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

[Fishhead]

Ovechkin is probably not a good example. At even strength he's only been on the ice for 9 goals, and 14 against. What's completely insane is he has a 90.65% offensive zone start rate. That's not a typo - he's had 97 offensive zone starts and 10 defensive zone starts. And that's at even strength... At all strengths he's had 146 offensive zone starts and still 10 defensive zone starts. He's also shielded from top competition.

Over half his points are on the powerplay, and to be completely honest he's one of the worst even-strength players in the league right now. Nothing against the guy, he's a legend, but he's literally a PP specialist at this point and at best a defensive liability. He doesn't even try out there once the puck is out of the offensive zone, it's why the Capitals are where they are in the standings.

 

[KingsHockey24]

I've heard rumors that Rob Blake has circled back in on adding left handed defensemen Keaton Ellerby; I'll keep you guys updated.

 

[King'sPawn]

Just look at Ovechkin at his age.
He still has that killer instinct and the i can do everything attitude.
If it's crunch time, he still goes to his line mates and says, give me the puck and i deal with the situation.
When Kopitar is one the ice, you can't tell it's 7-0, 0-0 or 0-7 it's always the same sleeping pill hockey

When it's crunch time, your 1C needs to step on the ice and demand the ladies to get out of the way and enforce a goal regardless the resistance

Kopitar asked for $10 mill per year, gets the ice time of a 1C but doesn't deliver, so yes he is a worthless 1C.

Impressive - the combination of ignorance and asinine comparisons is unmatched in these boards.

Ovechkin is a sniper who, as talented as he is, gets the easiest minutes. In Ovechkin's entire career (since 2005 when he started in the league), he has a TOTAL of 193 minutes shorthanded. And 6.1k powerplay minutes.

Kopitar, conversely, has 4.4k powerplay minutes and 2.3k shorthanded minutes. Ovechkin's 6.1k powerplay minutes is the most of any player since he entered the league. The next player after him is Crosby with 4.8k.

And even with all this, Ovechkin has not led the Capitals in scoring as many seasons Kopitar has led the Kings in scoring.

He has delivered for many years, including being the top scorer in the playoffs when the Kings won the cup.

And while Kopitar has clearly decreased in his productivity, going so far as to call him worthless is a pretty clueless statement.

 

[FSL KINGS]

How does a team that is building for speed & transition plan to play Doughty with his, "slowing it down" go to move, first pair minutes?

Can Doughty be paired with someone that can quickly move the puck, or does he need to be traded?

 

[Sol]

How does a team that is building for speed & transition plan to play Doughty with his, "slowing it down" go to move, first pair minutes?

Can Doughty be paired with someone that can quickly move the puck, or does he need to be traded?

Life’s greatest question. I hate his playstyle. Slowing it down doesn’t work.

 

[King'sPawn]

This would be an incredibly stupid move.

Edit: apparently the tweet is taken down

 

[Trash Panda]

This would be an incredibly stupid move.

…so it’s all but foregone conclusion that it’s going to happen.

 

[BringTheReign]

I've heard rumors that Rob Blake has circled back in on adding left handed defensemen Keaton Ellerby; I'll keep you guys updated.

We need what Ellerby was projected to be on draft day.

This would be an incredibly stupid move.

I’m guessing this means they’ve confirmed he’ll make Team Canada.

Or I hope it means we have a trade lined up (not including Clarke) that will solidify the lineup such that we don’t need him.

 

[King'sPawn]

I’m guessing this means they’ve confirmed he’ll make Team Canada.

Or I hope it means we have a trade lined up (not including Clarke) that will solidify the lineup such that we don’t need him.

I think it's a terrible move either way. The things he needs to work on won't be things he can work on when his talent level is above that of the majority of the league he's in.

And for those saying he "needs to build strength" - what sort of workout regimen do you think CHL players get when they have to take classes, practice, and play 2-3 games a week?

 

[KingsFan7824]

Ovechkin is probably not a good example. At even strength he's only been on the ice for 9 goals, and 14 against. What's completely insane is he has a 90.65% offensive zone start rate. That's not a typo - he's had 97 offensive zone starts and 10 defensive zone starts. And that's at even strength... At all strengths he's had 146 offensive zone starts and still 10 defensive zone starts. He's also shielded from top competition.

Over half his points are on the powerplay, and to be completely honest he's one of the worst even-strength players in the league right now. Nothing against the guy, he's a legend, but he's literally a PP specialist at this point and at best a defensive liability. He doesn't even try out there once the puck is out of the offensive zone, it's why the Capitals are where they are in the standings.

The only thing that matters in Washington at this point is getting Ovechkin the goals record. You're not re-signing Ovechkin to a 5 year/$48m contract at age 36 if you're trying to win. That's thanking him for a legit HoF career, and the Cup, and let's do what we can to get you this record in our jersey.

If the Kings do anything similar with Kopitar after next year, then we can really get into how they're just a joke.

How does a team that is building for speed & transition plan to play Doughty with his, "slowing it down" go to move, first pair minutes?

Can Doughty be paired with someone that can quickly move the puck, or does he need to be traded?

We're years away from him possibly being traded. 33 soon, 4 years, $44m left on his deal, with a 7 team NTC. Whatever they're going to do for the next few years, they'll have to make it work with Doughty. Or they won't make it work with him.

Even when Car traded for a 37 year old Burns, they're on the hook for 3 years(this one included), and $13m, because I believe SJ paid his signing bonus before trading him. That's a $30m in cash difference. The Kings would very likely not retain anything significant on the contract, as I don't believe they're desperate to get rid of him, so don't hold your breath on this one.

 

[DAkings20]

I’m at TSPC right now and so is Brandt on the ice. Guess his flight to Barrie is tonight…..

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I disagree. Byfield was a project player and will need time and patience. He could breakout at any time. He could be dominant given his skillset and frame. Give him time.

When have I advocated for trading them? I go out of my way every time I criticize his development to point out that he’s worth more to the Kings than any other franchise and we may as well ride him out to the bitter end.

The jury is very much out on Byfield. He could break out and become Kopitar Jr. Or he can peak at Jordan Staal. He’s had an uneven development path with a lot of injuries and mismanagement, so it’s hard to determine what we have with him.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

When have I advocated for trading them? I go out of my way every time I criticize his development to point out that he’s worth more to the Kings than any other franchise and we may as well ride him out to the bitter end.

The jury is very much out on Byfield. He could break out and become Kopitar Jr. Or he can peak at Jordan Staal. He’s had an uneven development path with a lot of injuries and mismanagement, so it’s hard to determine what we have with him.

That's totally fair imo and goes for Turcotte and other prospects as well.

While they're still lottery tickets, there's no point trading them for less than full potential value. Yet, they may not ever reach that value. Nevertheless, you don't want to be the GM left holding THAT bag.

 

[BringTheReign]

I’m at TSPC right now and so is Brandt on the ice. Guess his flight to Barrie is tonight…..

I think that tweet was deleted, wasn't it? Or if we're reading too much into things for fun, they're pausing until Barrie trades him to a Memorial Cup contender or he's just chilling until Team Canada's camp opens.

Or we're trading a few rostered defenseman for picks to teams like Toronto and he's needed in the lineup.

 

[kingsboy11]

Hoven giving some notes on the Kings potential plans for Clarke. I know many don't like Hoven, but its gives a general idea what the Kings are thinking.

Upcoming Plan for Kings Rookie D-man Brandt Clarke

Just kind of annoying how we're not able to ice our best defenseman simply because of contracts and waivers

 

[Schmooley]

Just kind of annoying how we're not able to ice our best defenseman simply because of contracts and waivers

I have never seen anything like it. Suck bad for 3 years. Instead of doing anything with the picks you bring in talent from the outside and re sign all of your middling depth.
Turcotte, Bjornfot, Byfield, Clark are the first rounders from the years that were hardest to watch and they are being blocked from even the bottom of the lineup for Walker, Edler, Durzi, Roy, Grundstrom, Lizotte, Lemieux, JAD. If they wanted to keep the depth guys they shouldnt have brought in Danault, Fiala, or Arvy until they knew what they had in their picks.
Imagine if a prospect passed it in front of his own net like Durzi. Theyd be banished for a long time.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

Clarke has no business being in the OHL

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Blake really needs to shit or get off the pot at this point and dicking around to buy time by sending Clarke to a camp where he's just going to pick on a bunch of teens after getting treated like shit by them for several years is just f***ing pathetic. His indecision is making the roster worse daily and making prospects collateral damage while placing roster players in awkward to awful spots as well.

I've said before I appreciate his patience to a degree but this isn't patience, this is indecisiveness and being TOO conservative.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Imagine if a prospect passed it in front of his own net like Durzi. Theyd be banished for a long time.

Said as though 84 career game Durzi is some long time vet.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Blake really needs to shit or get off the pot at this point and dicking around to buy time by sending Clarke to a camp where he's just going to pick on a bunch of teens after getting treated like shit by them for several years is just f***ing pathetic. His indecision is making the roster worse daily and making prospects collateral damage while placing roster players in awkward to awful spots as well.

I've said before I appreciate his patience to a degree but this isn't patience, this is indecisiveness and being TOO conservative.

But this position is blaming Blake for many things that have not happened yet. Why does he have to shit or get off the pot right now? Where are you going? I don't mean not buying tickets or watching games because you don't want to waste your time on mediocrity, that's fine. Admittedly, nothing has really happened with this team yet, because nothing has really happened yet. No prospect has been collateral damage yet. Who? Show some evidence. Everyone is screaming about how well Bjornfot and Spence look in the AHL, so they should be up with the Kings, which means they're being ruined? I get wanting to see the youth, but where is this collateral damage at?

 

[SettlementRichie10]

That's totally fair imo and goes for Turcotte and other prospects as well.

While they're still lottery tickets, there's no point trading them for less than full potential value. Yet, they may not ever reach that value. Nevertheless, you don't want to be the GM left holding THAT bag.

Exactly. The risk of trading a bluechip prospect like Byfield far outweighs the reward. Look at Suzuki and Vegas or Dach and Chicago.

Unless it’s a trade that’s going to put you over the top, then sure, you take the risk. Schenn was arguably the best prospect in the world in 2012 when Dean traded him. But those kinds of trades are rare.

 

[Kurrilino]

And while Kopitar has clearly decreased in his productivity, going so far as to call him worthless is a pretty clueless statement.

You ignore the 2nd part in the sentence as usual.
Kopitar is worthless as 1C, was the full sentence.

What is really remarkable in this forum is that people defend Kopitar playing top minutes and earning $10mill
while advocating to trade Byfield and Turcotte

 

[SettlementRichie10]

But this position is blaming Blake for many things that have not happened yet. Why does he have to shit or get off the pot right now? Where are you going? I don't mean not buying tickets or watching games because you don't want to waste your time on mediocrity, that's fine. Admittedly, nothing has really happened with this team yet, because nothing has really happened yet. No prospect has been collateral damage yet. Who? Show some evidence. Everyone is screaming about how well Bjornfot and Spence look in the AHL, so they should be up with the Kings, which means they're being ruined? I get wanting to see the youth, but where is this collateral damage at?

Brandt Clarke should not be playing hockey in the OHL. Point blank period.

You can twist yourself into a giant contrarian pretzel all you want. It’s bad management to send this prospect back to juniors at this point in his development while desperately clinging to Bebop and Rocksteady on the NHL team. In fact, you’re actively *hurting* your NHL team by sending down a player who was statistically your second or third best defenseman in the games he played.

 

[King'sPawn]

You ignore the 2nd part in the sentence as usual.
Kopitar is worthless as 1C, was the full sentence.

What is really remarkable in this forum is that people defend Kopitar playing top minutes and earning $10mill
while advocating to trade Byfield and Turcotte

I omitted the second part of the sentence for ease of writing, and also because your entire premise is faulty. And you used Ovechkin's "gimme the puck" attitude compared to Kopitar, and spouted off "sleepy play" even though Kopitar plays far harder minutes yet only has 4 fewer points than Ovechkin.

Your gotcha is "he's worthless as a 1C!"

There's a wide gap between being overplayed and being worthless. Kopitar is overplayed. Heck, sure, let's say he shouldn't be the No. 1 C. Playing above where he should be doesn't make someone worthless. A good example of worthless would be a post comparing Kopitar to Ovechkin.

I have no idea what you're talking about with the second paragraph. Plenty of people defend Kopitar and want to KEEP Byfield and Turcotte so they can take over.

 

[Seattle King]

Bjornfot and Spence will be an excellent third pair for us next season.
On a roster that wasnt as dysfunctional as the Kings they would already be up.
But we cant add this nice pair until Blake subtracts the contracts that are in the way.
The current D corps is like some pressed together meat and gelatin head cheese monstrosity.
It lacks one of the basic ingredients. A LHD with some thump. Chiarot or Zadorov come to mind. Too bad those guys werent UFAs in the offseason.
Anderson is passable as a LHD in our top 4. But Edler is long past his ability to hold up a 2nd pair, especially if Durzi is his partner. Edler six or eight years ago is the exact guy we need.
Will be very interested to see how this is sorted out. It is ugly to look at. Blake being a HOF defenseman, he should really know better and it concerns me that his judgment in this particular area is so unsound.