Speculation: LA Kings News, Rumors, Roster Thread part VII

[ScoreZeGoals]

Bringing back AA basically says you are not ready to slot any prospects into the top six. It's an indictment on the prospects and/or the development system. Sooner or later you need to give some of these kids a serious chance/minutes, or move them

 

[Sol]

Bringing back AA basically says you are not ready to slot any prospects into the top six. It's an indictment on the prospects and/or the development system

f*** them though. AA shows in one game what none of the rookies have come close to doing.

The development team for forwards is trash and Blake should do some firing

The rookies are underwhelming too.

All are true at the same time but that doesn’t negate the fact that AA has shown to be far more of a difference maker, until the Kids come close to showing something. Bring him back.

 

[DyslexicTom]

I just did some back of the napkin math.

The Kings special teams this season are atrocious, and their shooting percentage isn't great, either. If all of them were equal to the 16th best team in each category, their goal differential so far this season would be +53, more or less.

+53 would be the 5th best in the league.

The caveat is that this is all theorycrafting; it doesn't take in account that the Kings are set up to be a high volume shooting team.

 

[NikF]

Before this season almost everyone would say the Kings rebuild was tracking better than the Ducks.

After this season, that question already gives you a pause. Ducks have successfully integrated their youth into core roles. The Kings have failed to integrate even one of their half-dozen prized forward prospects into a core role. The ones they did integrate are all on D and they were forced to do that partly because of injuries.

This season is a veteran-driven playoff push that also isn't serious Cup contention. It delayed for another year and possibly even thrown off track the development of key young assets in the pipeline.

If the goal is the Cup, after this season who made a bigger step towards becoming a Cup contending team? Anaheim or LA? For my money that is Anaheim. It's difficult to imagine this season for LA as anything better than a moderate failure or at best a neutral delay, given the mandate to build a new Cup contending core, which is even the more damning given that is widely believed that the Kings assets both in quantity and quality were superior to Anaheim's.

 

[TwzKing]

Before this season almost everyone would say the Kings rebuild was tracking better than the Ducks.

After this season, that question already gives you a pause. Ducks have successfully integrated their youth into core roles. The Kings have failed to integrate even one of their half-dozen prized forward prospects into a core role. The ones they did integrate are all on D and they were forced to do that partly because of injuries.

This season is a veteran-driven playoff push that also isn't serious Cup contention. It delayed for another year and possibly even thrown off track the development of key young assets in the pipeline.

If the goal is the Cup, after this season who made a bigger step towards becoming a Cup contending team? Anaheim or LA? For my money that is Anaheim. It's difficult to imagine this season for LA as anything better than a moderate failure or at best a neutral delay, given the mandate to build a new Cup contending core, which is even the more damning given that is widely believed that the Kings assets both in quantity and quality were superior to Anaheim's.

I think everyone around here agrees getting the kids toes wet in the post season is great. No one thinks will do better than a round. Its not delayed its progress

 

[Statto]

AHL Stats this season

Vilardi 39 GP 15 G 23 A 38 P 0.97 PPG
JAD 51 GP 23 G 23 A 46 P 0.90 PPG
Tkachev 39 GP 7 G 22 A 29 P 0.74 PPG
Fagemo 60 GP 27 G 16 A 43 P 0.72 PPG

I really don't think Tkachev would have produced any better at the NHL level than the guys he failed to outproduce at the AHL level. It was a good signing to take a chance on the guy, but I'm not too concerned with him not getting a longer look.

He managed to be a healthy scratch in the AHL for a few games IIRC, so theres something missing there. People say he got screwed but there will be a reason for him going down and staying there and it won’t be because he’s Russian or anything like that. It’s probably as simple as able/willing to play the system correctly. We’re in the play-off hunt largely because the players are all buying into the system 5/5 and are executing it. Even AA is doing that at the moment which will keep him in the lineup. We do not have anyone playing at an elite level currently so they can’t carry anyone not executing the system correctly if we want to make the post season.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Before this season almost everyone would say the Kings rebuild was tracking better than the Ducks.

After this season, that question already gives you a pause. Ducks have successfully integrated their youth into core roles. The Kings have failed to integrate even one of their half-dozen prized forward prospects into a core role. The ones they did integrate are all on D and they were forced to do that partly because of injuries.

This season is a veteran-driven playoff push that also isn't serious Cup contention. It delayed for another year and possibly even thrown off track the development of key young assets in the pipeline.

If the goal is the Cup, after this season who made a bigger step towards becoming a Cup contending team? Anaheim or LA? For my money that is Anaheim. It's difficult to imagine this season for LA as anything better than a moderate failure or at best a neutral delay, given the mandate to build a new Cup contending core, which is even the more damning given that is widely believed that the Kings assets both in quantity and quality were superior to Anaheim's.

Other than the Coyotes of the world, who is it that doesn't have such a "mandate"?

It's ok to make the playoffs.

The Ducks have Zegras, Terry, and Drysdale up for new contracts after next season. Gibson will be 29 soon. Fowler is 30. They couldn't even get Dadonov because they were on his NTC.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Before this season almost everyone would say the Kings rebuild was tracking better than the Ducks.

After this season, that question already gives you a pause. Ducks have successfully integrated their youth into core roles. The Kings have failed to integrate even one of their half-dozen prized forward prospects into a core role. The ones they did integrate are all on D and they were forced to do that partly because of injuries.

This season is a veteran-driven playoff push that also isn't serious Cup contention. It delayed for another year and possibly even thrown off track the development of key young assets in the pipeline.

If the goal is the Cup, after this season who made a bigger step towards becoming a Cup contending team? Anaheim or LA? For my money that is Anaheim. It's difficult to imagine this season for LA as anything better than a moderate failure or at best a neutral delay, given the mandate to build a new Cup contending core, which is even the more damning given that is widely believed that the Kings assets both in quantity and quality were superior to Anaheim's.

You know who else integrated youth? Buffalo....Arizona....Ottawa....

Yea, let's be like them.

 

[kings11]

I think Moore showed flashes that he could be a 40 point player before. There were definitely people around here who thought he could.

Prior to the season, if you asked people what was more likely; Moore scoring 40pts, or Kempe scoring 30+ goals, I think most people would've picked the former.

I think a lot of people thought he could carry over his momentum from the Worlds but damn… he’s bypassed Arvidsson and Iafallo

 

[AlphaBravo]

Before this season almost everyone would say the Kings rebuild was tracking better than the Ducks.

After this season, that question already gives you a pause. Ducks have successfully integrated their youth into core roles. The Kings have failed to integrate even one of their half-dozen prized forward prospects into a core role. The ones they did integrate are all on D and they were forced to do that partly because of injuries.

This season is a veteran-driven playoff push that also isn't serious Cup contention. It delayed for another year and possibly even thrown off track the development of key young assets in the pipeline.

If the goal is the Cup, after this season who made a bigger step towards becoming a Cup contending team? Anaheim or LA? For my money that is Anaheim. It's difficult to imagine this season for LA as anything better than a moderate failure or at best a neutral delay, given the mandate to build a new Cup contending core, which is even the more damning given that is widely believed that the Kings assets both in quantity and quality were superior to Anaheim's.

Completely agree with these comments. What exactly have we accomplished if the vets who won’t be on this team in a few years are helping us squeak into the playoffs? We will get swept in the 1st round. It will be fun to see post season hockey, but long term we have not made much progress except on D.

 

[yankeeking]

Before this season almost everyone would say the Kings rebuild was tracking better than the Ducks.

After this season, that question already gives you a pause. Ducks have successfully integrated their youth into core roles. The Kings have failed to integrate even one of their half-dozen prized forward prospects into a core role. The ones they did integrate are all on D and they were forced to do that partly because of injuries.

This season is a veteran-driven playoff push that also isn't serious Cup contention. It delayed for another year and possibly even thrown off track the development of key young assets in the pipeline.

If the goal is the Cup, after this season who made a bigger step towards becoming a Cup contending team? Anaheim or LA? For my money that is Anaheim. It's difficult to imagine this season for LA as anything better than a moderate failure or at best a neutral delay, given the mandate to build a new Cup contending core, which is even the more damning given that is widely believed that the Kings assets both in quantity and quality were superior to Anaheim's.

Terry is in year five of pro hockey and scored more this year than the first four together ,development comes at different speeds ……. go back to the trick shots from zegras against buffalo And the ducks were in a playoff spot then , maybe your core should practice back checking instead of tricks and then you could say they were leading the team forward , of course only time will tell but here is more than one way to build a contender

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Completely agree with these comments. What exactly have we accomplished if the vets who won’t be on this team in a few years are helping us squeak into the playoffs? We will get swept in the 1st round. It will be fun to see post season hockey, but long term we have not made much progress except on D.

I don't think I will ever understand this concept of winning less games equates to making more progress. I guess I'm just slow...

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

The Kings have failed to integrate even one of their half-dozen prized forward prospects into a core role.

Since when is Kaliyev not considered a 'prized forward prospect'?

 

[KingsFan7824]

I don't think I will ever understand this concept of winning less games equates to making more progress. I guess I'm just slow...

Along with the sentiment that not only is this year pointless, but next season is also already written off because the vets likely won't be as good, or as average, as they are right now. Ok, but how much has gone wrong this year, and they're still potentially playing for home ice in the 1st rd?

Ok, so the vets won't be as good next year. Maybe Kaliyev will hit 30g, and Byfield will get 65pts. Oh, but they won't play enough to do that. You don't know that.

If you had listed all the things that went wrong this year in Sept, the question would've been exactly how bad will their record be? If this season can still happen with so many things going wrong, nobody knows what might go right next year. Nobody had Kempe at 35g. Nobody had Danault on the same planet as inching toward 30g. Maybe Petersen wins the Vezina next year.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Along with the sentiment that not only is this year pointless, but next season is also already written off because the vets likely won't be as good, or as average, as they are right now. Ok, but how much has gone wrong this year, and they're still potentially playing for home ice in the 1st rd?

Ok, so the vets won't be as good next year. Maybe Kaliyev will hit 30g, and Byfield will get 65pts. Oh, but they won't play enough to do that. You don't know that.

If you had listed all the things that went wrong this year in Sept, the question would've been exactly how bad will their record be? If this season can still happen with so many things going wrong, nobody knows what might go right next year. Nobody had Kempe at 35g. Nobody had Danault on the same planet as inching toward 30g. Maybe Petersen wins the Vezina next year.

Like I keep saying, I WANT THAT DAMN CRYSTAL BALL.....

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Before this season almost everyone would say the Kings rebuild was tracking better than the Ducks.

After this season, that question already gives you a pause. Ducks have successfully integrated their youth into core roles. The Kings have failed to integrate even one of their half-dozen prized forward prospects into a core role. The ones they did integrate are all on D and they were forced to do that partly because of injuries.

This season is a veteran-driven playoff push that also isn't serious Cup contention. It delayed for another year and possibly even thrown off track the development of key young assets in the pipeline.

If the goal is the Cup, after this season who made a bigger step towards becoming a Cup contending team? Anaheim or LA? For my money that is Anaheim. It's difficult to imagine this season for LA as anything better than a moderate failure or at best a neutral delay, given the mandate to build a new Cup contending core, which is even the more damning given that is widely believed that the Kings assets both in quantity and quality were superior to Anaheim's.

And let me ask you this, you think if the Ducks continued to trend towards a playoff spot that they would have still unloaded Rakell, Lindholm and Manson? f*** no. They aren't integrating their youth because it's the master plan, they are doing it because it turned out the team actually sucked and there was no other choice.

 

[kingskring]

 

[TruKingFan]

Before this season almost everyone would say the Kings rebuild was tracking better than the Ducks.

After this season, that question already gives you a pause. Ducks have successfully integrated their youth into core roles. The Kings have failed to integrate even one of their half-dozen prized forward prospects into a core role. The ones they did integrate are all on D and they were forced to do that partly because of injuries.

This season is a veteran-driven playoff push that also isn't serious Cup contention. It delayed for another year and possibly even thrown off track the development of key young assets in the pipeline.

If the goal is the Cup, after this season who made a bigger step towards becoming a Cup contending team? Anaheim or LA? For my money that is Anaheim. It's difficult to imagine this season for LA as anything better than a moderate failure or at best a neutral delay, given the mandate to build a new Cup contending core, which is even the more damning given that is widely believed that the Kings assets both in quantity and quality were superior to Anaheim's.

I’m willing to bet you $100 Kings will still have a better record than the Ducks this time next year. If you’re not GTFO and STFU.

 

[BringTheReign]

Can we all just take a step back and look at the defensive core we’ve had for most of this season? Yawney is a wizard.

 

[KingsFan7824]

And let me ask you this, you think if the Ducks continued to trend towards a playoff spot that they would have still unloaded Rakell, Lindholm and Manson? f*** no. They aren't integrating their youth because it's the master plan, they are doing it because it turned out the team actually sucked and there was no other choice.

The Ducks did nothing over the summer. They did go into this season with the idea of just letting the young guys play. Not that the coach didn't still play the vets. Old man Getzlaf will still end up averaging the most ice time at F for the Ducks. But they didn't add a Danault or Arvidsson. They didn't even add an AA.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

The Ducks did nothing over the summer. They did go into this season with the idea of just letting the young guys play. Not that the coach didn't still play the vets. Old man Getzlaf will still end up averaging the most ice time at F for the Ducks. But they didn't add a Danault or Arvidsson. They didn't even add an AA.

They also still had Bob Murray at the helm who has been drunk for the past 10 years.

 

[BringTheReign]

The Ducks did nothing over the summer. They did go into this season with the idea of just letting the young guys play. Not that the coach didn't still play the vets. Old man Getzlaf will still end up averaging the most ice time at F for the Ducks. But they didn't add a Danault or Arvidsson. They didn't even add an AA.

The last time the Kings had a successful rebuild they never sat pat like that. DL brought in players like Smyth, Handzus, Stoll, Greene, etc. even in years we weren’t going to be contenders.

I get what Anaheim’s logic was, but I don’t think it’s the only way either.

 

[Fat Elvis]

It wouldn't be a surprise if one of Edler or Maatta get resigned for next season IF a LHD isn't acquired in the offseason. I do hope Moverare returns, thinking he would make a fine extra dman that could fill in from time to time.

 

[Mats26]

Bringing back AA basically says you are not ready to slot any prospects into the top six. It's an indictment on the prospects and/or the development system. Sooner or later you need to give some of these kids a serious chance/minutes, or move them

How many 2-way plugs do we need. We move Brown, Lias Andersson and possibly Iaffalo(not popular I know) for space. We need scoring and skill, AA is skilled and can score, needs consistency for sure. I think he can fit with the kids. 1 year deal on a decent cap hit won't hinder the kids

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

The last time the Kings had a successful rebuild they never sat pat like that. DL brought in players like Smyth, Handzus, Stoll, Greene, etc. even in years we weren’t going to be contenders.

I get what Anaheim’s logic was, but I don’t think it’s the only way either.

Agreed.

And I don't think @NikF 's point is the existence/recruitment of those players--it's what the rest of us have been saying all season: guys need minutes and reps. They have too many guys vs. too many youth and it's easy to make an argument that the team is plateauing right now with overreliance on vets and little integration of youth. I think most of us thought, when they got Danault, that we'd see things like Brown-Kopitar-Turcotte or Danault-Arvidsson-Kaliyev--not permanently, but enough to keep giving them a taste, and PP time. Well, they mostly just stayed buried at under 12 minutes and no PP time all year (with the weird exception of the Fagemo callup). Hell, they called Tynan up over other guys! I don't think that's the 'only way,' but I wish some of the counterarguments would acknowledge we're at least not crazy for thinking that.

But I think it's also fair to the other points that we have no crystal ball, maybe next year they plan on doing it--the rest of us are just skeptical based on history and present, TM and most of this staff have no history of doing anything like that.