LA KINGS 2023/4 Regular season discussion

[Omni Owl]

What do we think the odds are of acquiring a goalie? I'd love to get Ullmark out of BOS, downside is that likely prices Roy outta town. Unlikely but I wonder if a Gavrikov for Ullmark + Forbort deal could make some sense

Very low I believe, and if we did deal for a goalie Blake would likely get bent over backwards on the price. There's already too many teams in the league that need to address their goaltending positions and too few viable goalies to trade for. Just look @ the Devils, they've needed a goalie the whole year and haven't been able to trade for one.

 

[lexlavender]

to me the option is clear. Even if we are only trying to contend for the short term, we have a glaring need in goal. I don't care if Blake thinks that Talbot or Rittich is fine, even for the short term, because in the long term it's still an issue. We also have Roy on an expiring contract when we have an log jam at Right D currently.

Trading Roy for a first and whatever else you can get for him as starters frees up 3 mil + in cap space. That also frees up a roster spot for Clarke and Spence, which have BOTH shown they are more than capable NHL defenders. They are also excellent puck movers which this team needs.

The assets plus Roy and including our stock pile can snag Juuse Saros. It may hurt, but if Nashville would take our 1st, a 1st from trade, and prospects (whatever combo works best) that seems the best move for what Blake has angled our team as right now. Since Juuse is only 5, you can very easily fit him under cap by offloading some more cap, or maybe you can convince Nashville for retention.

To me, I wouldn't do this. I'd first prioritize losing Dubois's contract and then start selling, but I also don't think this team contends realistically.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Kings will deal with the goalie in the summer. They don't have cap space.

They had just over 200K to start the season with a healthy roster, which they will have soon.

 

[lexlavender]

And to be clear, most likely Juuse costs a 1st from trade, our first or second, a Kaliyev, and probably an Akil Thomas or our whatever Nash finds to be our most appealing non NHL prospect

 

[Lt Dan]

I would love Duhaine, Trenin or Greenway. Bjugstad is also a good option.

We would all love Greenway, but why would Buffalo trade him?
We also have no cap space and few assets

 

[johnjm22]

Arizona has a person that fits exactly what we need in Bjugstad. Talk about a guy that can help shutdown, McDavid and Co.

He’s a massive, right hand shot Centerman that plays the penalty kill. He is also signed one more year.

Now we know no matter what we think management is going for it I would rather have a guy that gives us two shots at something than a UFA that cost us picks we don’t have and walks.

We also have no goaltender signed for next year. Arizona is in the selling mode.

I propose Bjugstad and Vejmelka , One of them retained 50% for Lizotte, Kaliyev and Rittich. I know I’m higher than most on.Vejmelka but worst case if he is the one that celery is retained on and is our 1B or backup I think we could do a lot worse. I would also like to see him behind our more competent defense.

In Rittich's 18gp he's been one of the best goalies in the NHL. Meanwhile Vejmelka has been one of the worst goalies in the NHL.

Dave might be a career 3rd stringer, but the Kings are trying to win this season, so you go with the hot hand. Vejmelka would likely be a downgrade.

I like Bjugstad in the bottom 6 (he also plays RW).

 

[johnjm22]

BLAKE LIZOTTE:

^This is the problem with Lizotte.

Over the course of the season he takes a beating and his play declines towards the end of the year because of it. This will be the 3rd year in a row.

I feel bad about replacing him, because I love his effort, but guys like Bjugstad, Wennberg or even Turcotte might be upgrades at 4C for the playoffs.

Kings like him though, and I doubt they want to give up significant assets to improve the 4th line.

 

[funky]

In Rittich's 18gp he's been one of the best goalies in the NHL. Meanwhile Vejmelka has been one of the worst goalies in the NHL.

Dave might be a career 3rd stringer, but the Kings are trying to win this season, so you go with the hot hand. Vejmelka would likely be a downgrade.

I like Bjugstad in the bottom 6 (he also plays RW).

I understand exactly what you’re saying. I just wonder what would happen if the goalies roles were reversed, and Dave was in Phoenix and Vej was in LA . It reminds me of the Gibson and Anaheim situation.

I would imagine that the gap in the numbers would close, I just don’t know how much? Probably an experimental will never get to know.

I just hope in the playoffs that the Kings go with the hot hand and don’t try and stay with one guy like they did last year

 

[KINGS17]

It's nice to see Hiller trying some different combinations up front and on the back end. The team is responding favorably, but it is still not a contender.

 

[johnjm22]

I understand exactly what you’re saying. I just wonder what would happen if the goalies roles were reversed, and Dave was in Phoenix and Vej was in LA . It reminds me of the Gibson and Anaheim situation.

I would imagine that the gap in the numbers would close, I just don’t know how much? Probably an experimental will never get to know.

I just hope in the playoffs that the Kings go with the hot hand and don’t try and stay with one guy like they did last year

Look at how badly Vej is getting outplayed by AZ's other goalie.

It's not just the surface level trad stats that show Rittich has been way better than Vej, it's the underlying advanced stats as well.

This isn't a situation like Copely last year, where he was just playing average but winning a bunch of games. Rittich has legitimately been very solid. Will he fall apart? I don't know. But I don't think you trade a hot goalie for an ice cold one when you're headed to the playoffs. Even if said hot goalie is a career journeyman.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I just don't see the point at all in trading for a goalie that's not a straight upgrade

Even last year Korpisalo was an 'upgrade' and it didn't work

Rotating deck chairs with 1B/1C goalies in them is just a lottery coin flip hoping for lightning in a bottle that never comes

 

[unicornpig]

kings have two goalies playing well, no need to waste what little assets for a questionable upgrade. kinsg just need someone in the bottom 6 and if the blake really wants to go for it upgrade the top 6.

 

[BigKing]

Lizotte has not been the answer at 3 or 4C come playoff time: it simply doesn't work. Getting PLD could have helped him out a bit with sheltered minutes as the 4C come playoff time but PLD can't be counted on at 3C so here we are.

If they could ship him out for a decent draft pick, I'd do it. Salary is so tight on this team: they should be able to use a prospect at a lower cap hit and hope he works out next season (Turcotte, Thomas, Helenius etc.).

And I say this since moving Roy makes sense now too based on next year but they don't seem interested in that. So, like, at least do something for next season that won't hurt us this year since Lizotte is a complete negative come playoffs.

 

[theMajor]

It's nice to see Hiller trying some different combinations up front and on the back end. The team is responding favorably, but it is still not a contender.

its been so f***ing nice having a coach that isnt married to his lines, Hiller has mixed line combos up more than any coach I can remember since the TM days....

 

[Bandit]

Lizotte has not been the answer at 3 or 4C come playoff time: it simply doesn't work. Getting PLD could have helped him out a bit with sheltered minutes as the 4C come playoff time but PLD can't be counted on at 3C so here we are.

If they could ship him out for a decent draft pick, I'd do it. Salary is so tight on this team: they should be able to use a prospect at a lower cap hit and hope he works out next season (Turcotte, Thomas, Helenius etc.).

And I say this since moving Roy makes sense now too based on next year but they don't seem interested in that. So, like, at least do something for next season that won't hurt us this year since Lizotte is a complete negative come playoffs.

It’s pretty amazing that Blake is managing to pay 22ish million for 3 centers and we still have a f***ing problem at center.

 

[tny760]

vegas got mantha so thankfully we don't have to worry about that one

 

[Bandit]

vegas got mantha so thankfully we don't have to worry about that one

Moe?

 

[tigermask48]

lol Kings aren’t making any major trades.

Jon Hoven broke down the money on his latest pod. When everyone comes back, which they will, they will likely have to send down Turcotte, Clarke and even waive JAD.

Since Morevare will have to clear waivers again, they likely keep him as the one extra player.

They started the season with 21 players and will end with 21.

Kings will have to move Kayilev (which everyone is saying will be at the draft or the summer) or swap Lizotte for someone like Bjudstad or a gritty forward so they move his 1.6 million.

I love the idea that management in the first year of going for it is all "we are absolutely contenders... no, we won't ice the best roster we could because we are that bad at this salary cap thing."

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

Obviously this is super unrealistic and I know the Kings have said they like Lizotte, aren't making drastic changes, etc... But if the Kings did decide to be really active this TDL, I'd love if the focus was more on the bottom 6 (particularly the 4th line) as opposed to overpaying for big names that may end up walking in free agency.

Adding Size/toughness to the bottom 6 would be huge for the Kings. It would also free them up from the current situation (forced to play Englund since he's the only one who will drop the gloves).

Gonna get a little crazy here cuz why not.... Add Greenway (50% retained), Bjugstad (50% retained), AND Duhaime and completely reshape your 4th line to be built for the playoffs/brutal to play against. Kings could trade away guys like Grundstrom, Lizotte, and Kaliyev (rip) to help make it happen.

Greenway - Bjugstad - Duhaime would be an absolutely absurd 4th line. I was playing around in capfriendly and it may be tough to make it work even with salary retention (assuming Arvidsson returns from injury during the regular season) - In which case I'd maybe consider moving Roy/Arvidsson out as well.

Potential lines (Arvidsson cap casualty - traded for whatever picks they can get)
Byfield (6'5) - Kopitar (6'3) - Kempe (6'2)
Turcotte - PLD (6'3) - Fiala
Moore - Danault - Laferriere
Greenway (6'6) - Bjugstad (6'6) - Duhaime (6'2)

Clarke - Doughty
Gavrikov (6'3) - Roy
Anderson - Spence

Duhaime you'd probably lose to free agency but Greenway and Bjugstad would be signed for next year. Could also just target Greenway and Bjugstad and leave Lewis at 4th line RW. Maybe keep Arvidsson instead of Roy and add a guy like Edmundson as well??

Byfield (6'5) - Kopitar (6'3) - Kempe (6'2)
Fiala- Dubois (6'3) - Arvidsson
Moore - Danault - Laferriere
Greenway (6'6) - Bjugstad (6'6) - Lewis

Anderson - Doughty
Gavrikov (6'3) - Clarke
Edmundson (6'5) - Spence

Pretty sick squad tbh. You add a couple mutants to your 4th line. Add a big LHD in Edmundson. I'm just bored having fun with some ideas so spare me the "that team's never winning anything comments" lol.

 

[johnjm22]

Byfield (6'5) - Kopitar (6'3) - Kempe (6'2)
Fiala- Dubois (6'3) - Arvidsson
Moore - Danault - Laferriere
Greenway (6'6) - Bjugstad (6'6) - Lewis

Anderson - Doughty
Gavrikov (6'3) - Clarke
Edmundson (6'5) - Spence

Pretty sick squad tbh. You add a couple mutants to your 4th line. Add a big LHD in Edmundson. I'm just bored having fun with some ideas so spare me the "that team's never winning anything comments" lol.

Where's Turcotte?

Edmundson is a downgrade from Englund. Clarke is a downgrade from Roy. I don't think that D would be very good.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I hope ownership has Blake on a short leash. This is the team he was content with starting the season. See what they do in the playoffs (spoiler alert: first round loss) and address larger holes in the summer hopefully under new management.

 

[Reaper45]

I do wonder what the plan is on d considering Roy is gone this off-season and Gavrikov after next.

 

[tkb81]

wish we had some *uck around cap space to pick up gagne off the oil .. just for when we meet them in the playoffs .. hes bound for a big goal and it will stab the knife a little deeper into the oilers soul ... haha ya i may dislike the oil a bit

 

[Brownie to Pancakes]

We gotta jettison Roy at the deadline. It just makes too much sense.

RHD a position of strength
Cap relief
D and PK are strong, need offense and size/grit
He's a UFA

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I do wonder what the plan is

So does Blake.