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

[Choralone]

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Overreactions? Sir, this is HF Boards.

 

[bmr]

Jordan Spence absolutely needs to be on this team. I have no idea how some people are thinking Durzi > Spence. The only thing I give Durzi the edge on is his ability to mix it up and get a little more greasy in certain areas. Spence is the smarter player, better edgework and a very underrated shot. Every time he had the puck I was impressed at how much control he had and his ability to spin around/shake defenders. I've watched additional video of him and he just knows where to be on the ice when the play is developing. He could be the smartest defenseman on the team IMHO.

 

[KingsFan7824]

I still cannot fathom how Blake ever thought Walker was impactful enough to necessitate a 4 year deal north of 2.5M.

It’s truly baffling.

Look who the Kings had on D in Sept 2020. Roy, a 7th rd pick from 2015 just finished his 1st full NHL season in 19-20. Clague, who still sucks, finished up his 2nd pro season. Moverare would still be in Sweden for the 20-21 season. Anderson finished his first full pro season in 19-20. Bjornfot finished his first pro year. Spence would still spend 20-21 in junior, and was a 4th rd pick. Durzi just finished his first pro season. The 2020 draft had not yet taken place when Walker re-signed, so Grans and Faber weren't in the system yet. And Clarke obviously wasn't even a thought yet, as that would be the 2021 draft.

So some of the RHD depth wasn't there yet. What was there was very young, and none of them had pedigree of Clarke.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I think people are being unfair to pre-surgery Walker's abilities, too.

He wasn't a world-beater but that money and term is (well, was) just fine for a guy who was versatile enough to play any position in the lineup on a mediocre team for 20+ minutes a game and not get bashed in.

 

[YP44]

I was good with Walker's D at the time. Hard to predict injuries but the longer term on a deal the more likely they will be a a factor, but his cap hit was low enough I thought it was good.

 

[FSL KINGS]

Ok
Doughty, Roy
Mikey, Durzi

Just do it Todd. Just try in practice. Anything to get Durzi off the left side.

Edit: Going to be funny when the mistakes don't go away when Durzi goes back to the right.

 

[Fishhead]

I think people are being unfair to pre-surgery Walker's abilities, too.

He wasn't a world-beater but that money and term is (well, was) just fine for a guy who was versatile enough to play any position in the lineup on a mediocre team for 20+ minutes a game and not get bashed in.

Absolutely, lots of revisionist history going on. For comparison, Sean Walker was every bit as good (or better) than Matt Grzelcyk in Boston when he signed that deal. Same term, same signing year, but Boston paid over a million more AAV. Not only was Walker a good deal, but he was also a good deal for a team that absolutely needed NHL defensemen. Like 7824 said Spence and Clarke weren't in the equation back then.

The surgery really hit him hard, those are a lot to come back from.

 

[BringTheReign]

Sit Walker and Edler.

Start Bjornfot - Spence as the third pair.

???

Profit.

EDIT: I'd honestly be okay with trying to let Walker revitalize his game in Ontario. He had a major injury and it's better for him to get reps than to do nothing at all.

 

[BringTheReign]

Absolutely, lots of revisionist history going on. For comparison, Sean Walker was every bit as good (or better) than Matt Grzelcyk in Boston when he signed that deal. Same term, same signing year, but Boston paid over a million more AAV. Not only was Walker a good deal, but he was also a good deal for a team that absolutely needed NHL defensemen. Like 7824 said Spence and Clarke weren't in the equation back then.

The surgery really hit him hard, those are a lot to come back from.

Fantasy football is ahead of hockey in its injury analysis, and the typical advice there is to not draft players unless they're 12-16 months past ACL surgery. Also, agreed on the revisionist history. Walker was the "out of nowhere" bright spot on some bad Kings teams, and he got love from the analytics and eye test community over his first couple seasons.

 

[Telos]

Walker absolutely earned his deal. I think the reaction was very positive across the board when he signed his deal. I am honestly glad he did for his own sake. He sacrificed quite a bit for the Kings in terms of his injuries. I hope he is set for life after this.

All that being said, I also hope he is jettisoned from the team I know that TMac and the locker room has a lot of respect for him, but he just isn't there anymore. I hope he can regain form and be serviceable around the league, but he is the most odd man out with many better options waiting behind him. He has to go.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

There’s absolutely no hockey reason both Spence and Bjornfot shouldn’t be in the lineup. It’s f***ing absurd that Blake has literally 10+ NHL ready defensemen and he still managed to screw up our blueline.

Anderson-Doughty
Bjornfot-Durzi
Edler-Spence
Roy

This is not difficult. Waive Walker.

 

[YP44]

There’s absolutely no hockey reason both Spence and Bjornfot shouldn’t be in the lineup. It’s f***ing absurd that Blake has literally 10+ NHL ready defensemen and he still managed to screw up our blueline.

Anderson-Doughty
Bjornfot-Durzi
Edler-Spence
Roy

This is not difficult. Waive Walker.

Would look alot better without Durzi IMO. Move Roy where Durzi is and Walker becomes 7th D.

 

[Telos]

Blake is definitely getting too cute with his asset management here. I know he wants to try to get anything for Walker and not have to risk having any of his caphit on the books, but he is jerking around the prospects and it will result in some blowback in terms of player trust.

Even if we get some dream scenario of someone taking him off our hands in ~3 months for a 3rd round pick or something and no retention, it is just not worth the hassle and the potential threat our beleaguered defense is to our playoff chances and the job security of literally everyone in the organization right now...

 

[BigKing]

Walker is a JAG.

It is tough when guys are bright spots on absolute trash bag teams. While I'm a huge fan of effort and love when a player always gives his best, seemingly out-of-nowhere guys that play their bags off on bad teams can look better than they actually are. It gets compounded when said trash bag team has former Cup champs making huge dollars because its like "Man, Leipsic goes out there and really skates hard while Doughty is just coasting". Hell, I always overlooked Wagner's flaws because the guy actually got in on the forecheck and had an elite trait.

The injury doesn't help, of course, but he did sign him two years ago: he's a bridge player. Clarke isn't in the pipeline when the contract was signed. You don't think Spence will be ready in 2022 when you sign this deal in September of 2020. Even if they are, he should be a fine bottom pairing guy or not terribly difficult to trade if he keeps his level of play up.

Now he isn't as easy to trade since he makes more in real money than the cap hit the next two years: the cap hit isn't the only issue. Main thing is that he is taking up a spot but that isn't his fault either: it is December 19th and Blake hasn't done jack shit about this log jam he created except for having Clarke play as little hockey as possible. I said they should have waived him or tried to trade him for a 7th at the start of the season.

Nice guy but he was a total bridge player signing but prospects have made him expendable. He will not help this team win now and definitely won't in the future: Spence and Clarke are very important to the latter.

 

[Telos]

I am hoping TMac & Co. are starting to make the change to keep Spence in the lineup and really commit to transitioning the defense over. He made a pretty telling comment after the Sharks game when he mentioned that "a lot of our players at the National Hockey League level were asking about him" when talking about Spence.

That seems like an odd thing to say because if things are working and the locker room is content with everyone there they wouldn't be asking about a prospect when they know someone has to sit or get booted to make room.

 

[AbsentMojo]

There’s absolutely no hockey reason both Spence and Bjornfot shouldn’t be in the lineup. It’s f***ing absurd that Blake has literally 10+ NHL ready defensemen and he still managed to screw up our blueline.

Anderson-Doughty
Bjornfot-Durzi
Edler-Spence
Roy

This is not difficult. Waive Walker.

Even with this tweak, which is logical but you know they wont do - the corps is not well composed. Id actually rather have Edler and Spence as the 2nd pair to hide Durzi more. Edler at least has size and can body guys (you do give up quickness).. But Bjornfot Durzi is too small and not physical for a 2nd pair. Spence is also much better moving the puck out of the zone than Durzi (esp on his wrong side). But basically this is rearranging the deck chairs.. The d-corps is so poorly constructed.. they are at least 2 transactions away from addressing it properly (Walker, Roy, Edler, Durzi need to go (Durzi due to Clarke's emergence)).. and need a very strong 2nd pair stay at home LD.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Even with this tweak, which is logical but you know they wont do - the corps is not well composed. Id actually rather have Edler and Spence as the 2nd pair to hide Durzi more. Edler at least has size and can body guys (you do give up quickness).. But Bjornfot Durzi is too small and not physical for a 2nd pair. Spence is also much better moving the puck out of the zone than Durzi (esp on his wrong side). But basically this is rearranging the deck chairs.. The d-corps is so poorly constructed.. they are at least 2 transactions away from addressing it properly (Walker, Roy, Edler, Durzi need to go (Durzi due to Clarke's emergence)).. and need a very strong 2nd pair stay at home LD.

Oh, sure. That lineup is trying to make the best of what we have right now.

Durzi is a player you probably sit on until someone is willing to overpay for him. As others have pointed out, teams are willing to pay a lot for 50-60pts regardless of position. I understand people want to turn over the reins to players like Spence and Clarke. I do, too. And players like Roy and Walker are journeymen at best who absolutely should be moved/waived as soon as possible. But Durzi has real world value. If deployed correctly, he’s a perfect 4-5 on a contender.

Assuming Spence and Clarke both reach their ceiling, yeah, Durzi probably doesn’t have a long term future in LA. But we would be in a unique position league wide in that regard, with three stellar RH PMD in Durzi’s way.

Also, hot take inc, but the real 4D chess move is to move Doughty by 24/25, and roll Clarke, Spence, and Durzi down the right side. But I may be alone there lol.

 

[YP44]

Oh, sure. That lineup is trying to make the best of what we have right now.

Durzi is a player you probably sit on until someone is willing to overpay for him. As others have pointed out, teams are willing to pay a lot for 50-60pts regardless of position. I understand people want to turn over the reins to players like Spence and Clarke. I do, too. And players like Roy and Walker are journeymen at best who absolutely should be moved/waived as soon as possible. But Durzi has real world value. If deployed correctly, he’s a perfect 4-5 on a contender.

Assuming Spence and Clarke both reach their ceiling, yeah, Durzi probably doesn’t have a long term future in LA. But we would be in a unique position league wide in that regard, with three stellar RH PMD in Durzi’s way.

Also, hot take inc, but the real 4D chess move is to move Doughty by 24/25, and roll Clarke, Spence, and Durzi down the right side. But I may be alone there lol.

I don't see your right side as I would like Durzi moved way before 24/25. Maybe Grans could be ready by then if you have moved on from Drew. Just curious what type of player do you see Drew getting?

 

[Seattle King]

It's fkn ridiculous the way Hall of Fame D Rob Blake has constructed this off-balance joke of a D corps.
Completely absurd amount of RH offensive D types. Near total absence of LH D with size and grit.
There is no excuse for the fact that this organization has drafted only 3 LHD in the top 2 rounds since 2014, Bjornfot, Clague and Lintuniemi who never signed. That's it. Complete and total abdication by Blake. I am sick of looking at this D. And now I am sick of looking at Blake. Ridiculous joke.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Also, hot take inc, but the real 4D chess move is to move Doughty by 24/25, and roll Clarke, Spence, and Durzi down the right side. But I may be alone there lol.

Yes Durzi could fetch quite a bit.. I was thinking he gets moved in the offseason not this year so Clarke slots in next year. You are not alone re DD - had that thought as well. DD chews up too many minutes and is not pushing play at all. The 1st pairing is not providing offense - esp when compared to the best like Colorado...it is far far from that. I also noticed last year when DD went down the team defense actually got better.. not sure how that is explained other than bjornfot spence and durzi stepped up and played really well... I think it was @kilowatt who postulated the Ewing effect might be an explanation as well. The other thing is a new leadership group wont form until the legends step back or are gone... so there's that as well.

 

[Schrute farms]

It's fkn ridiculous the way Hall of Fame D Rob Blake has constructed this off-balance joke of a D corps.
Completely absurd amount of RH offensive D types. Near total absence of LH D with size and grit.
There is no excuse for the fact that this organization has drafted only 3 LHD in the top 2 rounds since 2014, Bjornfot, Clague and Lintuniemi who never signed. That's it. Complete and total abdication by Blake. I am sick of looking at this D. And now I am sick of looking at Blake. Ridiculous joke.

Hey let's lay off Mr. Rob Blake a bit. Maybe he just does not know much about NHL level defensemen and that whole area of a team. Let's give him some time to learn about the blue line. He's likely an expert in other areas (like maybe goalies, coaches, etc.) and will eventually get up to speed and fully understand the defensive side of a team.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Hey let's lay off Mr. Rob Blake a bit. Maybe he just does not know much about NHL level defensemen and that whole area of a team. Let's give him some time to learn about the blue line. He's likely an expert in other areas (like maybe goalies, coaches, etc.) and will eventually get up to speed and fully understand the defensive side of a team.

if sarcasm was maple syrup id have more than enough for the pancakes i just made

 

[Kudelski37]

It's fkn ridiculous the way Hall of Fame D Rob Blake has constructed this off-balance joke of a D corps.
Completely absurd amount of RH offensive D types. Near total absence of LH D with size and grit.
There is no excuse for the fact that this organization has drafted only 3 LHD in the top 2 rounds since 2014, Bjornfot, Clague and Lintuniemi who never signed. That's it. Complete and total abdication by Blake. I am sick of looking at this D. And now I am sick of looking at Blake. Ridiculous joke.

There were only 5 rhd drafted by the Kings in the first two rounds during the same span. Two were traded by Lombardi when the Kings desperately needed a rhd and one was traded by Blake.

Drafting size and grit way too early in the first and second rounds is how the Kings busted with many picks while players picked after the Kings draft slot turned into all stars during the Lombardi era.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

There were only 5 rhd drafted by the Kings in the first two rounds during the same span. Two were traded by Lombardi when the Kings desperately needed a rhd and one was traded by Blake.

Drafting size and grit way too early in the first and second rounds is how the Kings busted with many picks while players picked after the Kings draft slot turned into all stars during the Lombardi era.

Blake will eventually have his Teubert and Forbort picks, too. Even some of his good looking picks will be out of the league in 5-6 years. That’s just the nature of professional hockey.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I don't see your right side as I would like Durzi moved way before 24/25. Maybe Grans could be ready by then if you have moved on from Drew. Just curious what type of player do you see Drew getting?

In the summer of 24/25 assuming no retention? Depends on if he’s still producing a modicum of offense. Likely a B+ prospect and a high pick. Maybe less.

We may see a preview if Karlsson gets moved.