw a tantrum and people not overreacting.

I can't recall a specific incident, but Doughty has absolutely lost his composure. In regular seasons and playoffs. He's a competitor. So's Durzi. Guys get emotional during these moments.

It's wild to me that every time a post doesn't go out of its way singing a veteran's praises, that we're shitting on them. All I said was that Doughty has lost his composure. Talking about trading a guy, rookie or vet, for losing their composure is just a silly train of thought.

 

[crassbonanza]

I'm just refuting the insinuation about trading a rookie for losing their composure during a high stakes situation, when other players (especially Doughty) can throw a tantrum and people not overreacting.

I can't recall a specific incident, but Doughty has absolutely lost his composure. In regular seasons and playoffs. He's a competitor. So's Durzi. Guys get emotional during these moments.

It's wild to me that every time a post doesn't go out of its way singing a veteran's praises, that we're shitting on them. All I said was that Doughty has lost his composure. Talking about trading a guy, rookie or vet, for losing their composure is just a silly train of thought.

I honestly can not remember a time when Doughty stopped playing to complain to the ref while the puck was live in the ozone, especially during a game 7 in the third period. It's not that you are not singing his praises, you are making up a scenario that did not occur.

 

[King'sPawn]

I honestly can not remember a time when Doughty stopped playing to complain to the ref while the puck was live in the ozone, especially during a game 7 in the third period. It's not that you are not singing his praises, you are making up a scenario that did not occur.

Just checking... are you saying that what Durzi did is the ONLY way to lose your composure?

Okay, well here you go. Game 5 vs. Coyotes:


Even in your bad faith effort to accuse me of lying, here's Doughty flailing and looking at the ref during play.

I can't stress this enough. Saying Doughty has lost his composure is not shitting on him. If you are that myopic or sensitive that such a statement bothers you, then it's best to ignore me.

 

[crassbonanza]

Just checking... are you saying that what Durzi did is the ONLY way to lose your composure?

Okay, well here you go. Game 5 vs. Coyotes:


Even in your bad faith effort to accuse me of lying, here's Doughty flailing and looking at the ref during play.

I can't stress this enough. Saying Doughty has lost his composure is not shitting on him. If you are that myopic or sensitive that such a statement bothers you, then it's best to ignore me.

So, you watched that video right? That was not in any way similar, the play was dead. That is kind of a crucial aspect to the conversation that you seem to be ignoring here. Again, I said I did not want to move on from Durzi, but conflating Doughty with what Durzi did is not fair in any way. I don't like using the ignore button, I was just pointing out that you were making an unfair statement. Although, feel free to ignore me if you are not a fan of me calling you out.