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

[Gjwrams]

You're being deliberately obtuse.

His inability to do things before is making them more expensive and risky now--to the extent that we may have the same problems this offseason for the third year running and with fewer assets to address them with. Simple enough?

 

[AbsentMojo]

Not in my opinion, no. 1st round picks are too valuable to spend on “maybes”.

There is something to be said for 'kick the tires first' having value - also to recognize part of the cost was to have them take on JQ contract to make the roster and money work. That said, I agree 1st in this draft is giving up a lot... Im personally ambivalent about it. We're all happy now to have shored up the G and part of the D for this season.. but it is quite risky and seemingly totally avoidable.

 

[Little Psycho]

Our roster will never be healthy by playoffs

 

[Surf Nutz]

Abs

You are over analyzing my response lol. I was being a bit tongue-in-cheek. A spare tire is in the actual car. That would be the backup #2 goalie since he's with the team. Copley (i.e., #3) wasn't with the NHL team and is down on the farm in Ontario. Hence being a backup spare sitting in the garage analogy.

Anyway, it's all a bit silly. Point is, when they signed Copley, he was done so for Ontario and organizational depth. There was no foresight that he would be a viable NHL goaltender for a playoff team -- not to mention needed by the Kings when you have Quick/Petersen. Saying so is giving WAY too much credit to the FO. But hey, if you want to do that, then you need to give them hell for: signing Cal, going into the season with Cal/Quick, not properly addressing organizational goalie needs the past few years and spending big draft capital on a pending FA #1 goalie. You can't have it both ways.

Absolutely incorrect as was explained to you very graciously by Jesse.

In ice hockey injuries happen frequently, some times multiple to more than one player that plays the same position.

Teams use a depth chart that starts with players on the Kings, goes to players in the AHL and then even down to players in the ECHL.

Blake, especially hoards as much depth as possible and it often frustrates posters here, who do not understand that this is a major reason that younger players are, kept on lower lines, scratched or kept in the AHL.

I am not sure why you give a talented front office so little credit and act like Blake is Helen Keller.

Copley was for sure signed to be next up to the NHL if there was problems with Cal and or Quick ,again, as Jesse tried to explain to you.

And that is exactly what happend and Copley came up , and saved the season.

All thanks to the front office and their depth chart which I am sure every team has.

Your insistence that you know better, in the face of of someone that works for the team taking the time to educate you is simply one of the most obnoxious things I have seen on this board,

 

[Sol]

If Vilardi misses the playoffs that’s more than enough reason for the Kings to lose. Dudes been insane.

 

[Surf Nutz]

No, I'm not rating Blake's performance as a GM until he gets fired. I'm also not criticizing moves that I don't know existed or didn't exist.

Did Blake have a chance to get _____? If he did, what did he offer in return? Did the other team want what was offered? If it's a free agent, what's the contract? Were they interested in signing in LA? What would it have taken to get them? If I can't answer these questions with real names and numbers, what am I criticizing? I can't throw a random name into the blank space and then work out an entire theory.

They should've gotten Soucey before the season. The first thing I think of if someone says that is, is he even available to get? If he's not, then there's nothing to think or talk.about. if he is, I need to know A to Z how the deal happens. If someone says well.just trade _____ for him, that does nothing for me. I don't know what Seattle wants for him, and I'm not going to assume the answer is Walker or Durzi.

You are too sane and logical to try to go up against these posters.
But I enjoy your posts.
Thank you

 

[johnjm22]

Hard to imagine the Kings making any kind of deep playoff run with these injuries.

 

[Sol]

You are too sane and logical to try to go up against these posters.
But I enjoy your posts.
Thank you

I like how one of the least sane posters on here is praising someone else for being sane. Pretty poetic tbh.

The guy you’re praising is conflating “not knowing the full scope of things” as his descriptor to take any heat off Blake because “we don’t know”


There’s many aspects of this team that doesn’t require context. Blake has failed verifiably some regards and you guys are acting like it’s up for debate lmfao

Absolute insanity.

 

[Surf Nutz]

I'll speak for me and me alone.

I feel like this was a long term need and wasn't adequately addressed before the season, costing Blake assets and risk before the window is open.

There are two win conditions for this trade for me:
1. Kings win the Cup, or
2. Either Gavrikov or Korpisalo are retained for reasonable deals and their play keeps up.

My main beef with it is once you start burning firsts, you're signalling you're a window open team. It took teams like TO, TBL, Edmonton quite some time into their window-open phases before they started spending those on rentals, frankly.

But my bigger beef is if this team doesn't go beyond the first round and both those guys walk, you've burned your last two firsts and have the exact same problem quite a few of us have been harping on for several years now. For a guy as typically patient and conservative as Blake, this looks relatively panicky/hasty given both the rental risks (hell, Gavrikov speaking openly about wanting to test the market for a long-term deal) and the opportunity cost.

For me, making the second round will been enough considering the teams in the Pacific and the west are playing some of the best pre-playoff hockey.
Its gonna be a dog fight, or a canine riot!
I am ok if he just retains Korpi, because I do not think he will be able to afford Korpi and others he needs to resign.
I respect you opinions but you are almost demanding the impossible here.
Also going back to the beginning of the year is hindsight so that is not fair.
Anticipating Cal to hit rock bottom and Quick to go to hell in a hand basket after how he played in last season playoffs would be borderline psychic.
I am aware you have been complaining about these things for a while so you do have good insight.
But look at the Kings record since the deadline, how Korpi and Gavri have played.
Kopitar and the boys have been playing their hearts out for the most part.
He was not panicking, he is rewarding them by going for it now.
Something else I really like, because Kopi contract expires next season.
I agree with what you say about 1st round pick but Kopi and the boys deserve a bolstered shot and that overrides.
Whatever happens the Kings have won enough to be a good team for all we have in the pipeline to come into and learn how to at least be a dark horse contender.
Thank you

Not in my opinion, no. 1st round picks are too valuable to spend on “maybes”.

Not many teams win the cup without giving up a 1s to bolster or the equivalent.

 

[Bandit]

Vilardi and Anderson injuries f***ing suck. No other way to say it.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Vilardi and Anderson injuries f***ing suck. No other way to say it.

It's 2022 again...

 

[johnjm22]

Vilardi and Anderson injuries f***ing suck. No other way to say it.

And Fiala.

And I'm pretty sure Moore isn't 100% also.

 

[Surf Nutz]

I like how one of the least sane posters on here is praising someone else for being sane. Pretty poetic tbh.

The guy you’re praising is conflating “not knowing the full scope of things” as his descriptor to take any heat off Blake because “we don’t know”


There’s many aspects of this team that doesn’t require context. Blake has failed verifiably some regards and you guys are acting like it’s up for debate lmfao

Absolute insanity.

I don't think he is trying to take any heat off Blake.

Not knowing the full picture, is a huge mitigating factor in any argument.

THings are not really verifiable if you do not have the entire picture.

Debating things while acknowledging you do not have the full picture is fine

Acting like you have used the scientific method to prove something with certainty is not.

Thank you for complementing my "poetry."

Remember we all have our perception of reality and yours is not the only one.

 

[tny760]

"From the sounds of things, not expecting Gabe Vilardi to return very soon."

how characteristically vague

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

For me, making the second round will been enough considering the teams in the Pacific and the west are playing some of the best pre-playoff hockey.
Its gonna be a dog fight, or a canine riot!
I am ok if he just retains Korpi, because I do not think he will be able to afford Korpi and others he needs to resign.
I respect you opinions but you are almost demanding the impossible here.
Also going back to the beginning of the year is hindsight so that is not fair.
Anticipating Cal to hit rock bottom and Quick to go to hell in a hand basket after how he played in last season playoffs would be borderline psychic.
I am aware you have been complaining about these things for a while so you do have good insight.
But look at the Kings record since the deadline, how Korpi and Gavri have played.
Kopitar and the boys have been playing their hearts out for the most part.
He was not panicking, he is rewarding them by going for it now.
Something else I really like, because Kopi contract expires next season.
I agree with what you say about 1st round pick but Kopi and the boys deserve a bolstered shot and that overrides.
Whatever happens the Kings have won enough to be a good team for all we have in the pipeline to come into and learn how to at least be a dark horse contender.
Thank you


Not many teams win the cup without giving up a 1s to bolster or the equivalent.

The thing is--no one is saying there is ONE path and everything else is wrong.

All i said going into the year was almost verbatim--we are one injury away from a goalie who hasn't played an NHL season in the 2020s from taking the reigns. no, we didn't anticipate Cal's fall or Quick's fade-but it's the same function. We DID say hey--the goaltending pipeline is a problem, I don't have faith in Villalta --> the NHL, Parik is with another org this year--it seems like the strategy is pray, can we do something about this? And look where we went.

Many of us said going into the year that the LHD plan seems to be "pray for Mikey's health" and Edler's resurgence because they immediately buried Bjornfot and we saw post-injury Edler. Can we do something about this? And look where we went.

I'm not surrounded by millionaire advisors and apparently I can predict the impossible. I'd like to saddle the guys that ARE surrounded by infinite support with the responsibility of SOME foresight---they don't have to anticipate injuries but they DO have to anticipate tapping into the pipeline beyond the immediate 23 guys. They didn't for several years, and it's cost us a 1st round pick. This has nothing to do with "hindsight is 2020;" I and at least a couple of others have been LOUD about these issues since at least the previous offseason, and I feel like it would be hard to pretend I haven't since I went from being accused of being a doe-eyed homer to the worst pessimist in the world over it.

I appreciate very much that Blake doesn't subscribe to sunk cost fallacy, there's no ego there, he's admitting mistakes when he makes those moves--but he's making a LOT of mistakes and they're getting expensive. And to be fair as mentioned before the results of this still have to play out--but it's an uncharacteristic gamble based on previous inactions.

 

[All The Kings Men]

Your insistence that you know better, in the face of of someone that works for the team taking the time to educate you is simply one of the most obnoxious things I have seen on this board,

While I appreciate the kind words... my employment should have nothing to do with my arguments.

I'm capable of being just as wrong as anybody else, and have been loudly and frequently.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

The darkest timeline:

Vilardi and Anderson are out for the year. Fiala plays but is 50%. Kings lose to the Oilers 4-1 in the first round. Byfield does nothing all series. Bust talk is reignited. Neither Bjornfot nor Spence get a single shift. Kopitar averages 24 minutes a game. Gavrikov walks in free agency. Blake has now won zero playoff series in six full seasons as GM. But he continues to be praised by the Three Blind Mice because, hey, Kings were injured, man.

 

[Brownie to Pancakes]

The darkest timeline:

Vilardi and Anderson are out for the year. Fiala plays but is 50%. Kings lose to the Oilers 4-1 in the first round. Byfield does nothing all series. Bust talk is reignited. Neither Bjornfot nor Spence get a single shift. Kopitar averages 24 minutes a game. Gavrikov walks in free agency. Blake has now won zero playoff series in six full seasons as GM. But he continues to be praised by the Three Blind Mice because, hey, Kings were injured, man.

You're not allowed to criticize the team in this timeline because you hypothetically, like, wouldn't have all the info

 

[tny760]

The darkest timeline:

Vilardi and Anderson are out for the year. Fiala plays but is 50%. Kings lose to the Oilers 4-1 in the first round. Byfield does nothing all series. Bust talk is reignited. Neither Bjornfot nor Spence get a single shift. Kopitar averages 24 minutes a game. Gavrikov walks in free agency. Blake has now won zero playoff series in six full seasons as GM. But he continues to be praised by the Three Blind Mice because, hey, Kings were injured, man.

 

[Nasti]

I don’t understand how and why both Fiala and Vilardi came back before they were ready. Something stinks.

 

[Sol]

I don't think he is trying to take any heat off Blake.

Not knowing the full picture, is a huge mitigating factor in any argument.

THings are not really verifiable if you do not have the entire picture.

Debating things while acknowledging you do not have the full picture is fine

Acting like you have used the scientific method to prove something with certainty is not.

Thank you for complementing my "poetry."

Remember we all have our perception of reality and yours is not the only one.

A fallacious appeal to possibility:

Something can go wrong (premise).Therefore, something will go wrong (invalid conclusion).

You’re being illogical. There’s enough present to us that demonstrates failures on Blake’s behalf. We don’t need additional information because it won’t disprove what we’ve all been saying.

Enough dealing with insanity however because y’all the type of dudes who say the earth is flat because the horizon looks weird from the airplane.

 

[Cianide]

I think Blake sheds some cap this season and acquires a guy like Larkin or dubois. That would be big and could be possible if we shed some bad contracts.

 

[Surf Nutz]

The thing is--no one is saying there is ONE path and everything else is wrong.

All i said going into the year was almost verbatim--we are one injury away from a goalie who hasn't played an NHL season in the 2020s from taking the reigns. no, we didn't anticipate Cal's fall or Quick's fade-but it's the same function. We DID say hey--the goaltending pipeline is a problem, I don't have faith in Villalta --> the NHL, Parik is with another org this year--it seems like the strategy is pray, can we do something about this? And look where we went.

Many of us said going into the year that the LHD plan seems to be "pray for Mikey's health" and Edler's resurgence because they immediately buried Bjornfot and we saw post-injury Edler. Can we do something about this? And look where we went.

I'm not surrounded by millionaire advisors and apparently I can predict the impossible. I'd like to saddle the guys that ARE surrounded by infinite support with the responsibility of SOME foresight---they don't have to anticipate injuries but they DO have to anticipate tapping into the pipeline beyond the immediate 23 guys. They didn't for several years, and it's cost us a 1st round pick. This has nothing to do with "hindsight is 2020;" I and at least a couple of others have been LOUD about these issues since at least the previous offseason, and I feel like it would be hard to pretend I haven't since I went from being accused of being a doe-eyed homer to the worst pessimist in the world over it.

I appreciate very much that Blake doesn't subscribe to sunk cost fallacy, there's no ego there, he's admitting mistakes when he makes those moves--but he's making a LOT of mistakes and they're getting expensive. And to be fair as mentioned before the results of this still have to play out--but it's an uncharacteristic gamble based on previous inactions.

Very well written response from one of the best posters here.
I credit you for your foresight.
But didn't Blake spend up to the cap limit pretty much and even have to ask guys to work with him on bridge deals because he fully intends to pay them later?
You can fault him for being in that position but he did not have the space to address the goalie pipeline any further than Copley or get a LHD.
So what a great addition Copley was on a budget. Season saving savings.
And now he had addressed the pipeline with Portillo. Exciting.
So he knew he would have to supplement at the deadline with an LHD with the cap space he generated during the season.
By picking up Edler and keep an arguably regressing Bjornfot down, he saved a few bucks bu the real savings will be in his next contract signed over the summer.
I bet you and Blake could talk things out , and you would not be so critical if he was explaining the little nuances as to who, where , when and why.
Blake makes mistakes all GM's do.
Players are given expectations and they do not live up to them or the expectations where too much.
But Blake has made a lot of good moves and built something.
A team with a solid foundation for players in the pipeline to earn a spot in.
Thank you
If Bjornfot played in the NHL and broke out we probably could not afford him and he or someone else would have to go to stay salary cap compliant.
He is reaping the same reward with Spence potentially and he has done the same thing in the past with players like Vilardi.
Tmac isn't gonna play guys that are not doing all the little thing right.
It forces players to play well on both sides of the puck, like Kopitar and now how Kempe has developed.
Less chance guys make a mistake and lose you a series in OT.
The injuries and Edlers play are unfortunate but you can not control those things and where we went is near the top of the standings in the Western Conf.
You know your stuff but I think you are being a little too critical.

The darkest timeline:

Vilardi and Anderson are out for the year. Fiala plays but is 50%. Kings lose to the Oilers 4-1 in the first round. Byfield does nothing all series. Bust talk is reignited. Neither Bjornfot nor Spence get a single shift. Kopitar averages 24 minutes a game. Gavrikov walks in free agency. Blake has now won zero playoff series in six full seasons as GM. But he continues to be praised by the Three Blind Mice because, hey, Kings were injured, man.

Korpi could walk too.
Just letting you know we have room for a fourth blind mouse.

 

[Surf Nutz]

A fallacious appeal to possibility:

Something can go wrong (premise).Therefore, something will go wrong (invalid conclusion).

You’re being illogical. There’s enough present to us that demonstrates failures on Blake’s behalf. We don’t need additional information because it won’t disprove what we’ve all been saying.

Enough dealing with insanity however because y’all the type of dudes who say the earth is flat because the horizon looks weird from the airplane.

Injuries happen in contact sports
So every mistake is an individual failure?
Semantics.
Now, I am a type of dude that is an insane flat earther?
When people don't have much, I have noticed that is when the name calling starts.
That's the give away.
Your names could never hurt me because I would never let them and I have read your posts and I know your type very well.

 

[Statto]

You are over analyzing my response lol. I was being a bit tongue-in-cheek. A spare tire is in the actual car. That would be the backup #2 goalie since he's with the team. Copley (i.e., #3) wasn't with the NHL team and is down on the farm in Ontario. Hence being a backup spare sitting in the garage analogy.

Anyway, it's all a bit silly. Point is, when they signed Copley, he was done so for Ontario and organizational depth. There was no foresight that he would be a viable NHL goaltender for a playoff team -- not to mention needed by the Kings when you have Quick/Petersen. Saying so is giving WAY too much credit to the FO. But hey, if you want to do that, then you need to give them hell for: signing Cal, going into the season with Cal/Quick, not properly addressing organizational goalie needs the past few years and spending big draft capital on a pending FA #1 goalie. You can't have it both ways.

A completely fair point