Confirmed with Link: LA Kings @LAKings Welcome to Los Angeles, Phillip Danault!

[Reclamation Project]

I've rarely seen anyone even pencil him into a lineup, honestly.

I'm pretty sure we're all on the same page, low expectations, could be decent lottery ticket, low risk, medium-high reward.

I definitely would. Throw him in the top 6 next to Danault and see what he can do. .8 PPG the last 2 seasons in the KHL is pretty damn good. Was also over a PPG player in the QMJHL a few years ago.

Athanasiou - Danault - Tkachev would be my second line. Pair Danault, a 5 on 5 beast, with our best 5 on 5 scorer last season.

 

[Trash Panda]

I definitely would. Throw him in the top 6 next to Danault and see what he can do. .8 PPG the last 2 seasons in the KHL is pretty damn good. Was also over a PPG player in the QMJHL a few years ago.

Athanasiou - Danault - Tkachev would be my second line. Pair Danault, a 5 on 5 beast, with our best 5 on 5 scorer last season.

KHL success is great, but it’s a rare translation to NHL equivalent success. Remember the last PPG guy we lured out of Russia?

Tkachev is a low dollar lottery ticket, and I’m fine with that, but he absolutely needs to earn a spot before being penciled in, especially next to our best defensive-oriented center. IMO.

 

[TruKingFan]

People are really going to need to throttle back expectations for this guy.

Just because he has an exotic Russian name, it doesn’t mean he is going to be anything more than he actually is:

A b-level option to fill a spot in the middle six.

I dont think anybody has any "expectations" heck 99% on this board have never heard of this guy. He did sign and wants to compete in training camp. Good enough for most.

 

[Rorschach]

Anyone else find it interesting that Saad cost a lot less than Danault?

 

[Trash Panda]

I dont think anybody has any "expectations" heck 99% on this board have never heard of this guy. He did sign and wants to compete in training camp. Good enough for most.

Agreed.

Good enough for most, not good enough for a penciled in NHL roster spot.

 

[Kurrilino]

Agreed.

Good enough for most, not good enough for a penciled in NHL roster spot.

His opposition will be Wagner, Lizotte, Lemieux, Luff and Dolan.
If he can't make the team, NHL is not for him

 

[KingsFan7824]

Anyone else find it interesting that Saad cost a lot less than Danault?

C vs. W

 

[DapperDan]

His opposition will be Wagner, Lizotte, Lemieux, Luff and Dolan.
If he can't make the team, NHL is not for him

No, his opposition is Iafallo, Arvidsson, Kempe, Brown, AA, Vilardi.... He's not a bottom 6 forward. If he can't bump down one of those guys, he's going back to the KHL.

 

[johnjm22]

We needed new voices in the room, new leaders. Danault, Arvidsson bring it on the ice and are class acts. In Danault's case he seems like a glue guy that keeps the locker room loose. Claude Julien loved him. Maybe overplayed him at times especially in OT 3-3 but both are coaches type of players. Both were first line players.

Biggest positive I see. It eases prospects in the lineup and most will either play with Kopitar or Danault so they can learn the 2 way game without hopefully sacrificing their offensive talent.

He clearly has a sense of humor and likes to have fun. I know it sounds like something that shouldn't matter, but everyone on the kings has looked dower and miserable the last few years, so I like the idea of injecting PD's personality into the mix.

 

[Mats26]

His opposition will be Wagner, Lizotte, Lemieux, Luff and Dolan.
If he can't make the team, NHL is not for him

Luff is in Nashville, doubt he is in competition for any spot on the Kings.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Anyone else find it interesting that Saad cost a lot less than Danault?

Saad is on a good deal, maybe a year too long, as a W with a decent two-way game...Danault was the 'big fish' of FA and an all-situations center leaning D. I'm not sure I'd call it a LOT less, but I do think he was maybe comparatively overlooked.

 

[Rorschach]

C vs. W

I’m not debating the value, I just find it interesting Blake went with the more expensive asset.

 

[DoktorJeep]

I’m not debating the value, I just find it interesting Blake went with the more expensive asset.

Don’t overlook the chat Luc had with Phillip en francais. I doubt Saad has a second language skill.

 

[yankeeking]

I’m not debating the value, I just find it interesting Blake went with the more expensive asset.

i think he is the best option of the two for us, if he plays the way he has for the next few years it insulated the kids and only has a four year no movement we can move him if necessary, we should be into our window by then or starting a rebuil again lol

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I guess the bonus for us is we're sure to get MTL visitors this year as apparently Danault kicked many of their puppies on the way out the door, christ

I know we were upset when Williams Mitchell et al left but I'm 99% sure we didn't talk about what terribly deficient players they were...

 

[Mats26]

We heard from the Wings fans that said AA can't play defense, now we are going through the same thing with Habs fans saying Danault can't play offense. To be fair, it's a few clowns on the main boards, everything I read outside these boards thinks this is a major loss for them Habs. I do like to see how players fair on our roster before judging. AA was not bad at all, considering the feedback we got that he will cost us games every night...lol

We also need to realize is that these are not the final pieces, trades and signings will happen in the next year or 2 that will shape the team into contention. Next year we'll have more prospects ready for NHL action and ~30 million to play with. The big 3 positions for centers are already taken care of and a surplus of prospects for 4th line C in JAD\Helenius\Thomas etc... We could now focus on Wingers, D men, adding Grit, Goalie etc...

 

[Ghetty Green]

People are really going to need to throttle back expectations for this guy.

Just because he has an exotic Russian name, it doesn’t mean he is going to be anything more than he actually is:

A b-level option to fill a spot in the middle six.

Lol easy did Tkachev take your woman or something?

 

[Trash Panda]

Lol easy did Tkachev take your woman or something?

Tell me you’re not capable of having a rational discussion, without telling me you’re not capable of having a rational discussion.

 

[TruKingFan]

Tell me you’re not capable of having a rational discussion, without telling me you’re not capable of having a rational discussion.

Take a chill pill bruh.

 

[Maynard]

Tell me you’re not capable of having a rational discussion, without telling me you’re not capable of having a rational discussion.

It’s a reasonable question. You’d be much more likely to speak ill of Tkachev on a message board if he had in fact, taken your woman.

 

[Trash Panda]

It’s a reasonable question. You’d be much more likely to speak ill of Tkachev on a message board if he had in fact, taken your woman.

Suppose I can’t argue that type of logic.

The real beef is certainly for the main board.

 

[Lt Dan]

People are really going to need to throttle back expectations for this guy.

Just because he has an exotic Russian name, it doesn’t mean he is going to be anything more than he actually is:

A b-level option to fill a spot in the middle six.

and I am sorry that he took your woman

 

[Reclamation Project]

One stat that Danault will improve dramatically -

Last season Kopitar took 1154 face offs, second behind him was Vilardi at only 634. Get Kopitar below 900.

 

[cyclones22]

One stat that Danault will improve dramatically -

Last season Kopitar took 1154 face offs, second behind him was Vilardi at only 634. Get Kopitar below 900.

Subtract about 100 draws on the PK alone would be nice.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Subtract about 100 draws on the PK alone would be nice.

Seemed like Danault took (and mostly won) every defensive zone draw against Vegas and TB!