LA KINGS 2023/4 Regular season discussion

[Herby]

Speaking of Harbaugh.

His early years were plagued by cronyism also, just all his old Stanford assistants and his kid (wonder how long before Blake Emerson and Jackson Blake have roles in the org?). It very nearly cost him his job, he was forced to look outside his comfort zone and scour the country for great people, and actually bring in the most qualified people, and the rest is history. It's amazing what happens when you replace your buddies with the best people available. Who knows where the Kings are if Blake and Luc had actually tried to find their own Mike MacDonald, Sherrone Moore or Jesse Minter, maybe things are different with competent voices around them, but they never even gave themselves a chance and just immediately hired and promoted their buddies.

Once again, an executive is only as good as the people he has around him.

Could anyone ever see Lucky firing Blakey, or Blakey firing Nelly or Muzz? I think we all agree the answer is no, and that is why gutting and starting over has to happen.

 

[shuchukfan]

Serious question: why did Lombardi hire Blake as assistant GM? Was that Lombardi's decision or someone else's?

 

[Telos]

Todd has to go. It is time if you're ownership. He doesn't have an answer and he's lost the room. I love Robitaille, but he should go too or at least put in a lesser ambassador/advisor role. But, at the very least, the coaching staff needs adjustment. The only problem is if they replace with anyone internal it won't matter, and Blake has a tight noose around his neck as it is practically cup or bust if he drops Todd, but it is curtains for them all if the losing continues.

 

[lumbergh]

Todd has to go. It is time if you're ownership. He doesn't have an answer and he's lost the room. I love Robitaille, but he should go too or at least put in a lesser ambassador/advisor role. But, at the very least, the coaching staff needs adjustment. The only problem is if they replace with anyone internal it won't matter, and Blake has a tight noose around his neck as it is practically cup or bust if he drops Todd, but it is curtains for them all if the losing continues.

Be careful what you wish for. You could end up with head coach Marco Sturm.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

to the surprise of no one there are no easily accessible links to the media availability nor is it promoted on any of their front facing sites.

You'd think it's the CIA if it weren't a f***ing preschool.

How to alienate fans 101 been in full effect the last few years.

 

[kilowatt]

Possibly some good news:



Literally anything would be better than the absolute nightmare that is Bally Sports' streaming service. Absolutely the worst service by every measure. Should not exist.

 

[Telos]

Be careful what you wish for. You could end up with head coach Marco Sturm.

Haha, exactly, that is what I mean if they replace Todd with anyone from the bench or Ontario. They need to go out and get someone like a Gallant or a new blood hire, and roll the dice because I can't believe confidence is high that Todd and company are going to turn this ship around and blast through to the second round and beyond. Blake has to be feeling it right now.

 

[Shellz]

I’m just annoyed with Bally sports app.. I can’t count how many times the pregame has replayed on my tv and like 20 minutes into it I realized I just watched it ….only to miss half of the first period. I’m also an idiot and should know. Plus also having to click a different screen to watch post game. Why on earth.

 

[DAkings20]

How soon before media availability does Blake submit his list of questions to the “media”?

 

[AbsentMojo]

Be careful what you wish for. You could end up with head coach Marco Sturm.

He'd be a solid tank commander, so maybe not a bad outcome

 

[BaileyFan]

I might be in the minority here, but if they fall too far out of a playoff spot by the deadline, I would rather them do a fire-sale and do a real rebuild. Keep the young guys, but move on from the veterans.

With Kopitars decline, they don't have a #1 center. Don't get me wrong, Kopitar is my favorite King of all time, but you can't expect a guy who will be 37 (Crosby being the exception to the rule) next year to be able to be the number 1 guy on a team trying to compete for the cup. Unless Byfield is truly ready to take over that #1 center spot, they are in trouble.

Doughty is in his mid-30's, and is leading the league in TOI. That isn't going to be sustainable for the entire season, especially come playoff time (if they manage to get into the playoffs).

There is obviously still a lot of hockey to be played, and things could change, but right now they look like they will be lucky to make the playoffs. And if they do make the playoffs, they have the look of another 1st round exit.

You’re right but it’s too late to do a real rebuild. Doughty, Dubois, and Fiala are untradeable. Kopitar has little trade value at his age. Danault’s contract will age badly. The only non-UFA vets that would bring back a decent return are Kempe and Moore.

Even if they wanted to, the Kings won’t be able to start the teardown mode until a couple years from now. If they fall out of a playoff spot, you can guarantee they will be burning more assets to get back in, not selling off pieces.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

You’re right but it’s too late to do a real rebuild. Doughty, Dubois, and Fiala are untradeable. Kopitar has little trade value at his age. Danault’s contract will age badly. The only non-UFA vets that would bring back a decent return are Kempe and Moore.

Even if they wanted to, the Kings won’t be able to start the teardown mode until a couple years from now. If they fall out of a playoff spot, you can guarantee they will be burning more assets to get back in, not selling off pieces.

Doughty to a point, PLD yes, but how in the world did you come to the conclusion that Fiala is untradeable??

 

[David Lunch]

Serious question: why did Lombardi hire Blake as assistant GM? Was that Lombardi's decision or someone else's?

I’d like to think it was either Phil or Luc, but DL was super gung-ho about bringing Blake back as a player so who knows. Well, even there who knows, but Dean seemed to be given pretty much every green light to reshape the franchise as he saw fit.

 

[tny760]

Possibly some good news:



Literally anything would be better than the absolute nightmare that is Bally Sports' streaming service. Absolutely the worst service by every measure. Should not exist.

i know everyone hates bezos but that'll probably be really nice for TV integration and as i recall the NFL games they show have been rousing successes

i like this personally

 

[Omni Owl]

Bezos' ex-wife is a G.

I'm on the hire Gallant bandwagon, sick of Todd and his un-solutions to adjusting. His history in the playoffs is extremely sus as well...

 

[Sol]

I understand the issue people have with Amazon and anti-trust since Amazon is essentially a monopoly however its instances like this where streaming services do such a bad job catering to customers that they deservingly should lose their contract. If Amazon can provide blackout free content then that’s going to lightning rod the entire NHL.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Agreed on Gallant, like Sutter he wears quickly but that's all we need at this point anyway

I'd rather crash and burn spectacularly while the vets beyond Kopi/Doughty still have value

I understand the issue people have with Amazon and anti-trust since Amazon is essentially a monopoly however its instances like this where streaming services do such a bad job catering to customers that they deservingly should lose their contract. If Amazon can provide blackout free content then that’s going to lightning rod the entire NHL.

I'm huge on antitrust but I don't mind a minority stake at all, especially since that shows they're confident in return on investment

 

[Master Yoda]

Speaking of Harbaugh.

His early years were plagued by cronyism also, just all his old Stanford assistants and his kid (wonder how long before Blake Emerson and Jackson Blake have roles in the org?). It very nearly cost him his job, he was forced to look outside his comfort zone and scour the country for great people, and actually bring in the most qualified people, and the rest is history. It's amazing what happens when you replace your buddies with the best people available. Who knows where the Kings are if Blake and Luc had actually tried to find their own Mike MacDonald, Sherrone Moore or Jesse Minter, maybe things are different with competent voices around them, but they never even gave themselves a chance and just immediately hired and promoted their buddies.

Once again, an executive is only as good as the people he has around him.

Could anyone ever see Lucky firing Blakey, or Blakey firing Nelly or Muzz? I think we all agree the answer is no, and that is why gutting and starting over has to happen.

Emerson named his son Blake? Can't make this stuff up.

 

[Herby]

to the surprise of no one there are no easily accessible links to the media availability nor is it promoted on any of their front facing sites.

You'd think it's the CIA if it weren't a f***ing preschool.

How to alienate fans 101 been in full effect the last few years.

You ever watch those documentaries about North Korea, where the state lets in foreign media for extremely limited and controlled access?

I wonder what the most difficult question Blake will face tomorrow at this press conference?

The Kings were 16-4-3 on December 7th, and are now 21-12-8

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Emerson named his son Blake? Can't make this stuff up.

Wait till you meet Glen Nelson Blake!

kidding

or am i

 

[Herby]

Nothing wrong with naming your kid after your best friend, something really wrong with getting jobs and promotions you aren't qualified for because of your best friend.

And I only know about the kids because of the rookie camp invites. Instead of sending invites out to undrafted college and junior players and trying to maybe find the next Lizotte, Iafallo or Alexandre Burrows they invited Blake's kid, both Emerson's kids and Modry's kid, oh and Patrik Stefan's kid too (Emerson's old teammate in Atlanta). This is something that you truly can't make up.

If you want to know whether someone is qualified for their job, just ask yourself, "If all these guys were fired tomorrow, would they have a prayer of finding work doing the same job anywhere else in the NHL?"

 

[johnjm22]

i know everyone hates bezos but that'll probably be really nice for TV integration and as i recall the NFL games they show have been rousing successes

i like this personally

I think he's great. Love him.

I understand the issue people have with Amazon and anti-trust since Amazon is essentially a monopoly however its instances like this where streaming services do such a bad job catering to customers that they deservingly should lose their contract. If Amazon can provide blackout free content then that’s going to lightning rod the entire NHL.

Amazon isn't even close to being a monopoly.

 

[Herby]

Bezos is great, found many inefficiencies in multiple different areas, made it more efficient and made a fortune providing a service that so many willingly pay to use.

People hate him for making a fortune from Amazon, but then continue to vote in politicians who's networth grows into the tens of millions as "public servants"

 

[Johnny Utah]

No one has the balls to call out Blake on any tough questions and if they do he typically dodges it or is short. They read my question about toughness during the season ticket meeting last year and he said something of the lines no one wants to go into the corner with Alex Edler. LOL. Then Alex Faust said something along the lines of Matt Roy is tough.

I was like, this is gonna be a long night...

I basically asked who is the future Lemieux, Nolan, Clifford on the team in Ontario. Now, I know the answer it's Helenius and Ziemmer and temporarily Englund. Since Blake spent so many years surrounded and protected by tough players like McSorley, Parker, and Shelley sticking up for him and his hip checks - he now sees no value in a tough team. The irony.

Let's see what Hoven, Bernstein, and Morgan pull out of the hat tomorrow...

 

[The Butcher]

So basically Blake is holding a conference to tell us all why he's not firing McClellan?