Speculation: LA Kings News, Rumors, Roster Thread 2022-23 Season Part 2

[Piston]

I agree with the Moore contract.

I am not worried about the first. It would’ve been a later first and our prospect pool is still stuffed and next year we’re gonna have a hard time fitting bodies onto the team.

We use the first to grab the exact type of Defenceman we need and a very solid goalie that we should be able to re-sign.

It gives our management an extended look at the player, which might be the tipping factor of extending him to a long-term contract.

It also allows the player to get used to Los Angeles, have his family get used to Los Angeles, and to this point solidify, our defense, making us a very heavy playoff contender.

The guy didn’t win a whole lot in Columbus, gets to wake up almost every day near the ocean with a team that seems to be taking care of his family and committed to winning. This is things he would not have had known about prior to coming to Los Angeles for this cup run.

I think by gambling on the first rounder to introduce player to team, team to player, and player to city is a very logical gamble. Now it’s time for Blake to get a signature on the dotted line.

Plus, the guy just seems like an all out gem on and off the ice and seem to have transitioned into a dressing room with ease.

I guess if we re-sign neither it was a gamble we lose, if we re-sign one of them it looks OK and if I re-sign both of them it looks like her all out steal.

Great post. It would have been a long shot to sign Gavrikov as a UFA. Now, him and his family get to see if they like it here, and VG undoubtedly sees all the young talent in the organization which has a chance to be competitive for many seasons. That never would have happened if we didn't trade for him. I bet we have a better than even chance of resigning him. Korpisalo, on the other hand, would appear to be a slam dunk. This is a chance for him to be a #1 goalie, a spot that is not open on most teams in the NHL. Plus, he is playing in front of a suffocating defense. I'd be shocked if we don't get him to sign.

 

[Johnny Utah]

The issue with Korpisalo is that the Kings have been tied to Demko for awhile now and Vancouver might move him in the off season.

Of course I want this team to win, but if we early lose in the playoffs, it will likely because of toughness, the lack of real 3C with size, and legit 3rd pairing LHD. I also wouldn’t be surprised if some of the Kings younger players melt down in the playoffs again and find themselves in the press box.

Blake will then be forced to address these issues in the off season. He won’t have the Fiala deal to hide behind the fact he did nothing last summer.

We all knew Edler was done, Kings needed a second pairing LHD with size and skill, that Byfield wouldn’t likely steal the 3C spot after literally getting knocked out the playoffs, and the Kings were small and got run by Edmonton. He did nothing to address those issues. Also, the fact the Kings have too many small 10-15 goal scoring forwards making 4 million. He needs to make room for Fagemo and so Kayilev can move up and leave room for real 4th line players like ZM and Grundstrom.

In the off-season Blake needs to look to adding players like Bertuzzi, Domi, Miles Wood, either Ritchie brother, etc.

On D, he needs to look at Soucey, Cole, etc - whether they sign Gavrikov or not.

 

[Surf Nutz]

Coo

My calculation included all signed contracts so yes it included Anderson and Moore's new contract numbers.

Cool!

 

[Sol]

If Blake signs edler again I will personally kick his booty

 

[kilowatt]

Well I think we all thought we only needed one LHD when we assumed this would finally be the year that Bjornfot stepped back into the line up. I guess they don't like what they see in him right now though. I've been wrong in the past about keeping guys down as long as possible (see: Vilardi), so maybe next year is Bjornfot's year.

Anderson - Doughty
Gavrikov - Clarke
Bjornfot - Roy

 

[Docgonzo]

If Bjornfot actually gets to play next season and really progresses, maybe the let Roy walk after next season and roll.

Anderson-Doughty
Gavrikov-Clarke
Bjornfot-Spence.

Also requires Gavrikov re-signed.

 

[Statto]

That indecisiveness to fix the LHD cost the Kings a first round pick. We all knew the LHD problem along with surplus of RHD that were available to trade. Who knows, maybe we could have traded Durzi for Soucy? I know Dean made plenty of mistakes during his time of GM, but he at least took a surplus trading piece (Johnson) and moved it for a forward we needed. With Voynov in the wings we made room for the superior player.

We know Blake acquired Fiala for a RHD + 1st, but we could have gone a step further.

Did it cost a 1st? The price for Gavrikov (or other suitable targets) may have been higher earlier in the season, we just do not know. What we do know is that any target would have cost something, they certainly wouldn’t have been free. Hey, I wanted it fixed sooner like everybody but we just don’t know how an earlier signing plays out.

What we do know is that we have a stud LHD, that seems to be a perfect fit. For what we are getting out of him currently it’s definitely market value. If we have a deep play-off run and/or re-sign him then it’s a good deal.

We have no idea what other teams think of Durzi, given most of us think he’s a tyre fire on D you have to assume other teams have probably noticed. Maybe the price was Durzi + a 1st for Soucy, we just don’t know. Maybe Gavrikov was always the target and Blake waited until CBJ dropped the ask, we just don’t know that either. However if he was always ‘the guy’ and Blake had to wait for him, given how he’s fitted in I can live with waiting. Hopefully the outcomes make giving up the 1st worthwhile.

 

[Sol]

If Bjornfot actually gets to play next season and really progresses, maybe the let Roy walk after next season and roll.

Anderson-Doughty
Gavrikov-Clarke
Bjornfot-Spence.

Also requires Gavrikov re-signed.

In a perfect world Blake trades Doughty because he’s in the twilight of his career.

Anderson-Clarke
Gavrikov-Roy
Bjornfot-Spence

 

[Sleeping Dog]

In a perfect world Blake trades Doughty because he’s in the twilight of his career.

Anderson-Clarke
Gavrikov-Roy
Bjornfot-Spence

Say what you want about DD, if they trade him now, the Kings get much weaker on defense and would struggle to get the puck out of our end. Expecting Clarke to step into top pairing D is very risky.
It is doubtful that Drew goes anywhere, so just sit back and enjoy the best defenseman the Kings have ever had. Is he the same player from 2012-2014? No, but he still can help control a game by playing over 26 mins a game.

 

[BringTheReign]

In a perfect world Blake trades Doughty because he’s in the twilight of his career.

Anderson-Clarke
Gavrikov-Roy
Bjornfot-Spence

I'd like to say that no one is safe after seeing Quick traded, but there's a world of difference between Kopitar and Doughty's current play and Quick's. The former two are still, at worst, league average 1C and 1D. This team is now built on depth over elite contributors, but they've both shown this season that they're still able to lead the charge.

 

[FSL KINGS]

The silver lining is bumping into the salary cap will necessitate more ELC's on the NHL roster!

(Or over the hill vets on 1M contracts)

 

[KingsFan7824]

That indecisiveness to fix the LHD cost the Kings a first round pick. We all knew the LHD problem along with surplus of RHD that were available to trade. Who knows, maybe we could have traded Durzi for Soucy? I know Dean made plenty of mistakes during his time of GM, but he at least took a surplus trading piece (Johnson) and moved it for a forward we needed. With Voynov in the wings we made room for the superior player.

We know Blake acquired Fiala for a RHD + 1st, but we could have gone a step further.

You can't make up trades in your head, and then get mad at an actual GM when they don't happen.

Johnson was not seen as a surplus trading piece. He played every game and was 2nd to Doughty in ice time that year. Considering the defense DL went with in 2014, it's very possible he would've been more than ok going with the 7 D he had in 2012 before the Carter deal. A deal that was likely done only in response to both Gagne and Penner crapping the bed either through injury or non-production. Had those 2 been in the lineup and/or scoring, there's no reason the Carter deal happens.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

You can't make up trades in your head, and then get mad at an actual GM when they don't happen.

But what else would someone do when they are glued to a message board and keyboard 24/7.?

It’s really fun to pretend you are smarter than the people who actually get paid to do the job you are criticizing.

 

[Schrute farms]

We give Blake credit for getting the big LHD and a goalie in the TDL -- to fill the two glaring weaknesses. Great move so far. Yes, what happens in playoffs and signing this summer will go a long ways in evaluating this trade. But he filled those two spots and they are rolling. Time will tell if the 3rd big hole (size/toughness) that hasn't been addressed will pop its head up in the playoffs and be their downfall.

However, let's not lose sight of the fact that these two holes have been long an obvious issue for this team -- years. He's had plenty of time to fix/fill these holes in the past two+ seasons either via trades, draft or FA. Nothing has been done. Picking up Copley last year was a lucky found $100 bill -- nobody expected him to be a decent NHL goalie. To call him a journeyman/JAG is being generous. So it's hard for me to give a guy praise for fixing a problem that he created himself and was so obvious. It's like calling a guy a hero for taking someone to the hospital to save his life after stabbing them -- sure, thanks but how about you don't stab him in the first place huh?

 

[Schrute farms]

But what else would someone do when they are glued to a message board and keyboard 24/7.?

It’s really fun to pretend you are smarter than the people who actually get paid to do the job you are criticizing.

Sometimes i feel like you just got transferred here from 100 years ago in the past (or been frozen) and it's your first time going on the internet seeing a sports fan board. Your description above is pretty much 100% what all fan boards are. IMO, this Kings board is pretty mild and relative common sense -- compared to say the HF main boards. Have you ever seen other fan boards like college football, NFL, NBA, etc.?

 

[Kurrilino]

Taking less than Iafallo or Moore? No way Vilardi goes for less than 4.

Arvidson and Iafallo have to go as a bare minimum and Vilardi deserves his 5-6 mill long term

 

[Sol]

I'd like to say that no one is safe after seeing Quick traded, but there's a world of difference between Kopitar and Doughty's current play and Quick's. The former two are still, at worst, league average 1C and 1D. This team is now built on depth over elite contributors, but they've both shown this season that they're still able to lead the charge.

I personally think if I have to move a RD spot and my choice is between Roy and drew I’d move drew. He’s at that age where he can completely collapse randomly. And Roy is just way too god to lose.

 

[tny760]

Arvidson and Iafallo have to go as a bare minimum and Vilardi deserves his 5-6 mill long term

agreed about arvidsson and iafallo but i can't see vilardi pulling 5-6. kempe only pulled 5.5 for 4yrs as a more proven product. gabe's got a killer shot but he's shooting nearly 20% right now, that's gonna come back down to earth. i'd be ecstatic if they could lock him up for maybe 5-6 years at say, 4.5-5M though. probably wouldn't hurt too bad if the cap goes up as expected

 

[Brownie to Pancakes]

It’s really fun to pretend you are smarter than the people who actually get paid to do the job you are criticizing.

You do realize that all the worst trades in sports history were made by people paid to do those jobs?

 

[Fishhead]

I personally think if I have to move a RD spot and my choice is between Roy and drew I’d move drew. He’s at that age where he can completely collapse randomly. And Roy is just way too god to lose.

He sure looks like it lately. What does he have, 2g 4a and a +8 in his last 10 games? By the end of the season, he will have had his 3rd highest-scoring season ever.

You can see how much better he's been since Gavi was brought in. Once the defense is cleaned up a little more with Edler and Walker gone Drew is going to have less on his plate and be even better. I wouldn't move him or Roy, there is no need.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

We give Blake credit for getting the big LHD and a goalie in the TDL -- to fill the two glaring weaknesses. Great move so far. Yes, what happens in playoffs and signing this summer will go a long ways in evaluating this trade. But he filled those two spots and they are rolling. Time will tell if the 3rd big hole (size/toughness) that hasn't been addressed will pop its head up in the playoffs and be their downfall.

However, let's not lose sight of the fact that these two holes have been long an obvious issue for this team -- years. He's had plenty of time to fix/fill these holes in the past two+ seasons either via trades, draft or FA. Nothing has been done. Picking up Copley last year was a lucky found $100 bill -- nobody expected him to be a decent NHL goalie. To call him a journeyman/JAG is being generous. So it's hard for me to give a guy praise for fixing a problem that he created himself and was so obvious. It's like calling a guy a hero for taking someone to the hospital to save his life after stabbing them -- sure, thanks but how about you don't stab him in the first place huh?

Again with this bullshit...years??? Really....YEARS? I made a post about this where Blake has drafted 7 LD, 5 G, etc since being named GM....that's 12 players to fill the holes we've apparently had for YEARS......considering most teams average drafting about 5-6 players a year (sometimes 9 sometimes 4 etc, and no I didn't do research on it, but when you draft 40% to fill supposed holes for YEARS....

I mean holy f***...no one is saying Blake is perfect....he's not, but to say he created a goalie hole because Peterson's play went off a f***ing cliff, and the one idiot started beating on people....is like saying Lombardi created a D problem because Voynov did what he did....are you prepared to say that?

 

[Sol]

He sure looks like it lately. What does he have, 2g 4a and a +8 in his last 10 games? By the end of the season, he will have had his 3rd highest-scoring season ever.

You can see how much better he's been since Gavi was brought in. Once the defense is cleaned up a little more with Edler and Walker gone Drew is going to have less on his plate and be even better. I wouldn't move him or Roy, there is no need.

You kinda should move one or the other to make space for Clarke. Bringing Clarke into the lineup is more important than what happens to either Doughty or Roy. So if I had to choose, it’d be Doughty that gets moved. He’s at the age where his next season can be atrocious and he hasn’t even looked that good at all this year.

 

[YAYSAY]

You do realize that all the worst trades in sports history were made by people paid to do those jobs?

There was likely another version of Axl on the Flyers board being like "You think you know better than Fletcher?"

 

[Johnny Utah]

Fans are wanting an small Smurf defense of Clarke, Doughty, Anderson, Durzi and Spence.

Watching the Oilers and they have Nurse, Kane, Kostin, Bjugstad, Desharnais - we are screwed. These are big players - both at D and forward and they play tough unlike Edler or Gavrikov.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Fans are wanting an small Smurf defense of Clarke, Doughty, Anderson, Durzi and Spence.

Watching the Oilers and they have Nurse, Kane, Kostin, Desharnais - we are screwed. These are big players.

And only one of them is any good...what good is being big if you f***ing suck at playing the game?