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

[Axl Rhoadz]

You better be considered to have a Top 5 prospect pool if you give away nearly all of your real NHL players of value for picks/prospects and then never trade picks or prospects for pretty much five years while routinely drafting high in the draft because the NHL team sucks so much.

The comment is regarding the development part of that B+ grade. That's probably an A+ after last year's draft from so many that were crowning Blake's "unbelievable turnaround of the worst prospect pool into the best prospect pool" but now we are sitting here with a lot of question marks but the grade is still a B+. The results so far say that they actually suck at drafting or they suck at development: combining the two in to one grade is generous to Management.

Let's do one more summer of me having to remind everyone that Lombardi turned what was considered a shit pipeline into what was considered a Top 5 prospect pool for a few seasons as well. That Top 5 ranking was not supported by Kopitar because he immediately graduated and it only had Doughty in it for one ranking as well. Even if you want to include them, Blake has also had a 2, 5 and 8OA to support his pool rankings. Lombardi had Hickey/Bernier/Lewis/Teubert at the forefront of a pool that was Top 5. You shit all over NHL ice to pick high in the draft while also accumulating more prospects and high picks, well, you're going to get a Top 5 ranking just by taking whoever the CSB or Bobby Mac have as the BPA when you draft.

I'm not saying these guys are write-offs at all. Lombardi wound up with guys like Martinez and Dwight King that didn't move the needle for the rankings and Blake will have some of that as well with Spence and others; however, you'd really like to see more out of the majority of the prospect pool: especially the 1st round picks. Due to the performance of the "Blake is a magician!!!" prospect pool to date, it is extremely fair to wonder why a fan would grade them as a B+ for drafting and development.

I think what you are saying is...the category should be split into TWO categories: 1) Drafting 2) Development

Then you might see something like this:

Drafting = A
Development = Incomplete (Can't grade on something that you don't know the answer to yet)

 

[Kurrilino]

What else can it be when the Kings have been considered to have one of the top (if not #1) prospect pools in the league?

There are 2 parts. Drafting is one the 1st.
Why i am more than happy with our drafting, i kinda question the development.
We had the luxurious position of having no expectations at all but kept playing the vest over the youngsters.
This seems like a waste of time to me

 

[KINGS17]

You better be considered to have a Top 5 prospect pool if you give away nearly all of your real NHL players of value for picks/prospects and then never trade picks or prospects for pretty much five years while routinely drafting high in the draft because the NHL team sucks so much.

The comment is regarding the development part of that B+ grade. That's probably an A+ after last year's draft from so many that were crowning Blake's "unbelievable turnaround of the worst prospect pool into the best prospect pool" but now we are sitting here with a lot of question marks but the grade is still a B+. The results so far say that they actually suck at drafting or they suck at development: combining the two in to one grade is generous to Management.

Let's do one more summer of me having to remind everyone that Lombardi turned what was considered a shit pipeline into what was considered a Top 5 prospect pool for a few seasons as well. That Top 5 ranking was not supported by Kopitar because he immediately graduated and it only had Doughty in it for one ranking as well. Even if you want to include them, Blake has also had a 2, 5 and 8OA to support his pool rankings. Lombardi had Hickey/Bernier/Lewis/Teubert at the forefront of a pool that was Top 5. You shit all over NHL ice to pick high in the draft while also accumulating more prospects and high picks, well, you're going to get a Top 5 ranking just by taking whoever the CSB or Bobby Mac have as the BPA when you draft.

I'm not saying these guys are write-offs at all. Lombardi wound up with guys like Martinez and Dwight King that didn't move the needle for the rankings and Blake will have some of that as well with Spence and others; however, you'd really like to see more out of the majority of the prospect pool: especially the 1st round picks. Due to the performance of the "Blake is a magician!!!" prospect pool to date, it is extremely fair to wonder why a fan would grade them as a B+ for drafting and development.

Blake has done the part any GM could do by hitting the "EASY" button. It is now time for serious moves, and incorporating his picks into the NHL lineup. If they can't do it, then the current regime will have failed.

 

[DoktorJeep]

Debating Lombardi’s record as all time Kings GM is arguing that his teams weren’t successful enough to rank as all time bests. And that’s ignoring the 2012-14 Kings would be in the top 5 of franchises in the post cap era.

Trying to equate Blake’s “successes” to Lombardi’s is ludicrous. Any objective evaluation would put Beverly and Taylor ahead of Blake. Those guys are legitimate B+/B grades based on results vs kool aid drunk fan polls. Even Vachon has the cred for a blockbuster trade that moved the needle more than Blake has dreamed about.

Giving a passing grade for vision is a joke. BLucs vision is based on getting the most out of the guys who get paid the most. That day to day, season to season philosophy is the most narrow, unstrategic form of vision possible. The only achievable objectives under that vision are playoff also ran, copacetic locker room, decent ticket sales, and innumerable excuses for never getting over the hump. Or as the sycophants like to proclaim “context”.

Normally, you can staff management with hacks and be a budget team to get those results. Somehow AEG is willing to spend to the cap to get mediocre outcomes. Somehow they’ve bought into the unquantifiable value of maximizing fan sentimentality. It’s like doubling down on a crap hand. Plain to see Dan Beckerman sucks at poker.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

This is officially the hard part.

Nothing Blake has done to this point will be remembered fondly if what happens next is a wet fart. There are expectations of a step forward now. if the building blocks up to this point are, in fact, as solid as they're getting credit for, then this is a team that needs to advance the rounds and look dangerous.

 

[2-4 Slashin]

imagine, he might finally be breaking into the league after learning how to backcheck in ontario

Oh no you didn’t!!
Right?!
We’d grind and unpolished him until we made him the best 3rd line 2 way Center the NHL has ever seen!!!

 

[BigKing]

I think what you are saying is...the category should be split into TWO categories: 1) Drafting 2) Development

Then you might see something like this:

Drafting = A
Development = Incomplete (Can't grade on something that you don't know the answer to yet)

Yes. But can you give the drafting an A? Six first round draft picks so far. Exclude Clarke and it's safe to say that enough time has passed to confidently say these picks aren't where you hoped they would be. Or is it the development?

Either way, it is worrisome. I don't need to be told to be patient because I am: the ones that always reply with patience every single time keep preaching patience as the prospect is lost on waivers or flipped for a 4th round pick.

Been in the wilderness on Kings prospects for a long time now. 25+ years of following prospects will inform you on when to start worrying. We're at that stage.

 

[Sleeping Dog]

I'm talking about Richards and Carter both being on 12 year cap circumventing deals that every team had the opportunity to use to their advantage but the Kings DID use to their advantage.

Not suggesting they weren't shrewd or excellent in their use of the system just pointing out that the current CBA/"system" wouldn't allow for the kind of roster the Kings had in 2012.

Jesse,

Not meaning to come out of the blue and change the subject, but I listened to you interview of Daryl Evans. I had no idea of his interesting career path after leaving the Kings. Minor league player in NA, player in Europe, coach, car salesman. Good stuff!

 

[johnjm22]

This is officially the hard part.

Nothing Blake has done to this point will be remembered fondly if what happens next is a wet fart. There are expectations of a step forward now. if the building blocks up to this point are, in fact, as solid as they're getting credit for, then this is a team that needs to advance the rounds and look dangerous.

There's a thin line between success and failure.

Had it not been for Sutter in 2012, Dean probably gets fired and goes down as one of the worst GM's in franchise history. That Richards trade looks awful if the Kings don't win the SC.

But we did, so Dean looks like the best GM in franchise history instead of the worst.

Thin line indeed.

 

[King'sPawn]

Yes. But can you give the drafting an A? Six first round draft picks so far. Exclude Clarke and it's safe to say that enough time has passed to confidently say these picks aren't where you hoped they would be. Or is it the development?

Either way, it is worrisome. I don't need to be told to be patient because I am: the ones that always reply with patience every single time keep preaching patience as the prospect is lost on waivers or flipped for a 4th round pick.

Been in the wilderness on Kings prospects for a long time now. 25+ years of following prospects will inform you on when to start worrying. We're at that stage.

The bolded is key. Sure, be patient with Byfield. Let him simmer on the 3rd line until he suddenly explodes into a 1st line player, which may or may not happen. If my understanding of waivers is correct (and feel free to correct me, these are the nuances I haven't closely studied yet):

JAD, Andersson, Grundstrom and Vilardi are waiver eligible this season.

Kupari, Thomas, Madden, Bjornfot and others will be waiver eligible after this season.

Turcotte, Spence, Byfield, Kaliyev and Moverare are going to be waiver eligible after next season.

So that's 10 forwards and 3 defensemen (along with other prospects who aren't as highly touted or expected to be NHLers) who are waiver eligible after the conclusion of next season. None of which have regularly played in the top-6 yet.

Not all are expected to be hits, but it's a major risk at best to start waiving these players, because they could be lost for nothing. You can keep players in a bubble on the bottom-6 until they are ready, but if your development isn't getting them ready faster to play bigger roles, players like Thomas may simply never get a shot.

You can say "they'll get a shot if there's an injury". But then you're also expecting a rookie who has not yet played an NHL game to "seize the spot" AND say "you have to be patient!" Because then you're just talking out of both sides of your mouth.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

This is officially the hard part.

Nothing Blake has done to this point will be remembered fondly if what happens next is a wet fart. There are expectations of a step forward now. if the building blocks up to this point are, in fact, as solid as they're getting credit for, then this is a team that needs to advance the rounds and look dangerous.

I think if next season all they did was be a very good regular season and lose in 1st round, they’d still be on schedule…maybe even a little ahead.

 

[All The Kings Men]

Jesse,

Not meaning to come out of the blue and change the subject, but I listened to you interview of Daryl Evans. I had no idea of his interesting career path after leaving the Kings. Minor league player in NA, player in Europe, coach, car salesman. Good stuff!

https://all-the-kings-men.simplecast.com/episodes/12-06-16-daryl-evans-50-kings-sfLWJdG4

Go ahead and give that one a listen for more detail on his incredible life.

Daryl Evans is a treasure.

 

[FSL KINGS]

Jordan Nolan should have been given a longer look at center.

The Summer is long & dark.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Hate to get away from the important discussion on why we sucked 5-6 years ago, but who else is pumped about this next season?!

 

[HookKing]

The Kings were so dialed in 2012 it wasn't even funny. They were peaking at the right time, defensive corps was unbelievably good, Quick was amazing and the team was just laser focused. Their possession numbers were insane and the streak on the road was just incredible. This doesn't happen with just run of the mill teams. They were special.

Well, you left out this special team did everything but score goals. Dead last in the entire league until JC arose.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Well, you left out this special team did everything but score goals. Dead last in the entire league until JC arose.

f***ing Sturm!!

 

[KINGS17]

https://all-the-kings-men.simplecast.com/episodes/12-06-16-daryl-evans-50-kings-sfLWJdG4

Go ahead and give that one a listen for more detail on his incredible life.

Daryl Evans is a treasure.

God Bless

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I think if next season all they did was be a very good regular season and lose in 1st round, they’d still be on schedule…maybe even a little ahead.

Like I said a lot this year, I can agree, but the 'how' is important.

If they're a 100pt team but inconveniently draw Colorado in the first round? Sure.

If they die fighting in the first round again while Byfield, Vilardi, Kupari aren't playing in the NHL OR AHL...big picture is important.

But they're at the stage where the expectations have to be raised and simply treading water isn't really an option imo.

 

[johnjm22]

If we're say 30 games into the season, and Byfield hasn't looked any better while playing 3rd line center, still struggling, what will the Kings do?

What should they do if that happens?

 

[Cook24]

If we're say 30 games into the season, and Byfield hasn't looked any better while playing 3rd line center, still struggling, what will the Kings do?

What should they do if that happens?

Go all in for matthews when he’s a UFA lol

 

[FSL KINGS]

Happy Byfield day!!!!

 

[yankeeking]

If we're say 30 games into the season, and Byfield hasn't looked any better while playing 3rd line center, still struggling, what will the Kings do?

What should they do if that happens?

I think if that happens there are so many variables, are we contending without him , has GV and Kupari stepped up , has 55 played well enough on defense to wait for his offense to develop , technically this would normally be his first year he would be eligible for the A , turning 20 any day now , so more time there to allow his brain and body to work together wouldn’t be the end of the world except for the told you so and he’s a bust posts but you can just ignore those . This is a big year for the kid let’s hope he stays healthy and is given a fair shot by the coaches and earns some PP time , seems a 6”5 225 lb center with great hand to eye coordination Could, should fit on th PP sometimes if guys like Iaffalo and Brown got time and couldn’t even have shots bounce off them and into the net

 

[deaderhead28]

Jesse,

Not meaning to come out of the blue and change the subject, but I listened to you interview of Daryl Evans. I had no idea of his interesting career path after leaving the Kings. Minor league player in NA, player in Europe, coach, car salesman. Good stuff!

My impression of Daryl Evans during the Kings outdoor game and the Kings downtown Colorado Springs Colorado fan get together the night before is nothing but pure class and made himself available to the fans, class act 100%. Not to mention Nic Nickson was nothing short of classy as well at the fan get together in Colorado Springsr.

 

[Sol]

I’m not sure what to make of Calgary. They made good moves to fill the voids that opened this off-season but at the same time you can’t really force such cohesion in a few months and expect it to work.

I don’t think Kadri will do as well as they’d like.

King can easily pass them still I think

 

[kings11]

I’m not sure what to make of Calgary. They made good moves to fill the voids that opened this off-season but at the same time you can’t really force such cohesion in a few months and expect it to work.

I don’t think Kadri will do as well as they’d like.

King can easily pass them still I think

Yeah, I don’t see Calgary back in the POs…
Oilers
Kings
Canucks.. unless Vegas gets a real G, they’re DOA