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

[unicornpig]

They're not trading Spence.

at this point if they not gonna play him trade him. So gross

 

[kings11]

They're not trading Spence.

Lmao, no dude… his partner would come via trade. Hopefully a stout defensive Dman with size, physicality and toughness

 

[FSL KINGS]

Lucic was traded in the last year of a contract. Risto had 1 year left. Not the same. Not close.

OEL, sure, but Ari also got nothing but bad players and contracts back. but they didn't care, because they were rebuilding. But the Kings aren't in the same position. Just like the Kings have never been in a similar situation with Kopitar and Doughty as the Hawks with Kane and Toews this year.

It comes down to time to be competitive. The King's are a few pieces away. How long it takes Blake to sort that out is the question. They need to add a second pair or better left defender, starting goalie & dump Cal's contract & add the best center they can fit with what is left. Lizotte & Kempe are not the answers to the 3C.

If they are going to ride Cal's contract out & wait a year or two, then moving guys on short term contracts now makes sense, Kopitar, Roy, Arvidsson. Burning about half of Doughty's contract waiting so you have 36 year old Doughty still on PP1 doesn't make a lot of sense.

Blake will obviously want to fix the holes sooner. What's the cost for Chychrun & AZ's goalie? OEL & Demko? How much to send Cal back the other way? That still leaves Lizotte or Kempe at 3C.

 

[Surf Nutz]

I agree, and was hoping to see the following no such luck from toddy todd

Doughty off the PP1 and reduced overall minutes

Durzi limited to the PP1 and the 3rd pairing with a limit on 5v5 time.. but this would just increase the minutes on the top 4 which should be more evenly spread out. He needs to be traded

Roy is the biggest disappointment as he’s been regressing for the second year in a row. Either they pair him with Bjornfot and get a shutdown pairing or they move him and clear space for both Spence and Clarke

Anderson - Doughty

TRADE - Spence

Bjornfot - Clarke

If they want that difference making LHD, then the following are all on the table

Kempe
Durzi
Roy
Kupari
Grans
Grundstrom
With Moore supposedly close to signing.. maybe Ardvisson

Kempe + Roy gets you a really nice LHD, add in Durzi and who knows

Blake should not trade Kempe, Durzi, Moore or Arvidson, unless he is getting a serious upgrade at their position.
They need a big LHD, who is tough and can fight ideally. Not liking most of the choirs song list for Christmas 22.

 

[Statto]

Why do you try to paint him as a winger? He's not and it's clear. Maybe he played a couple shifts as one but the guy's a natural center.

He played a lot at Wing one year, in 16/17. He had 29+32 in 49 games. Yes he scored more the following year on a ppg basis but in junior you expect that sort of evolution in scoring anyway. So I remembered incorrectly that it was his most productive spell, as I’m remembering what I read when we drafted him.

I’m not saying he’s not a natural C (at least early on) but it’s a complete falsehood that him playing W is only a thing in LA.

 

[kings11]

Blake should not trade Kempe, Durzi, Moore or Arvidson, unless he is getting a serious upgrade at their position.
They need a big LHD, who is tough and can fight ideally. Not liking most of the choirs song list for Christmas 22.

That’s the only reason i trade any of those guys.. I’m not saying make a trade for the sake of making one..

We need size, toughness and physicality because we’re soft.

Blake should not trade Kempe, Durzi, Moore or Arvidson, unless he is getting a serious upgrade at their position.
They need a big LHD, who is tough and can fight ideally. Not liking most of the choirs song list for Christmas 22.

That’s the only reason i trade any of those guys.. I’m not saying make a trade for the sake of making one..

We need size, toughness and physicality because we’re soft.

 

[Statto]

Blake should not trade Kempe, Durzi, Moore or Arvidson, unless he is getting a serious upgrade at their position.
They need a big LHD, who is tough and can fight ideally. Not liking most of the choirs song list for Christmas 22.

They will have to give up good players to fill those holes but they need to balance the lineup. The pieces I would put on the table now are Durzi, Walker (waiving at a minimum), Roy, Arvidsson and Kempe.

Durzi and Roy are turnover machines and Roy if anything is a bigger issue as he’s supposed to be a defensive player. Arvidsson and Kempe, simply because you have to give to get and we have wingers in the system to allow Kaliyev to stay in the top 6. Kempe just needs a kick in the rear end and will go back to wing when QB comes up. I will add Iafallo to the trade bait list if/when Turcotte is properly ready. All 3 forward I‘ve listed I’m happy to keep, the D have no place if we are hoping to become a contender IMO.

I’m not saying trade all these pieces but I’d move 2-3 of them to fill the two major holes we have.

 

[Cianide]

He played a lot at Wing one year, in 16/17. He had 29+32 in 49 games. Yes he scored more the following year on a ppg basis but in junior you expect that sort of evolution in scoring anyway. So I remembered incorrectly that it was his most productive spell, as I’m remembering what I read when we drafted him.

I’m not saying he’s not a natural C (at least early on) but it’s a complete falsehood that him playing W is only a thing in LA.

He scoffed at a reporter when asked about the change to wing and said he likes to carry the puck through the middle. fwiw.

 

[Trash Panda]

Adrian Kempe is quite handily the most expendable forward on the roster when you compare his salary to his overall impact on the game.

When he isn’t burying spoon-fed chances, he creates almost nothing on his own, and is a pretty horrid floater in his own zone as well as on the forecheck.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Imagine being Fagemo and Bjornfot.

Called up, succeed, then sat while the team loses their mud. Then sat again.

This is gross mismanagement. Continual gross mismanagement.

It’s some of the worst roster mismanagement I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been watching hockey for close to 40 years.

In any other market Blake and TMac would be getting crucified over stuff like Durzi-Roy and Clarke not playing any hockey anywhere.

 

[Statto]

He scoffed at a reporter when asked about the change to wing and said he likes to carry the puck through the middle. fwiw.

I completely agree that he prefers C.

 

[Statto]

It’s some of the worst roster mismanagement I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been watching hockey for close to 40 years.

In any other market Blake and TMac would be getting crucified over stuff like Durzi-Roy and Clarke not playing any hockey anywhere.

I don’t get Bjornföt sitting as he played well and more importantly the lineup was balanced. Fagemo, MAYBE, benefits from getting a couple of games in the press box but he’s also done ok. Weird is the only thing I can call it.

 

[Surf Nutz]

They will have to give up good players to fill those holes but they need to balance the lineup. The pieces I would put on the table now are Durzi, Walker (waiving at a minimum), Roy, Arvidsson and Kempe.

Durzi and Roy are turnover machines and Roy if anything is a bigger issue as he’s supposed to be a defensive player. Arvidsson and Kempe, simply because you have to give to get and we have wingers in the system to allow Kaliyev to stay in the top 6. Kempe just needs a kick in the rear end and will go back to wing when QB comes up. I will add Iafallo to the trade bait list if/when Turcotte is properly ready. All 3 forward I‘ve listed I’m happy to keep, the D have no place if we are hoping to become a contender IMO.

I’m not saying trade all these pieces but I’d move 2-3 of them to fill the two major holes we have.

I get the explanation and facts, but I am loathe to break up the DAM line they are TMacs only untouchable line. We need that stability. Kempe is streaky and currently in a lull. But his upside is immense that is why they are again trying him at C, and I like that. He is the main puck carrier on the PP, and mostly solid definsively. Durzi needs to be used properly by the coach. He is breaking out as PP QB. 3rd pair sheltered not on LD. Iafallo is the swiss army knife, very good on D side of puck and the boys love him and playing with him. He allows versatility and options for the coaches facing injuries and streaky play. Super underrated.
People on here are overrating the young guys they are touting, they don't have the size , strength and experience to do the little things right. We have seen the little things cost us games, or lead to the game being blown open like in Toronto. I prefer the Lombardi method of taking a cheaper player on a reclamation project without giving up some of these important pieces. Like he did with Willie, Gaborik, and Scuderi. Those pick ended up helping win cups.

 

[YAYSAY]

Lmao, no dude… his partner would come via trade. Hopefully a stout defensive Dman with size, physicality and toughness

Oh I see, misread lol, my bad. Agreed then.

 

[Statto]

I get the explanation and facts, but I am loathe to break up the DAM line they are TMacs only untouchable line. We need that stability. Kempe is streaky and currently in a lull. But his upside is immense that is why they are again trying him at C, and I like that. He is the main puck carrier on the PP, and mostly solid definsively. Durzi needs to be used properly by the coach. He is breaking out as PP QB. 3rd pair sheltered not on LD. Iafallo is the swiss army knife, very good on D side of puck and the boys love him and playing with him. He allows versatility and options for the coaches facing injuries and streaky play. Super underrated.
People on here are overrating the young guys they are touting, they don't have the size , strength and experience to do the little things right. We have seen the little things cost us games, or lead to the game being blown open like in Toronto. I prefer the Lombardi method of taking a cheaper player on a reclamation project without giving up some of these important pieces. Like he did with Willie, Gaborik, and Scuderi. Those pick ended up helping win cups.

So who do you move that gets you a piece we need? If the young guys are overrated they aren’t going to do it. As I say, certainly with the forwards I listed it is about sacrificing something but it will give a better all around team ultimately. Moving fringe players is tinkering at the edges. Either the younger guys take over event or we have big problems.

Reclamation projects are rare and these guys were spread out, not all signed at the same time. Scuderi wasn’t a reclamation project anyway, he had just come off a cup win in Pittsburgh and was considered a good pickup.

 

[Surf Nutz]

So who do you move that gets you a piece we need? If the young guys are overrated they aren’t going to do it. As I say, certainly with the forwards I listed it is about sacrificing something but it will give a better all around team ultimately. Moving fringe players is tinkering at the edges. Either the younger guys take over event or we have big problems.

Reclamation projects are rare and these guys were spread out, not all signed at the same time. Scuderi wasn’t a reclamation project anyway, he had just come off a cup win in Pittsburgh and was considered a good pickup.

I will leave it up to Blake and judge him at the end of the year. I listed why I wouldn't trade those guys but if an equal or better is coming back then ok, trade. I like Bjornfot and Moverare too but evidently Tmac don't. Copley is a reclamation. The young players just dont know how to do all the little things right. I think Walker has to be let go if not included in a deal and Spence comes up. I would like a bigger 4c and let Lizzo and JAD go.

 

[Surf Nutz]

So for next year,
I would trade Petersen, and Kopitar and Doughty if they give it a waive. I know unlikely.
Resign Moore, Vilardi, Fagemo, Lemieux, Anderson , Bjornfot and Copley.
Resign for Reign: Madden, Dudas, Akil, Kupari, Ward, Bisson, Allard,
Goodbye: JAD, Edler, Ingham, Wagner, Phaneuf, L. Andersson, Hrenak.
And acquire new faces to fill any gaps.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I don’t get Bjornföt sitting as he played well and more importantly the lineup was balanced. Fagemo, MAYBE, benefits from getting a couple of games in the press box but he’s also done ok. Weird is the only thing I can call it.

That’s the utterly maddening thing. Bjornfot is ready. He slots in perfectly on the left side. He fixes a ton of issues on the blueline. And they just refuse to play him because of X, Y, or Z convoluted trust me I’m a doctor reason.

Beer league mismanagement of a hockey club.

 

[kilowatt]

So for next year,
I would trade Petersen, and Kopitar and Doughty if they give it a waive. I know unlikely.
Resign Moore, Vilardi, Fagemo, Lemieux, Anderson , Bjornfot and Copley.
Resign for Reign: Madden, Dudas, Akil, Kupari, Ward, Bisson, Allard,
Goodbye: JAD, Edler, Ingham, Wagner, Phaneuf, L. Andersson, Hrenak.
And acquire new faces to fill any gaps.

Next year will be really interesting regardless because Kupari, Fagemo, Thomas, Madden, Dudas, and Villalta will all require waivers. Those first three are the only ones we likely worry much about, but if Kupari is waived he’ll almost certainly be claimed.

Who do we move to create a roster spot for Kupari though? Moore and Lemieux are the only UFA forwards and I have to think they’ll be re-signed. Edler is the only UFA defenseman, and although he likely goes, that doesn’t open up much.

Here’s a lineup using only forwards who would need to clear waivers for next year, assuming we re-sign Lemieux and Moore:

Iafallo - Kopitar - Kempe
Fiala - Byfield - Vilardi
Moore - Danault - Arvidsson
Lemieux - Lizotte - Grundstrom
Fagemo - Kupari - Thomas
Madden - JAD - Dudas

That’s not even keeping in mind guys like Turcotte, Helenius, Pinelli, and Chromiak, who aren’t that far away.

Something has to give here soon.

 

[ibleedkings]

Next year will be really interesting regardless because Kupari, Fagemo, Thomas, Madden, Dudas, and Villalta will all require waivers. Those first three are the only ones we likely worry much about, but if Kupari is waived he’ll almost certainly be claimed.

Who do we move to create a roster spot for Kupari though? Moore and Lemieux are the only UFA forwards and I have to think they’ll be re-signed. Edler is the only UFA defenseman, and although he likely goes, that doesn’t open up much.

Here’s a lineup using only forwards who would need to clear waivers for next year, assuming we re-sign Lemieux and Moore:

Iafallo - Kopitar - Kempe
Fiala - Byfield - Vilardi
Moore - Danault - Arvidsson
Lemieux - Lizotte - Grundstrom
Fagemo - Kupari - Thomas
Madden - JAD - Dudas

That’s not even keeping in mind guys like Turcotte, Helenius, Pinelli, and Chromiak, who aren’t that far away.

Something has to give here soon.

You left out Kaliyev

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Next year will be really interesting regardless because Kupari, Fagemo, Thomas, Madden, Dudas, and Villalta will all require waivers. Those first three are the only ones we likely worry much about, but if Kupari is waived he’ll almost certainly be claimed.

Who do we move to create a roster spot for Kupari though? Moore and Lemieux are the only UFA forwards and I have to think they’ll be re-signed. Edler is the only UFA defenseman, and although he likely goes, that doesn’t open up much.

Here’s a lineup using only forwards who would need to clear waivers for next year, assuming we re-sign Lemieux and Moore:

Iafallo - Kopitar - Kempe
Fiala - Byfield - Vilardi
Moore - Danault - Arvidsson
Lemieux - Lizotte - Grundstrom
Fagemo - Kupari - Thomas
Madden - JAD - Dudas

That’s not even keeping in mind guys like Turcotte, Helenius, Pinelli, and Chromiak, who aren’t that far away.

Something has to give here soon.

The hilarious irony of Blake’s deranged slow rolling of every prospect in the organization is that we’ll wind up losing decent players like Kupari for below market value.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I keep wondering if they're showcasing Kempe at C for a team like CBJ for Gavrikov or something but it's not much of a showcase lol

The waivers issue is concerning because there's an equally intimidating list the following season, so it's not like this upcoming logjam is all we need to solve.

No wonder dudes are restless, its not that they're demanding an immediate callup, i'ts just that if I'm, say, Madden for example, give me a chance with a different org now instead of running me out for two years with no intention of bringing me into the league before I get passed over by the entire NHL.

 

[Schrute farms]

The forward lineup crunch is part of the reason why i think it's odd to hear that Blake is working on a Moore extension. Unless you have plans to trade Kempe/VA at the TDL or offseason. I like Moore, but really what's the LT roster construction plan here? I honestly don't think he has one.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

The forward lineup crunch is part of the reason why i think it's odd to hear that Blake is working on a Moore extension. Unless you have plans to trade Kempe/VA at the TDL or offseason. I like Moore, but really what's the LT roster construction plan here? I honestly don't think he has one.

I take moore over all of them frankly

He's immensely useful even when not scoring

Theoretically as they age Danault-Moore-x are our pkers/stopper line

 

[kings11]

The hilarious irony of Blake’s deranged slow rolling of every prospect in the organization is that we’ll wind up losing decent players like Kupari for below market value.

Why would they lose Kupari for less than market value?
Assuming these youngsters can overtake some vets, there are spots to be had.!
That whole fourth line is replaceable and assuming Moore resigns then that probably means Arvy won’t get extended.
So four open spots and possible a 5th if a kid really breaks out and forces a move. Looking at you Adrian Kempe

So of those kids we’ve all been waiting for, whose really looked like they belong? Not the whole, oh they’ve been in the system for years they deserve a shot bs.. who’s forced themselves up? Spence % but then who?
Turcotte - has been injured and concussed
Madden - hasn’t done anything
Dudas - ^^^
Fagemo - is ok, he can shoot but the rest of his game is lacking
Chromiak - is a noob
Ward - is a big body depth guy
Helenius - is our future 4C
Lee - has potential
Grans - still rounding his game
And so on and so on…
Some of these kids will be moved for pieces we desperately need but it’s not because they’ve been slow rolled but because they really haven’t stood out in Ontario.