Confirmed with Link: Kings Sign Kopitar (2 Years/ $7m AAV)

[Bandit]

We can talk all we want about safety and fuel efficiency, but he is still a Volvo in a street race.

I'd say demolition derby, but yes.

 

[Schrute farms]

It's not an anti-Kopitar thing with most that are negative on this deal. I love Kopi...and in a vacuum, i'm very happy he's around longer and a forever King.

The problem is the overall team building and the organization by Blake & crew. He had a great opportunity to build something that could be great and win it all and for a few years. He's sacrificed that for mediocracy. A soft team that is a bit above average and can contend for a playoff spot -- using name brand guys from the Kings SCup winning teams. Basically, to sell some tickets and keep the ownership away from doing anything with the NHL toy team they have.

It's frustrating as a fan to see a golden opportunity of a true rebuild be sacrificed. We gave up an opportunity for an amazing 5-star steak house dinner in order to get a cold-cut sandwich on white bread.

 

[johnjm22]

Blake has had some ill-timed contract extensions. Hopefully this isn't another one.

What sucks is that if Kopitar doesn't play well at 37 and 38 years old, it will really sour the fan base on him. This forum will be a Kopitar bash fest like people did with Brown.

You never want to see such an important franchise player go out like that.

 

[Reaper45]

Blake has had some ill-timed contract extensions. Hopefully this isn't another one.

What sucks is that if Kopitar doesn't play well at 37 and 38 years old, it will really sour the fan base on him. This forum will be a Kopitar bash fest like people did with Brown.

You never want to see such an important franchise player go out like that.

100%. If his contract ended and he wanted to keep playing but the Kings were ready to hand over the reigns we’d all say happy trails partner, it’s a business we loved you here and wish you well. Just like with Quick. Now if that piano that is tied to his back In December becomes a full time thing his legacy is tarnished. We’re going to remember Kopitar the anchor instead of #1 center. We all know there will be fans who will get upset about everything he does, and especially his contract preventing the Kings from adding someone like Matthews. Then the relationship could potentially sour.

 

[Fishhead]

That sums it up for me nicely. The timing is the biggest issue as this contract could look very different by the time the season ends.


Koop played his best hockey last season WITH Byfield. Whilst we may have wanted more points from him he certainly didn’t hamper Kopi.

Yeah, I think so too, wasn't really implying that Byfield was an anchor or anything. But PLD is still an upgrade, so it would certainly be worth a handful of points.

Like many the biggest worry for me with this deal is 2 years from now. I take solace in the fact that Kopitar's style isn't the kind that typically falls off a cliff.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Did you think he'd score 28 at 35?

The point is not whether it “can” happen. It’s about whether it’s likely to happen.

Kopitar is a surefire HoFer and will likely remain decently productive into his late 30s. But the idea that he’ll suddenly become a PPG center at his age is ridiculous.

Do you really dispute this?

I don't really, but weirder things have happened. Just saying, 7M isn't a lot on a new contract and it's just as likely he outperforms it than underperforms it. Replacing Byfield with PLD might have got him 8 more points last year.

I don’t see how you can come to this conclusion when the data on production for players of Kopitar’s age is crystal clear.

 

[head eyes]

Whatever. Kings cup window is only about two years anyway. Good chance they'll have to rebuild/retool once Kopi retires.

 

[jgs]

Fact Reality is that Kopi has done a lot for the Kings, no one is denying that. The issue is the amount of his contract. Some feel ok with the amount and you are entitled to feel that way. Others Like me feel that the amount was about 1-2 mill too high. The frustration with Blake is that he has messed up bad on overpaying on contracts. Peterson is just one of many and is the reason the Kings had to sign some retreads in free agency because he didn't have the cap space to sign quality players that would have helped the team much more. But at the end of the day Kopi is signed for the next three years and there is no changing that.

 

[kings11]

I’ll just leave this here

 

[KingsFan7824]

Blake has had some ill-timed contract extensions. Hopefully this isn't another one.

What sucks is that if Kopitar doesn't play well at 37 and 38 years old, it will really sour the fan base on him. This forum will be a Kopitar bash fest like people did with Brown.

You never want to see such an important franchise player go out like that.

That's been the case since at least Jan 2016.

The point is not whether it “can” happen. It’s about whether it’s likely to happen.

Kopitar is a surefire HoFer and will likely remain decently productive into his late 30s. But the idea that he’ll suddenly become a PPG center at his age is ridiculous.

Do you really dispute this?

And nobody is winning the Cup wirh Aiden Hill as their 1G. It's a ridiculous thought.

Just because the Kings accept mediocrity, doesn't mean that through them you personally accept it for yourself. Just like none of us here get any actual glory for them having won the Cup in a distant and faint memory.

The Kings have further locked themselves into not winning the Cup, or truly rebuilding, for the next few years. That's their choice, and ain't nothing changing it any time soon. The most anyone can do is vote with their wallet/eyes.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

That's been the case since at least Jan 2016.



And nobody is winning the Cup wirh Aiden Hill as their 1G. It's a ridiculous thought.

There is far more precedent for an unknown goalie to win a Cup than a forward to go from non-PPG to PPG at age 35+.

I’m not making a definitive argument about this contract or Kopitar at all. So I don’t know why you’re doing your typical autistic nihilism thing.

I’m just disputing the notion that Kopitar can suddenly start producing at a PPG level at 35+. Is that really a controversial statement? Why are you arguing with me about this?

 

[Herby]

I really doubt there would have been any issue at all if Kopitar began the season without a contract extension, it's very common for old players to just keep signing 1 year contracts. I don't remember there being any kind of issue with Bergeron being on a 1 year-deal.

I just don't see the need to commit multi-year extensions to a players who will be 37-38 years old when you could very likely have the player sign 1 year ones to significantly cut down the risk.

$18m in combined salary in the 25-26 season to a 36 year old who is already showing big cracks and a 38 year old (who in fairness has maintained his pace). Just don't play the "hindsight is 20/20" or "how could he have known" cards.

This is one of those situations where there is to much risk and danger of it blowing up when there should be none.

 

[BigKing]

With all of this talk about production last season, isn't the belief that numbers are inflated league-wide as it relates to scoring, or is that just noise?

 

[SaltyElkHunter]

It's not an anti-Kopitar thing with most that are negative on this deal. I love Kopi...and in a vacuum, i'm very happy he's around longer and a forever King.

The problem is the overall team building and the organization by Blake & crew. He had a great opportunity to build something that could be great and win it all and for a few years. He's sacrificed that for mediocracy. A soft team that is a bit above average and can contend for a playoff spot -- using name brand guys from the Kings SCup winning teams. Basically, to sell some tickets and keep the ownership away from doing anything with the NHL toy team they have.

It's frustrating as a fan to see a golden opportunity of a true rebuild be sacrificed. We gave up an opportunity for an amazing 5-star steak house dinner in order to get a cold-cut sandwich on white bread.

More like we gave up a new completely fresh 5 star dining experience for leftovers from 2 weeks ago.

 

[Brownie to Pancakes]

I don't get all the "why now????" attitude. Kopitar explicitly said he wanted to get an extension done this summer and to be a one-franchise player. Lots of players don't like to deal with contract stuff midseason. If Blake plays hardball it's a bad look and a bad message to other players. This was always gonna happen in exactly this way

 

[KINGS17]

This deal makes Kopitar almost impossible to trade at next season's deadline, which is unfortunate for the organization and and the portion of the fanbase that would like to see the Kings contend again in this decade.

 

[Herby]

This deal makes Kopitar almost impossible to trade at next season's deadline, which is unfortunate for the organization and and the portion of the fanbase that would like to see the Kings contend again in this decade.

There would be no trade either way. If the Kings are out of the playoffs at the TDL they will likely be looking to add in a desperation move to save their jobs (see 2006 with DT)

 

[tigermask48]

I don't get all the "why now????" attitude. Kopitar explicitly said he wanted to get an extension done this summer and to be a one-franchise player. Lots of players don't like to deal with contract stuff midseason. If Blake plays hardball it's a bad look and a bad message to other players. This was always gonna happen in exactly this way

So it has to be the players way or nothing at all? There's these things called Negotiation and Comprimise that both sides could have tried a little of

This extension at this price reeks of Blake just giving Kopitar everything he asked for... Same exact salary (it's actually even worse, Anze gets 6.225 million of the first year as a signing bonus...) full no movement clause, and it's a two year deal at 35+ so the Kings are stuck with 7 million cap hit for two years whether he plays or not. The only thing the Kings get is a lower cap hit.

It feels like Blake didn't even try to negotiate at all and just gave into every concession.

 

[Kudelski37]

I don't get all the "why now????" attitude. Kopitar explicitly said he wanted to get an extension done this summer and to be a one-franchise player. Lots of players don't like to deal with contract stuff midseason. If Blake plays hardball it's a bad look and a bad message to other players. This was always gonna happen in exactly this way

His last contract was signed mid-season. It isn't an issue. The "why now" is that the team is taking all of the risk. Quick could have been extended last summer, but that would have turned out horribly. If Kopi is healthy but continues to decline...skating wise and defensively...the Kings will have an anchor on a huge contract that will be a problem to get rid of...both hockey and fan wise. This is a bad situation for the franchise

There would be no trade either way. If the Kings are out of the playoffs at the TDL they will likely be looking to add in a desperation move to save their jobs (see 2006 with DT)

This overlooks the possibility of a 2018 type of bad start. There isn't a move to dig out of that kind of hole.

 

[jgs]

I don't get all the "why now????" attitude. Kopitar explicitly said he wanted to get an extension done this summer and to be a one-franchise player. Lots of players don't like to deal with contract stuff midseason. If Blake plays hardball it's a bad look and a bad message to other players. This was always gonna happen in exactly this way

Blake didn't mind the bad look when he traded Quick. Who had done just as much if not more than Kopitar has done.

 

[jgs]

They better not give Doughty the same kind of extension! He's one guy that doesn't deserve 24k gold leaf plating on his already golden parachute. His performance has fallen off a cliff. I wouldnt give him 5 million a year honestly.

Doughty is going to collect 11 mill for the next 3 years at a 11 mill cap hit per year. Do you see a Doughty right now that is worth 11 mill.

 

[yankeeking]

There would be no trade either way. If the Kings are out of the playoffs at the TDL they will likely be looking to add in a desperation move to save their jobs (see 2006 with DT)

If this scenario happens then we could have the same thing happen now that happened in 2006, AGE realizes that hiring a professional GM instead of a former star player is the way to go and we trade PDL to Montreal and Danult to the leafs for firsts and rebuild around QB, AT, BC , and EP in goal or something close to that and we can weaponize our cap to pickup a few more with all the contracts expiring this year . Hell we might get DD to waive if this actually came to pass. As long as blake doesn't extend TM the future is unwritten in that we either do well in the playoffs next year or we may see what we all want in a upper management change

 

[Nasti]

Makes you wonder why Lombardi didn't get the 2012/2014 SC winning good old boy until retirement stay that Kopi and DD basically are getting. It seems unfair. Not like Blake has gotten us any sniff of a SC during his tenure (& not likely to happen going forward).

It was very clearly a coup d’etat.

 

[yankeeking]

Blake didn't mind the bad look when he traded Quick. Who had done just as much if not more than Kopitar has done.

quick is done it appears , kopi has aged much much better than him and is only over paid a million or so in the last two years, did anyone really think he would sign for less than 6 million, hell san jose gave that to big joe years ago and kopi is still better that that guy was then

 

[bland]

The Kopitar extension was done for the exact same reasoning behind not fully embracing the rebuild.

Respect.

This is a fraternity looking out for itself, former players placing more importance on players than the organization. Its why Blake always took flyers on veterans like Phanuef and Kovalchuk. It's why prospects aren't valued as high as the wishes of veterans. Paying dues is more valued than raw ability.

This organization is a total mess and cannot win anything with priorities like these. It doesn't matter if Kopitar gets 70 or 90, if Johnny Utah gets his thugs, or who is in net. Its all window dressing for the real problem - infrastructure bent to fit in frat brothers.