Kings sign Ben Hutton

[BigKing]

i guess i'm coming off defensive but man, i'd honestly love to believe it when they say we're rebuilding.. i just got fed "cOnTeNdErS" not too long ago so once bitten twice shy i guess

Well, they finished next-to-last in the league and added nobody of real significance. You actually have the word "rebuild" coming from the players.

It is currently a rebuild. Believe it. What we should all worry about, however, is if they decide to accelerate things based on a surprising season.

 

[BigKing]

Given where this team is at right now I wouldn't send Anderson down if he earns it. He's not as old as most college guys, but a lot of guys who go the USHL/School route are more mature as players than those who go through juniors. There's a lack of scrutiny and lower profile than Major Junior where there are a lot of distractions. Going to the AHL wouldn't be terrible for him, but if he earns it I say put him on the roster. I think it's more motivating to the other young players to see someone their own age make it rather than have everyone blocked by veterans who aren't much better, if at all.

I also don't think these players are that fragile where being around a player that's not a great citizen will negatively impact them. Being around the dick that was Sean Avery certainly didn't mess up Brown. As a rookie he was also exposed to a complete slacking "leader" in Roenick and crazy ass Corvo. It's not like there were a lot of other leaders to keep those guys in line either, a lot of that team was just in it for the paycheck. Granted Lombardi cleaned that up in short order, but I expect the same should happen over the next year or so with any malcontents being moved.

Brown was extremely fortunate that the lock out occurred. The year he spent in Manchester was gigantic for him.

 

[Lt Dan]

The cap is ours!

 

[lumbergh]

The funny thing with what you posted is that it would probably be one of teh best Defenses we've fielded in years... It actually looks really good

Did you choose the wrong emoji? I thought for sure there'd be a sarcasm emoji.

That line up is basically Doughty plus a bunch of bottom-pairing/borderline D.

I mean, Ben Hutton's fine as a bottom-pairing guy who can fill in as a second-pairing guy if you don't have any depth. If you look at his stats in Vancouver, the only player he was any good with was Chris Tanev. Gudbranson is quite possibly the worst defenseman in the NHL, so pulling his stats up is a pretty low bar.

Ryan might be okay, but we'll see how he does without Brent Burns.

Martinez has excelled as a bottom-pairing guy with Greene, but just seems to struggle in tougher minutes.

LaDue is a good player, but hasn't played enough to show he belongs.

Walker is fun to watch on offense, but easily overpowered on defense. Roy, we'll just see if he gets 40 games this season. You know what you're getting from MacD. Love Kurtis, but he's a bit of a battleship.

Until Clague or Anderson demonstrate they're ready for prime time, this defense will suck.

 

[kings11]

Did you choose the wrong emoji? I thought for sure there'd be a sarcasm emoji.

That line up is basically Doughty plus a bunch of bottom-pairing/borderline D.

I mean, Ben Hutton's fine as a bottom-pairing guy who can fill in as a second-pairing guy if you don't have any depth. If you look at his stats in Vancouver, the only player he was any good with was Chris Tanev. Gudbranson is quite possibly the worst defenseman in the NHL, so pulling his stats up is a pretty low bar.

Ryan might be okay, but we'll see how he does without Brent Burns.

Martinez has excelled as a bottom-pairing guy with Greene, but just seems to struggle in tougher minutes.

LaDue is a good player, but hasn't played enough to show he belongs.

Walker is fun to watch on offense, but easily overpowered on defense. Roy, we'll just see if he gets 40 games this season. You know what you're getting from MacD. Love Kurtis, but he's a bit of a battleship.


Until Clague or Anderson demonstrate they're ready for prime time, this defense will suck.

The cup is ours!! lol

Forbort-Doughty
Hutton-Martinez
Ryan-Walker/Roy

is a huge improvement over Fattenberg, Folin, Phaneuf, Gravel, Gilbert, Greene, Ehrhoff and McBain of recent Dman

 

[kilowatt]

Brown was extremely fortunate that the lock out occurred. The year he spent in Manchester was gigantic for him.

That 2003 draft class looks insane, but look at the talent that got to develop with and play against each other in the AHL and other top leagues that year. I can’t help but think those rookies from 02-05 were very fortunate.

 

[kilowatt]

The cup is ours!! lol

Forbort-Doughty
Hutton-Martinez
Ryan-Walker/Roy

is a huge improvement over Fattenberg, Folin, Phaneuf, Gravel, Gilbert, Greene, Ehrhoff and McBain of recent Dman

Besides Doughty and Martinez, those are all bottom pairing replacement level players.

 

[kings11]

Besides Doughty and Martinez, those are all bottom pairing replacement level players.

And all better than the list I posted wouldnt you agree? Hutton-Martinez is interesting as is takinga gamble on a Ryan-someone pairing.. Of all the bottom pairing we've signed, Hutton and Ryan offer the most upside.

 

[crassbonanza]

I like the signing a lot. He's a stable veteran presence so the prospects aren't exposed on a 1 year deal. The price is great at 1.5 million, so if everything goes wrong nearly all of his contract can be buried in the minors. At 26 he is young enough to stick around for the next generation if there is chemistry with the team or if he plays well through the season he can be moved at the deadline for assets. This really feels like a no risk, decent potential signing

 

[kilowatt]

And all better than the list I posted wouldnt you agree? Hutton-Martinez is interesting as is takinga gamble on a Ryan-someone pairing.. Of all the bottom pairing we've signed, Hutton and Ryan offer the most upside.

All of them. Hutton, Ryan, Forbort, Walker, Roy, Fantenberg, Folin, Phaneuf, Gravel, Gilbert, Greene, Ehrhoff, McBain.

You missed a few: Brickley, LaDue, MacDermid, Schenn, Schultz, Scuderi 2.0.

These guys should really be your sixth defenseman at best. Could you imagine any of these guys on a championship-caliber team? Greene and Scuderi were shells of their former selves, the rest are basically AHL fodder. Hutton is probably a 6 on a good team. The rest probably shouldn’t be in the NHL at all.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

This is exactly why I was happy they took Bjornfot at 22 and passed on Tomasino / Kaliyev, because the Kings desperately need true top 4 defensmen and I had read up some on Tobias and saw some video...and was happy they drafted him over Tomasino. Yannetti said it was Bjornfot and 1 other guy that was a dead heat - but they went with Tobias, as they knew he would be gone before pick 33. And that one of the forwards they wanted would be there at 33 and he was right....Yannetti said there would not be as good of a defenseman there at 33. Bjornfot will be a legit top 4 defenseman. I think Tobias has a chance to be better than the D taken before him: York, Heinola, Thomson, and Harley.

 

[DoktorJeep]

If this means we never see Forbort with Doughty again, consider me a fan of the move.

 

[kings11]

All of them. Hutton, Ryan, Forbort, Walker, Roy, Fantenberg, Folin, Phaneuf, Gravel, Gilbert, Greene, Ehrhoff, McBain.

You missed a few: Brickley, LaDue, MacDermid, Schenn, Schultz, Scuderi 2.0.

These guys should really be your sixth defenseman at best. Could you imagine any of these guys on a championship-caliber team? Greene and Scuderi were shells of their former selves, the rest are basically AHL fodder. Hutton is probably a 6 on a good team. The rest probably shouldn’t be in the NHL at all.

Hutton has been playing with trash the past few seasons and was underdeveloped. playing alongside Martinez let alone Doughty will only help his cause. He's also better than anyone on that list except for Forbort who likely has been dealing with this back issue for the past 2-3 seasons.
Its dangerous to completely rely on stats to evaluate a players.

 

[DoktorJeep]

Just read an article about Hutton from last season. It speculated that he was expecting a $4m contract this summer. You hope the Kings are getting a motivated player who seizes a golden opportunity to try and hit that number next summer.

 

[kings11]

Just read an article about Hutton from last season. It speculated that he was expecting a $4m contract this summer. You hope the Kings are getting a motivated player who seizes a golden opportunity to try and hit that number next summer.

Then we can sell high at the TDL.. Unless he's too good not to keep that is

 

[kilowatt]

Hutton has been playing with trash the past few seasons and was underdeveloped. playing alongside Martinez let alone Doughty will only help his cause. He's also better than anyone on that list except for Forbort who likely has been dealing with this back issue for the past 2-3 seasons.
Its dangerous to completely rely on stats to evaluate a players.

I’m not relying on stars. Martinez, Muzzin, and McNabb are all quality defensemen. Colin Miller and Erik Cernak might have been, but that’s up for debate. Forbort is a bottom pairing guy by every measure except time on ice.

 

[Fishhead]

Brown was extremely fortunate that the lock out occurred. The year he spent in Manchester was gigantic for him.

He was, I totally agree with that. I just think the whole exposing young guys to a crappy culture is overblown. I would be far more concerned with exposing young guys to terrible coaching, which is why I'm happy with the TM signing.

 

[Bandit]

He was, I totally agree with that. I just think the whole exposing young guys to a crappy culture is overblown. I would be far more concerned with exposing young guys to terrible coaching, which is why I'm happy with the TM signing.

It's not just crappy culture, it's playing against men who will destroy kids that aren't ready for it.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Carolina last season is an example of the team (lead by Justin Williams) came together as friends off the ice but warriors together while on it.

 

[lumbergh]

The best you can hope for with this signing is a warm body that takes up some space on the ice for 5 months and then flipping that for a 3rd round pick in February. You just can't trot out a defense in October with two vets and five near rookies.

 

[kings11]

I’m not relying on stars. Martinez, Muzzin, and McNabb are all quality defensemen. Colin Miller and Erik Cernak might have been, but that’s up for debate. Forbort is a bottom pairing guy by every measure except time on ice.

A lot of us theorized that he must be hurting and in fact he has been... I’m talking about Forbort, he hasn’t looked right since his “minor” back procedure... it isn’t looking so minor now but he was really good before that injury.. so now he might be a bottom pairing guy but he’s shown he could have been more

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

A lot of us theorized that he must be hurting and in fact he has been... I’m talking about Forbort, he hasn’t looked right since his “minor” back procedure... it isn’t looking so minor now but he was really good before that injury.. so now he might be a bottom pairing guy but he’s shown he could have been more

 

[triplcrown]

I don't know much about him.

But I always judge a man by the kind of taco he eats.

Do we know?

 

[kilowatt]

I don't know much about him.

But I always judge a man by the kind of taco he eats.

Do we know?

Does he have a dog? Please, for god's sake, get this man a dog. Kings PR team in shambles right now.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I saw someone type "Hen Button" and now I can't unthink that.