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

[GoldenBearHockey]

If there is a five point difference and the one with five less points has five more goals but averages at least two hits a game and takes far fewer penalties then I'll take the latter.

Forgetting the hitting and other stuff, I'd take the five less points but five more goals in a vacuum. Goals are harder to accumulate than points. Because some guy picks up a bunch of Modry Points (second assists after making a simple pass to Ziggy Palffy (Fiala) who then does something amazing) doesn't mean he's the easy choice if the difference in points v. goals is close. Of course, if Bjugstad or any player in the comparison has a bunch of ENG then that would change things but, in general, more weight is given to goals.

Pretty sure that is how GMs look at these things as well when it comes to contracts. The assist doesn't happen without a goal but a goal can happen without an assist.

Meh, we differ, I want point producing players, regardless....I don't care of they score it themselves, or every assist is off their ass......points = goals....

Individually you maybe right in how GMs assess things.....but if it comes down to me choosing to pay a 50 goal 25 assist guy vs a 25 goal 75 assist man, I know who I am paying more.

 

[BigKing]

Meh, we differ, I want point producing players, regardless....I don't care of they score it themselves, or every assist is off their ass......points = goals....

Individually you maybe right in how GMs assess things.....but if it comes down to me choosing to pay a 50 goal 25 assist guy vs a 25 goal 75 assist man, I know who I am paying more.

Your 75 assist guy is still scoring 25 goals though. It is different when we are talking 10 goals/30 assists v. 25 goals/5 assists.

Even then...50 goals is a lot of goals haha.

 

[Herby]

Turcotte is finished. No point in even bring him up at this point.

JAD has played well when he’s been in but is a victim of Todd’s “wheel of shafting a rookie”.

In a vacuum I like almost every player we have but something needs to give. Danault is a 3C on a contender. Kopitar should be transitioning to 2C at this stage of his career, but that’s gonna require Byfield to step up to 1C because Vilardi clearly isn’t gonna be a c at the nhl level and there’s no one else in contention.

Moore and Iafallo are redundant and if I’m choosing I’m choosing Moore. Arvidsson needs to go to make room on the second line so Vilardi doesn’t waste away being centered by Blake f***ing lizotte. Again nothing against Lizzo. I like his game but he shouldn’t be centering our second best goal scorer.

Then there’s Kaliyev who needs offensive minutes but instead is eating Kinder Bueno in the press box. What a shit show.

And speaking of shit, there’s a ton of shit or get off the pot in this org. Either commit to some of these younger guys or trade em. All this dicking around is just gonna leave Blake holding his dick while everyone else points and laughs.

I’m not going to write off Turcotte yet. I think he could eventually end up as a better version of Lizotte. Although with as much as Lizotte gets rocked playing that role maybe I am to optimistic.

Agree on Moore and Iafallo, with the prices paid at the deadlines I really wish the Kings had moved Iafallo instead of signing him. He needs to go to free up a spot for Kaliyev and to recoup some draft capital, although they obviously won’t get what they would have gotten.

 

[Schmooley]

I’m not going to write off Turcotte yet. I think he could eventually end up as a better version of Lizotte. Although with as much as Lizotte gets rocked playing that role maybe I am to optimistic.

Agree on Moore and Iafallo, with the prices paid at the deadlines I really wish the Kings had moved Iafallo instead of signing him. He needs to go to free up a spot for Kaliyev and to recoup some draft capital, although they obviously won’t get what they would have gotten.

Yea they would have gotten a huge haul for Iafallo at that deadline before he signed. Now if you move him its probably a pair of 2nd round picks at best if a team like Buffalo needs a good two way player to stabilize a young line.

 

[King'sPawn]

I’m not going to write off Turcotte yet. I think he could eventually end up as a better version of Lizotte. Although with as much as Lizotte gets rocked playing that role maybe I am to optimistic.

Agree on Moore and Iafallo, with the prices paid at the deadlines I really wish the Kings had moved Iafallo instead of signing him. He needs to go to free up a spot for Kaliyev and to recoup some draft capital, although they obviously won’t get what they would have gotten.

My hope at this point is some journeymen and vets get moved for picks at the draft.

 

[Bandit]

I’m not going to write off Turcotte yet. I think he could eventually end up as a better version of Lizotte. Although with as much as Lizotte gets rocked playing that role maybe I am to optimistic.

Agree on Moore and Iafallo, with the prices paid at the deadlines I really wish the Kings had moved Iafallo instead of signing him. He needs to go to free up a spot for Kaliyev and to recoup some draft capital, although they obviously won’t get what they would have gotten.

I hope I’m wrong, but if Turcotte has more of an LA Kings career than Jeff Giuliano I’ll take all three of axl, gbh and deez nutz off my ignore list for at least 48 hours.

And yeah wish Walker, Arvidsson Iafallo would have been dealt.

 

[tny760]

wrong thread sorry

 

[kingskring]

 

[DapperDan]

I can't piece together a scenario where we don't dump Petersen's contract somehow in order to afford re-signing both Gavrikov and Korpisalo

 

[Statto]

I can't piece together a scenario where we don't dump Petersen's contract somehow in order to afford re-signing both Gavrikov and Korpisalo

Realistically how? Are we really giving up another 1st? A buy out makes zero sense for the cap.

It’s more realistic that they move RV and Iaffalo (or something along those lines) to find the cap space. I’m not saying that’s what they will or should do but I’m not sure how we move Cal without adding a 1st. Unless they get him a few games to show he’s still a NHL goalie…

 

[Schrute farms]

Yup, i absolutely expect Cal to contend with Copley next season for the backup goalie spot. The loser will be in Ontario with Portillo. Korpi (or someone else) will be the Kings #1.

Unless someone unexpectedly (& shockingly) wants to take Cal plus a mid rounder and/or soon to B-level prospect this summer.

 

[DapperDan]

Realistically how? Are we really giving up another 1st? A buy out makes zero sense for the cap.

It’s more realistic that they move RV and Iaffalo (or something along those lines) to find the cap space. I’m not saying that’s what they will or should do but I’m not sure how we move Cal without adding a 1st. Unless they get him a few games to show he’s still a NHL goalie…

I just can't help but feel losing both AI and RV makes us weaker next year. You need at least one to maintain veteran presence and guarantee the same level of production. Doable if Kaliyev really steps up, but for that he needs to get in games and play more minutes

 

[Seattle King]

The concern for me is Blake does not let anyone walk and he does not trade away surplus players in deals where he adds players with AAV and term.
Middle class winger contracts are one of the easiest ways team fall into Cap Hell.
Would have been smart to tuck a middle class winger contract into the Fiala trade to balance some cap.
There are a bunch of forwards ready for the bottom six and Iafallo's cap hit is just not justifiable for his deployment.
The 3rd defensive pair is not needing Walker's contract on the books when there are a variety of superior options with better AAVs.
Surplus builds, cap is tight.
Gavrikov and Korpisalo must be re-signed, they are exactly what we needed and lets build with them. $$$. Cap.
You give the quality core players AAV and term, then fill in around them with young cost-controlled talent.

 

[Surf Nutz]

Funny how just a year or two ago we seemed to have too many center prospects, Blake only drafting centers became sort of a joke.
So far none have panned out, at least not in that position, for various reasons. Right now Lizotte is the best option where he is but in a perfect world he's the motor of the fourth line.

Lizzo has continued to improve. but the playoffs will be the true test as he was not great last year.
Drafting centers and bumping them to wing if they need an easier development pathway has paid off in a big way and is phase 1.
We will see if there can be a phase 2 where some of these guys improve enough to move back to center.
Watch for other GM's to do the same, increasing the value of centers compared to wingers in the draft slightly.

Aarvidson is not the one you trade, and the other players being mentioned to replace him do not have the qualities and experience Victor does.
The second line is a big part of the Kings success, don't mess with it.
Moore may be going back with Danault anyway if Fiala is gonna be out.
A bigger center like Bjugstad would be good but that may actually be the 4th liner not Lizzo.
Lizzo is actually starting to look like a legitimate 3c but we will see how he does in the playoffs.

Not sure this is a good time to criticize Blake.
That is my only disagreement with all the above, solid comments.
A lot less idiophone players
We will see how his creation does in the playoffs.
Western Conference a pretty even battlefield.
Finishing strong may help a little bit but really the Fiala situation is huge as it reallys impacts the team depth.

Kaliyev is a very one dimensional player , which limits his adaptability compared to guys like Arv and Iaf.
That is a viscious cycle with TMac, he won't use him as much as is needed for him to heat up in goal scoring.
If he where to break through and score a bunch of goals I would be tempted to trade him.
I wouldn't consider buying Cal out unless we make WC finals or better.
Him and Alex Tm get another shot next year.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Realistically how? Are we really giving up another 1st? A buy out makes zero sense for the cap.

It’s more realistic that they move RV and Iaffalo (or something along those lines) to find the cap space. I’m not saying that’s what they will or should do but I’m not sure how we move Cal without adding a 1st. Unless they get him a few games to show he’s still a NHL goalie…

You 100% add a 1st, you lottery protect if you want, but you add a 1st and a prospect if you need to.....Kings are in win now mode....their window is open as long as Kopitar is producing the way he is.....so you absolutely have to maximize that...that first in 2024......might start to show benefits in 2028-2029....(chances are it being a low first is really really good) by that time....who knows what the landscape will look like

 

[Statto]

I just can't help but feel losing both AI and RV makes us weaker next year. You need at least one to maintain veteran presence and guarantee the same level of production. Doable if Kaliyev really steps up, but for that he needs to get in games and play more minutes

I don’t disagree. Lots of ifs and buts in play. I just don’t know how they can handle the cap.

 

[Statto]

You 100% add a 1st, you lottery protect if you want, but you add a 1st and a prospect if you need to.....Kings are in win now mode....their window is open as long as Kopitar is producing the way he is.....so you absolutely have to maximize that...that first in 2024......might start to show benefits in 2028-2029....(chances are it being a low first is really really good) by that time....who knows what the landscape will look like

It may well come to that. I guess if they go for it once they decide the window is shut then there will be enough high value assets to potentially regain some if not all of the lost draft capital. Hypothetically trade Fiala, Kempe, AI, RV whilst keeping the younger guys. You’d be able to retool/rebuild pretty quickly acquiring younger assets and picks. I dunno, a lot will depend on this years play-offs. I’m thinking this through as I type as I’m too busy to think first. Lol.

Edit: Don’t take me literally on who to trade… just a hypothetical.

 

[Surf Nutz]

My hope at this point is some journeymen and vets get moved for picks at the draft.

Maybe one or two but not much gong into the final year of Kopi's contract until we see how things shake out next season.
Also it is not Blake's style

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

It may well come to that. I guess if they go for it once they decide the window is shut then there will be enough high value assets to potentially regain some if not all of the lost draft capital. Hypothetically trade Fiala, Kempe, AI, RV whilst keeping the younger guys. You’d be able to retool/rebuild pretty quickly acquiring younger assets and picks. I dunno, a lot will depend on this years play-offs. I’m thinking this through as I type as I’m too busy to think first. Lol.

Edit: Don’t take me literally on who to trade… just a hypothetical.

OMG WTF would you trade Fi...oh...oh wait..hypothetical??? LOL

No, I get your point, I think they need to trade AI this off-season....I don't mind him...but that cap hit, needs to be on Gavirkov, not him.....and you can replace him with a JAD.....

 

[KopitarFAN]

I don’t disagree. Lots of ifs and buts in play. I just don’t know how they can handle the cap.

Exactly right. A decent chuck of money is gonna have to go, if they have any desire of keeping Gavrikov (much less upgrading the other LHD), keeping the current tandem in-tact (or something similar) and sign the RFAs (mostly Vilardi), that's an easy ~$10M+ that has to go out the door.

Arvidsson would probably be highly sought after relative to what's on the UFA market, Walker might be as well, that RHD class.......woof.

 

[David Lunch]

If there is a five point difference and the one with five less points has five more goals but averages at least two hits a game and takes far fewer penalties then I'll take the latter.

Forgetting the hitting and other stuff, I'd take the five less points but five more goals in a vacuum. Goals are harder to accumulate than points. Because some guy picks up a bunch of Modry Points (second assists after making a simple pass to Ziggy Palffy (Fiala) who then does something amazing) doesn't mean he's the easy choice if the difference in points v. goals is close. Of course, if Bjugstad or any player in the comparison has a bunch of ENG then that would change things but, in general, more weight is given to goals.

Pretty sure that is how GMs look at these things as well when it comes to contracts. The assist doesn't happen without a goal but a goal can happen without an assist.

Hahaha, I LOVE the term “Modry points”. The other method he liked to use was taking a slap shot, missing the net, someone (/Smolinski or Stumpel) grabbing the loose puck and dishing it to Palffy cross crease who roofs it home

 

[BigKing]

Hahaha, I LOVE the term “Modry points”. The other method he liked to use was taking a slap shot, missing the net, someone (/Smolinski or Stumpel) grabbing the loose puck and dishing it to Palffy cross crease who roofs it home

When I first got season seats in 2001-02, I quickly became known as the "Modry Sucks" guy in Section 306. I legit woke up in the middle of night that season like I had a nightmare and my girlfriend at the time said I was mumbling "Modry is an all-star".

 

[AbsentMojo]

I don’t disagree. Lots of ifs and buts in play. I just don’t know how they can handle the cap.

The Cap space as it stands today (7mil) is close to where it will be in the summer - save Phaneuf off the books an extra mil = 8 mil. That cap is projected to go up 1mil.. so 9mil. Priority signings and estimated amounts (im sure someone else can improve the guesses): Vilardi (4-5mil 5 years) hard to estimate him his stock is rising, but 1/2 a year isnt enough to get big money, Gavrikov (4.5-6mil 5 years) he has leverage being UFA, Korpisalo (2-4mil 2 years), I doubt they will make a big commitment based on 1/3 of a season but we will see.. Kupari 1mil.. then there are several expiring ELCs Bjornfot, Fagemo, Thomas, etc. Lets say you keep 2 at a cost of ~1.5 mil. The sum range of salary is 13mil to 17.5mil - 9mil = need 4 to 8.5mil in extra space. AI bye bye, Walker bye bye - those are easy decisions and gets you 6.5 mil. If you need more you move Durzi 1.7mi (this really shouldnt be optional). That should be enough to get everyone on board.

 

[Fishhead]

Our cap is actually at 8 mil even with the extra million due to the Copley extension.

Gavrikov won't stay for 5 years, he's gonna want 7.

The wild card in all this is the escrow. If that gets paid off, retaining everyone isn't too difficult. It really depends on how revenues are in the playoffs. The best chance of that happening is having fewer Canadian teams make it or hoping they lose in the first round. The exchange rate will have an impact for sure. If it doesn't get paid off, it will be for sure by next season. One option is to do a one year with Vilardi, then do a longer term next year when there is more wiggle room.

Personally, I get assets back for both Walker and Durzi and roll Bjornfot, Spence, and Clarke on the roster. Cal also has to go, don't care if a first is attached. It's a gamble, but if things work out that first will be pretty low anyways.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Like someone else said, I wouldn't mess w/Cal next year unless there is absolutely no way around it (ie big deals for Vilardi and/or Gavrikov). Not worth giving up a 1st. Can buy out next year if it's still truly terrible. Should be some ELCs in play as well. It's a one-year issue since the following year a lot of cap comes off and the buyout would be insanely cheap in comparison. That would be like throwing a 1st for one year of 'rental' cap space since you'd have to replace him anyway.