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

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FSL KINGS said:


It's ok RJ. You don't have to worry about N. Thompson anymore. Chuck stole him from us.
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:huh:
 
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Herby said:
The 20-21 Kings were not trying to make the playoffs, he was given a spot in a low pressure situation (that should have been given to QB) and he just did nothing with those 56 games to show that he was going to be a scoring line player in the NHL. Last year, sure they were expecting to make the playoffs and it became painfully apparent that Vilardi was never going to be able to play C effectively in the NHL.

He is 23 years old with 91 games of NHL experience. He is not a kid anymore. And again, just like no one on the pro-Blake everything crowd can answer why other teams can develop players without AHL time, none of the pro-Vilardi people can explain why Gabe Vilardi will buck the trend and be able to be an effective player in the league despite being a horrible skater. It's a skating league now, everyone entering and being drafted can move. How many players who would be described as scorers or offensive players skate as bad as him? Getzlaf retired, did Thornton retire? Is Perry still around? These are the types of players his skating is comparable too, people get on Kopitar, even at his advanced age Kopitar still skates significantly better than Vilardi. You know I agree with most everything you believe, but you also have to just come to the conclusion that some of these guys are going to be misses, and this is very likely to be a miss. 1st round picks who aren't hits by 23 are long-shots to begin with, and you factor in the skating and his chances of making it in the league are just extremely slim.
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From a pure production standpoint, Vilardi put up the exact same totals as Moore and Athanasiou in 20-21, a ppg that was respectable for a player of his age and limited game time over the previous seasons.

I have always had my reservations about Vilardi, and going back to his draft year my main concern is that he influences a very narrow area of the ice. For a purely offensive player he sure doesn't use the full zone and all of his teammates to his advantage, just a very high level of skill on whatever he tries to do immediately in front of him.

He earned and deserved a better look going into 21-22 but instead was given a ridiculously short leash for a kid, all because Kopitar and Doughty bitched about not competing at the end of 20-21 and they went out to get Danault and Arvidsson for immediate improvement instead of focusing on internal growth and patience.
 
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bland said:
From a pure production standpoint, Vilardi put up the exact same totals as Moore and Athanasiou in 20-21, a ppg that was respectable for a player of his age and limited game time over the previous seasons.

I have always had my reservations about Vilardi, and going back to his draft year my main concern is that he influences a very narrow area of the ice. For a purely offensive player he sure doesn't use the full zone and all of his teammates to his advantage, just a very high level of skill on whatever he tries to do immediately in front of him.

He earned and deserved a better look going into 21-22 but instead was given a ridiculously short leash for a kid, all because Kopitar and Doughty bitched about not competing at the end of 20-21 and they went out to get Danault and Arvidsson for immediate improvement instead of focusing on internal growth and patience.
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The bitching by Kopitar and Doughty...just another reason why one or both should have been moved instead of being signed to max-year contracts. After they were signed they had every right to bitch, because they can ask "Why sign me if we aren't trying to make the playoffs?" That's a great question. "Let me see if I can get you out of here.", should have been the response.
 
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Sol said:
I mean I could be more lenient to alternatives if the prospects showed fight, and if petersen at some point regained his composure. There was no positives whatsoever for me to seriously entertain an alternative.

If you read the rangers board they were optimistic about KK because they drafted him so high. They all acknowledged he didn’t look good but they chalked it up to him being young. And he never got much better at all. You have to see positives in their games in order to even entertain a positive future shift.

I saw nothing positive outside of Kaliyev and Kupari from young forwards. How is it hard to understand why I see it as such?

I was probably the most excited before the start of last season because I was sure I’d see something positive. Then nothing happened and now I’m just telling you I don’t see why I should repeat the same mentality when there was nothing to show for it ?
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Not even entertaining the thought is what I'm talking about. I'm not denying Byfield was underwhelming last year, but, yes, he did just turn 20 a few weeks ago, and was always a work in progress. He was never said to be Doughty or Kopitar right out of the gate. Maybe nothing will ever change, but maybe it will.

Why not entertain the notion that Petersen might figure out what happened last year? If he doesn't, he doesn't, it's a waste of $5m, and it'll be tougher for the Kings to win. Ok.

Kempe figured out how to score 35, something nobody saw coming. The guy can't hit 20, but he's going to get 35? Yeah right.

There's more than enough time to lean into disappointment as the season progressses. But to deny possibilities so vehemently from before the outset, why? It's not that dire of a situation. It's not completely hopeless.
 
bland said:
From a pure production standpoint, Vilardi put up the exact same totals as Moore and Athanasiou in 20-21, a ppg that was respectable for a player of his age and limited game time over the previous seasons.

I have always had my reservations about Vilardi, and going back to his draft year my main concern is that he influences a very narrow area of the ice. For a purely offensive player he sure doesn't use the full zone and all of his teammates to his advantage, just a very high level of skill on whatever he tries to do immediately in front of him.

He earned and deserved a better look going into 21-22 but instead was given a ridiculously short leash for a kid, all because Kopitar and Doughty bitched about not competing at the end of 20-21 and they went out to get Danault and Arvidsson for immediate improvement instead of focusing on internal growth and patience.
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You know that gives me another thought, they should just bring Kopitar and Doughty into the draft meetings/table just to make sure so they don't do this again. Just have 8 and 11 make the picks and everyone is happy.
 
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KingsFan7824 said:
Not even entertaining the thought is what I'm talking about. I'm not denying Byfield was underwhelming last year, but, yes, he did just turn 20 a few weeks ago, and was always a work in progress. He was never said to be Doughty or Kopitar right out of the gate. Maybe nothing will ever change, but maybe it will.

Why not entertain the notion that Petersen might figure out what happened last year? If he doesn't, he doesn't, it's a waste of $5m, and it'll be tougher for the Kings to win. Ok.

Kempe figured out how to score 35, something nobody saw coming. The guy can't hit 20, but he's going to get 35? Yeah right.

There's more than enough time to lean into disappointment as the season progressses. But to deny possibilities so vehemently from before the outset, why? It's not that dire of a situation. It's not completely hopeless.
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Okay so Petersen was bad the season before and he was bad next season as well. Last season was supposed to be his redemption arc. How bad that failed. Kempe hitting 35 on a contract year and never being close to it. Just an anomaly. Nothing else.

I’ve seen nothing to suggest something will change. You’re just on the other side where you’re hopeful without reason. I don’t blame you for that as long as you can acknowledge that I have real reasons to not be sold on this immaculate change that is supposed to happen out of nowhere.
 
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Sol said:
Okay so Petersen was bad the season before and he was bad next season as well. Last season was supposed to be his redemption arc. How bad that failed. Kempe hitting 35 on a contract year and never being close to it. Just an anomaly. Nothing else.

I’ve seen nothing to suggest something will change. You’re just on the other side where you’re hopeful without reason. I don’t blame you for that as long as you can acknowledge that I have real reasons to not be sold on this immaculate change that is supposed to happen out of nowhere.
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Did you watch Kempe, properly? Seriously, I’m asking because he didn’t score 35 because he worked harder. His game evolved, he was shooting more, stopped deferring and started being the main driving player on the top line. There was a genuine evolution of his game. The whole contract year thing is the biggest myth in hockey. I’d actually go as far as saying Kopitar benefitted from Kempe more than he benefitted from Kopitar. He wasn’t scoring lucky goals, he was finding lanes a seams by being more assertive in his play.

Players often score more in their late 20’s contract years as that when those 2nd deals tend to end. Sure there has been the odd guy that sometimes cruised a bit that worked harder in those contract years (Kovalev springs to mind) but have you seen Kempe coast? It isn’t a characteristic of the modern game. Sure it might be a peak moment in his career but it won’t have been because it was his contract year. There are so many other factors, so maybe Kopitar falls off the cliff, maybe he ends up baby sitting a rookie etc. It’ll have nothing to do with the contract.

You raised some fair concerns and maybe it’s not sensible to expect that any player will automatically replicate their best career year heading into a season. It’s the contract year thing that makes me throw my toys out of the pram like a grumpy baby - I realised I‘m being a bit ranting but as I’ve put in the effort to type it I’m posting 😂

NB: Love you really 😉 . If you were too positive it’d be boring on here because I fall asleep reading Herby’s/brands long negative posts, you get to the downside so much quicker (I’m joking, I love you guys too 😂).
 
Anyone find it interesting that all the Kings first round picks have had some sort of injury the past few years...?

Turcotte - concussions
Kupari - knee
Byfield - knee
Vilardi - back
 
Vilardi had back issues going into the draft and Byfield was a fluke. Forgot what happened to Kupari...

Turcotte got smoked twice, Doty had to extract revenge the second time.

Is it conditioning? Skating?
 
Thoughts and prayers to coach ... whats he going to do without brownie on the top line? haha loved brown .. but pretty pumped the bromance is over.
 
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Sol said:
Okay so Petersen was bad the season before and he was bad next season as well. Last season was supposed to be his redemption arc. How bad that failed. Kempe hitting 35 on a contract year and never being close to it. Just an anomaly. Nothing else.

I’ve seen nothing to suggest something will change. You’re just on the other side where you’re hopeful without reason. I don’t blame you for that as long as you can acknowledge that I have real reasons to not be sold on this immaculate change that is supposed to happen out of nowhere.
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My reason is that I've seen things change from one season to the next. I've seen unexpected things happen in any given season.

It's also not that it's supposed to happen; it's that it could. I leave the spectrum of possibility open.

bland said:
Doesn't prevent anything from happening, but you can bet the farm that it made a difference in the lockerroom.
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What did they win?
 
Kopitar has 2 years left on his contract. These next 2 years, Byfield will solidify his game overall, get to full man strength and play with better wingers....and get legit PP minutes, Hopefully scoring 40+ points this year and 50+ the following. Then be ready to take 1C at age 22. If they sign Kopi after 2 years, it will not be for 10 million and it will not be for him to be 1C. If Kopi is 1C for the 24-25 season, then that's a problem.

QB should at least have Iafallo and either Kupari or Kaliyev. Both Kupari and Kaliyev should take another step this year. I'd love to see the youth - QB, Kupari, Kaliyev get some minutes with Fiala and / or Kempe.
And all of them get 2nd PP time. I still feel Grundstrom could break out (to a degree, another level)
given the chance. Perfect candidate to be in front of the net on the PP. Unit 1 even. Consider that Carl had 17 goals in the SHL at 19 years age, while Kempe had 5 goals in the SHL at 19. (going on memory there and may be slightly off) Carl can put the puck in the net. Loved the way he strong armed Nurse to score that awesome playoff goal. Carl goes to the net hard and can finish.

Have not given up on Gabe, but he'd better be ready and have jam. I thought he looked great the last few games of the season, then didn't get to play in the playoffs.
 
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