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

[BringTheReign]

Also the existence of the Ducks is a factor. Orange County has a population of about 3 million, the Ducks fanbase is smaller than the Kings and it's tough to say how many would follow the Kings if the Ducks didn't even exist, but if you take even 50% (I'd say that is a conservative guess) of the active Ducks fans who go to games/read sites like the Athletic and made them into the same thing for the Kings that makes a pretty good difference into the Kings fanbase where the media might be more open to covering the team. In hindsight a second SoCal hockey team was a mistake by the league.

I grew up in north Orange County during the arrival of the Ducks, and I'd say about 75% of the kids I played hockey with switched from being Kings fans to Ducks fans during their first decade. Hell, I was even a fan of both teams during Selanne's first stint there because I met him at meet-and-greet and he was super cool. When they traded him I came back to the Kings full-time and never waivered again.

 

[All The Kings Men]

The detailed numbers on the size of the Kings fanbase must just be horrible though. I wish it weren’t the case but all the evidence with the decisions these media companies continue to make clearly tells us that the Kings don’t move the needle at all.

One of the most consistent fights I have with people (aside from getting rid of the draft) is the fact that we should stop pretending we're a "big market" team.

I've been a Kings fan living in Southern California most of my life. I have friends that are season ticket holders for teams in cities they don't live in and will pay money to travel to to watch games.

They don't know who Connor McDavid is.

 

[Herby]

Just curious, why would you want to get rid of the draft? And what would you replace it with?

An academy system similar to European soccer?
Every team gets a certain amount of money to sign players of a certain age?

 

[Schrute farms]

I grew up in north Orange County during the arrival of the Ducks, and I'd say about 75% of the kids I played hockey with switched from being Kings fans to Ducks fans during their first decade. Hell, I was even a fan of both teams during Selanne's first stint there because I met him at meet-and-greet and he was super cool. When they traded him I came back to the Kings full-time and never waivered again.

My friends and I grew up in OC (& still live here)...pre and post Ducks. Never once have any of us considered the Ducks as anything other than the enemy ....and a 2nd rate clown show . Once and always LA Kings.
You should be embarrassed

 

[KingsFan7824]

The problem is he can only travel with one team at a time, has to cover more miles than he'll get credit for, and more things that will water down the coverage no matter how good he is.

Absolutely, but there won't be some huge groundswell for more coverage because of that. Kings and Ducks fans will take it, and be grateful anyone in charge cares enough to even have one dude on the scene.

One of the most consistent fights I have with people (aside from getting rid of the draft) is the fact that we should stop pretending we're a "big market" team.

I've been a Kings fan living in Southern California most of my life. I have friends that are season ticket holders for teams in cities they don't live in and will pay money to travel to to watch games.

They don't know who Connor McDavid is.

For hockey, the Kings are pretty much the Devils, except actually in the big market.

 

[bsu]

Nobody cares about the Ducks anyways, so I guess you are a step ahead at this point.

I beg to differ Anyways the Stephens/Athletic news sucks for the both of us, he is a good writing and writes decent articles but he is late to any news that breaks. I'm sure many So Cal fans will be cancelling their membership especially after looking at the LA fans in his most recent piece explaining hes covering both teams......Whenever the Ducks make a signing or trade or anything happens we usually don't hear from Stephens until later in the day or even the next day. Covering two teams is too much, sad everyone cutting budgets and getting cheaper.

 

[Herby]

The Ducks had the lowest local TV ratings in the league for the fifth time in the last six years. (source: Sports Business Journal)

Many of these games are 2nd half of double headers on Wednesday nights with some Sunday's second-half doubleheaders mixed in as well, where you basically have the Ducks, Sharks, Knights Kings and Kraken as viable options.

The Ducks have 12 home games on Wednesday nights this season and 7 home games on Sunday nights.

The Kings have one Wednesday home-game all year (which is a TNT Game) and 2 Sunday home games all year (1 vs a CAN team) because Wed-Fri-Sunday are typically basketball days at Staples greatly limiting the Kings availability for those games.

Vegas has 4 Wednesday home games this year and 3 of them are on TNT as part of the double header.

Seattle and SJ project to be doormats.

Do you think networks would willingly put a bad team in a market 3.5x smaller that gets worse TV viewership (not saying the Kings is good) over a team in a larger market who made the playoffs last season and projects to contend again?

The Ducks are a Wed-Fri-Sun team and the Kings are a Tue-Thu-Sat team, that is the only reason for the national tv discrepancy.

I usually enjoy your contributions to these forums, but this gotcha post was not one of your better efforts.

 

[All The Kings Men]

Just curious, why would you want to get rid of the draft? And what would you replace it with?

Happy to discuss it privately.

 

[Herby]

And yes, as Jesse pointed out the Ducks have one of the most exciting and electric young players the league has seen in a long time, that is a fair point to add. But even with that their own fans didn't turn out to watch, are people really going to watch a bad Anaheim team to see Zegras over a team in a playoff race? This is the NHL, not the NBA, players are less a factor.

It is still more to do with scheduling and the Ducks insane amount of Wed games than anything else. And even the Kings get more coverage because of geography. You can't have a double header on a weekday featuring games in Pittsburgh and Chicago or Boston and New York. There has to be west coast teams.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I mean logistics aside if I'm not a Kings fan the Kings aren't much of a draw for me.

Your HoF studs are pretty boring two way guys and aging.

Your exciting goalie is probably having his swan song.

Your 'exciting young prospects' are on their way to being good little checkers and getting limited time anyway.

No one is tuning in to see Trevor Moore and Alex Iafallo scoring 50 points.

One of the smallest teams in the league and no one is hitting or fighting. I guess once in a while you'll get Lemeiux hijinks.

Unless you get a boner from two way hockey, and luckily I do, the Kings are a sleeping pill for anyone outside LA.

 

[Lt Dan]

Whenever the Ducks make a signing or trade or anything happens we usually don't hear from Stephens until later in the day or even the next day. Covering two teams is too much, sad everyone cutting budgets and getting cheaper.

Once again, no one cares. Go drink your juice box and then take a nap

 

[KINGS17]

Did you consider you might be arguing with people that have been fans for 40+ years that have been friends with players/staff and/or friends of friends/family of the players/staff? They might be able to have an informed opinion too.

You are allowed to have an opinion, based on what you know. I expressed my opinion based on what I know and believe to be true.

I think people forget just how accessible all these guys were until maybe 2015ish, hell how many Kings and staff did we run into drunk at many frozen furys, I had a full on coffee date with Terry Murray once on accident.

They don't do it much because most people don't feel the need to brag but I know of quite a few posters here who are arguably more 'inside' than anyone but the literal staff, some of them have broken trades via PM amongst other things, the smart ones don't publicly milk it, they just bite their tongues and enjoy the behind-the-scenes.

Beyond all that a lot more of it that gets confirmed is just common sense and occam's razor anyway.

I don't seek or receive the kind of information I used to have access to from 2006-2015, and that's fine.

 

[Bandit]

Once again, no one cares. Go drink your juice box and then take a nap

I want a juice box and a f***ing nap...

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

You are allowed to have an opinion, based on what you know. I expressed my opinion based on what I know and believe to be true.


I don't seek or receive the kind of information I used to have access to from 2006-2015, and that's fine.

Of course, and that's absolutely fine. No need to explain or justify yourself. I'm just addressing the theory that everyone here is simply an internet mouth breather with no insight or inside info wildly speculating when I've seen more inside info (later confirmed) in my PM box than anywhere else. It's just that the smart, sourced people have some tact and no need to chest thump about it.

I want a juice box and a f***ing nap...

Where do I sign up

 

[DoktorJeep]

Do you really have to know people inside the org to recognize the futility in front of your eyes?

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

The Ducks had the lowest local TV ratings in the league for the fifth time in the last six years. (source: Sports Business Journal)

Many of these games are 2nd half of double headers on Wednesday nights with some Sunday's second-half doubleheaders mixed in as well, where you basically have the Ducks, Sharks, Knights Kings and Kraken as viable options.

The Ducks have 12 home games on Wednesday nights this season and 7 home games on Sunday nights.

The Kings have one Wednesday home-game all year (which is a TNT Game) and 2 Sunday home games all year (1 vs a CAN team) because Wed-Fri-Sunday are typically basketball days at Staples greatly limiting the Kings availability for those games.

Vegas has 4 Wednesday home games this year and 3 of them are on TNT as part of the double header.

Seattle and SJ project to be doormats.

Do you think networks would willingly put a bad team in a market 3.5x smaller that gets worse TV viewership (not saying the Kings is good) over a team in a larger market who made the playoffs last season and projects to contend again?

The Ducks are a Wed-Fri-Sun team and the Kings are a Tue-Thu-Sat team, that is the only reason for the national tv discrepancy.

I usually enjoy your contributions to these forums, but this gotcha post was not one of them

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I am guessing that Durzi is in a holding pattern pending how Clarke looks at the rookie camp and tournament. I think there is still a chance he is traded if they are convinced Clarke is NHL ready.



I think that is a fair description of the situation. Their FF coverage is excellent.

I think the Kings keep things pretty close to the vest and with the lack of people covering the team it's hard to get inside information anyways. I think they use Hoven as their useful idiot to leak what they want to be leaked (for whatever reason) and that is about as much as we can hope for as far as inside information.

Curious though, don't you think that would fly in the face of everything you have said in regards to how they handle prospects, or...legit question, are you namely speaking on just forwards?

 

[Lt Dan]

I want a juice box and a f***ing nap...

Meet me at the Trader Joes on Sepulveda and Slauson and bring $100 and a pitching wedge.
You'll need a ride home.

 

[Herby]

Curious though, don't you think that would fly in the face of everything you have said in regards to how they handle prospects, or...legit question, are you namely speaking on just forwards?

I have said numerous times on this board I have no issues with how the Kings handle defenseman and forwards taken outside the 1st round. In fact I have said the Kings work outside round 1 might be the best in the league.

Whether you want to acknowledge it or whether you agree with the decisions or not ,the development decisions on Turcotte, Byfield, Kupari and Vilardi were unusual and not what most other teams would have done in the same spot. (They are ranked in order of how strange they were)

Again you can think they are right, that is your business, but can we at least agree they were not traditional development paths compared to the rest?

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I have said numerous times on this board I have no issues with how the Kings handle defenseman and forwards taken outside the 1st round. In fact I have said the Kings work outside round 1 might be the best in the league.

Whether you want to acknowledge it or whether you agree with the decisions or not ,the development decisions on Turcotte, Byfield, Kupari and Vilardi were unusual and not what most other teams would have done in the same spot. (They are ranked in order of how strange they were)

Again you can think they are right, that is your business, but can we at least agree they were not traditional development paths compared to the rest?

No, I was asking because on a good day I remember the morning.......that's about it.....

But....having said that, Clarke WAS drafted in the 1st round.....so you theorizing that they would trade Durzi to play Clarke, does not coincide with what you are saying......about how the Kings handle players chosen in the 1st round.....right?

 

[kingsfan28]

I grew up in north Orange County during the arrival of the Ducks, and I'd say about 75% of the kids I played hockey with switched from being Kings fans to Ducks fans during their first decade. Hell, I was even a fan of both teams during Selanne's first stint there because I met him at meet-and-greet and he was super cool. When they traded him I came back to the Kings full-time and never waivered again.

South OC for me. When the Ducks arrived many of my friends who were Kings fan jumped ship. Some returned , and some are still original season ticket holders. Hate them or not, they've been really good at getting OC kids involved with the game.

 

[kingsfan28]

I beg to differ Anyways the Stephens/Athletic news sucks for the both of us, he is a good writing and writes decent articles but he is late to any news that breaks. I'm sure many So Cal fans will be cancelling their membership especially after looking at the LA fans in his most recent piece explaining hes covering both teams......Whenever the Ducks make a signing or trade or anything happens we usually don't hear from Stephens until later in the day or even the next day. Covering two teams is too much, sad everyone cutting budgets and getting cheaper.

Tha Ducks and AVS have the same amount of games [14]. WTF did i miss?

 

[bsu]

Tha Ducks and AVS have the same amount of games [14]. WTF did i miss?

Ducks ain't very good but they are fun to watch and have a lot of young players excelling. Anytime Zegras touches the puck you never know what he's going to try (too bad half of it doesn't work yet still). They are fun to watch because chances go both ways... usually 2 on 1 and breakaways happen quite a bit because a lot of risk vs reward going on both ways.

 

[Mcsorley47]

My friends and I grew up in OC (& still live here)...pre and post Ducks. Never once have any of us considered the Ducks as anything other than the enemy ....and a 2nd rate clown show . Once and always LA Kings.
You should be embarrassed

I live less than 15 minutes from the Honda Center.

My friends mom gave us tickets to go watch 99 play at the Forum and that was it. I was hooked.

I can remember back than being scared to drive down to the Forum. Some of those streets leading up to it were not good, at all. Businesses would have the chalk paint advertising on the windows with misspelled words and the banks would have bars instead of open glass windows.

You never really knew what random homeless guy was going to come out of the darkness or some bushes, as you walk to or back from the Forum and ask you real loud if you had any change!

 

[KINGS17]

Do you really have to know people inside the org to recognize the futility in front of your eyes?

Nah, but when it happens you just think, "Yeah, I knew that was going to happen."