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

[Herby]

I really really hope, absolutely nothing

Why?

The Kings have an excess of youth, particularly at the center position, and have two veteran centers signed through 2024 and 2027 and another center they used a #2OA pick on and have (presumably) up for good. The team made their intentions clear this summer that they were trying to make the playoffs and have been gifted the worst division in the NHL. I know cap space is tight, but they could include Maata and AA as expiring contract throw-ins whether they trade for a forward or D and be totally fine. It would be insane for Blake to not try and do something at the TDL with how the course currently looks.

 

[Fat Elvis]

I agree Herby, I'm thinking a couple LAK deals get made this TDL to move a couple assets for different assets. LAK has a group of similar slotted FWs. Going to guess Madden gets moved, mostly because I don't see where he fits going forward. Chromiak can take his spot. Thinking Soucy is a target.

 

[YP44]

It did cross my mind . Look, Clague had every chance to take the spot in the off season and didn't. People always say how the Ducks rookies got their chances and are doing so much better than ours. Clague had that chance, and never stepped up and took it. Durzi steps in near mid season and did more in 3 games than Clague did in 46 total . I wish him luck where ever he ends up, but he really had no place on the team.

Clague looked good to me in the games he got into this year is the thing. I feel like he did enough to earn that spot over Maatta, or at least to be the #7.
Durzi of course has done a lot more with his opportunity but I am not comparing to him. reason is LHD vs RHD.

 

[YP44]

The emergence of Durzi really shut the door for Clague here. Might even make Walker dispensable as part of a trade for a young LHD. Matta won’t be be re-signed but has played much better of late.

I agree with everything bolded here. I don;t think Durzi shut the door on clague due to the RHD vs LHD.
At the end of the day we are never going to be talking top 4 with Clague, so really it does not matte. just long two weeks between games leaving me having to bitch about something i guess.

 

[YP44]

Agree with a lot of Wheeler's thoughts in there.

A lot of graduations and a lot of injuries, quite a few guys are a year or two out longer than we thought, not necessarily a bad thing, but will look bad in projection. A lot of 'projects' that will take time in Byfield and Turcotte and even Clarke--guys that can 'play now' but undoubtedly have more to give when you watch them. Whether they get there or not is fair to question but the raw latent ability isn't.

I think that makes Buffalo #1 in his rankings? Few more guys there having big years that add a little certainty.

Ya he released Buffalo's today. Solid reasoning for having them higher.

 

[FSL KINGS]

I'm torn on JT Miller. Versatile, size & would be an upgrade. Would need a new contract which could get expensive. Biggest downside is the price at the deadline is going to be big. Lots of playoff teams looking for that type of player.

 

[Kudelski37]

It did cross my mind . Look, Clague had every chance to take the spot in the off season and didn't. People always say how the Ducks rookies got their chances and are doing so much better than ours. Clague had that chance, and never stepped up and took it. Durzi steps in near mid season and did more in 3 games than Clague did in 46 total . I wish him luck where ever he ends up, but he really had no place on the team.

Clague had a slightly higher points per game in LA this year than Durzi currently has. The Kings won the first 7 games he played this year and had a 7-2-2 record for his entire time this season. Clague played better defensively than Maata and Durzi. Clague is only 4 months older than Durzi. He did everything to claim a job. His release just makes zero sense, especially if the Kings are looking for a young LD that can score.

 

[YP44]

I'm torn on JT Miller. Versatile, size & would be an upgrade. Would need a new contract which could get expensive. Biggest downside is the price at the deadline is going to be big. Lots of playoff teams looking for that type of player.

cap space could stop alot of teams from acquiring though unless going through a third team to retain, which will drive the cost to a point it may not make sense.
I look at Calgary for him and it would be a tough fit as they have so many players that need new contracts, so his extra year could be a deterrence.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Not sure what hockey you guys were watching, but Clague was horrendous defensively, extremely soft, and got dominated physically, and he's been dreadful in Montreal as well. He did everything to lose a spot on the blueline.

 

[apocalypse]

Maatta has been pretty solid for us all year...he doesn't get enough credit.

I know. I can barely notice him out there. He's a big body out there on defense and we need that. How are we going to play against the Minnesotas and the like with a small roster and Lemieux? We need Grundstrom in the lineup, Maata, Kopitar, Byfield, Vilardi and a big middle-weight bottom six player to really enforce our lineup. Not a Ryan Reaves type, but someone who can bring some grit and be a big body. I like Foligno in Minny. I think we should acquire someone like that. Crouse in Ariz is good too. We desperately need that above all else.

 

[BigKing]

Not saying that Blake sits on his hands at the deadline, but he already made his big moves as it relates to results for this current season with Danault and Arvi.

The year before Lombardi's first playoff season of his rebuild saw the Williams trade at the TDL and then the Smyth trade in the off-season. That season, the TDL featured Modin and Halpern.

The off-season featured the Kovalchuk pursuit and then the late signing of Mitchell. Next TDL was the first time DL moved a future 1st and a recent high draft pick in the Penner deal.

These things aren't mirror images of each other but I do feel that there is a bit of "we've seen this before and here is how to do it" going on. I wouldn't expect a big move at the TDL but I would be surprised if Blake isn't moving parts of this prospect pool/futures by this off-season: next TDL at the latest.

 

[Reclamation Project]

I think any deal we do will be completely unexpected like the Arvidsson deal. I never heard anything about that from a Kings standpoint.

Danault had been linked to the Kings but I don't think any of us actually expected it to happen.

 

[apocalypse]

Maatta has been pretty solid for us all year...he doesn't get enough credit.

and have an "incident at the border" situation. Brown most likely will be back next year, for 1 year deal. Accept it. He will have to understand it won't be in the top 6 and in a limited role. If one of the kids can step up and take his job, fine, but nobody has...yet.

We don't need Brown. We got Grundstrom. He's a big body that can play.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

I really really hope, absolutely nothing

Why? Blake is sitting on 15 top assets (more than any other team) and while it seems more 'prudent' to wait until Summer, you cannot always have the timing you would want for a particular player (or players) that you may be targeting to try to acquire. The Kings have enough assets to acquire up to 3 more players easily and can begin now and Summer.

If the Kings were to get 1 or 2 players now, as in a top LHD and 1 more impact forward ANYTHING can happen in the playoffs...and yes, they have to make the playoffs. But they can have a better chance to get in, with 1 or 2 more imapct players.

Look at it this way. Look at the Stanley Cup fianalists, since 2017:
2017 Pittsburgh Nashville
2018 Washington Las Vegas
2019 St Louis Boston
2020 Tampa Bay Dallas
2021 Tampa Bay Montreal

Guess what? The Los Angeles Kings, with 1 or 2 more impact players added by March 10, CAN be as good as: 2017 Nashville, 2018 Vegas, 2019 St Louis, 2020 Dallas or 2021 Montreal.
That is debatable. But those 5 teams that made it the last 5 years, were not so great and they made it. You do not have to be an amazing team to make it....you need some luck, a hot goalie
and a team that is playing at their optimum. If the Kings were able to get Chychrun and a player like JT Miller (or 2 like caliber players) they could do it.

I want a GM that is trying to get better each and every day....and not having the posture, wait and see....we're not quite there yet...Summer is best to look at making moves.
F THAT. I will trust in Rob, that got Lemieux for a 4th, believed in Lizotte and signed him, got Arvidsson for a 2nd and a 3rd and signed Philip Danault...arguably the King's MVP or right there.
Edler was a good signing too.

Go for it, Rob.

 

[YP44]

No desire in being the next Predators, Stars or Canadiens, but get your point

 

[Peter James Bond II]

No desire in being the next Predators, Stars or Canadiens, but get your point

Yes, agree....but the Kings have turned the corner and have a good under 30 group that is a good core: Danault, Arvidsson, Kempe, Moore, Iafallo. If you add 1 or 2 more in the 28 and
under age group, you're going to be a perennial playoff team. (or should be, especially as Byfield, Arty, ETC become impactful) That is a better team than the one year wonders.

 

[kingsfan]

Clague had a slightly higher points per game in LA this year than Durzi currently has. The Kings won the first 7 games he played this year and had a 7-2-2 record for his entire time this season. Clague played better defensively than Maata and Durzi. Clague is only 4 months older than Durzi. He did everything to claim a job. His release just makes zero sense, especially if the Kings are looking for a young LD that can score.

Deployment likely plays a lot into it. Clague had more PP time per game than any defenseman, even Doughty and had a mere 16 seconds a game shorthanded. I didn't dive into the lines he was with at even strength but I expect they were the more offensive ones as well, so a higher PPG should be expected. I'm not sure he played the role he was expected to fill. Durzi has managed to be productive while playing a little more than half as much PP time and nearly a minute a night shorthanded. He's playing in all situations, not protected as much as Clague is.

Not sure what hockey you guys were watching, but Clague was horrendous defensively, extremely soft, and got dominated physically, and he's been dreadful in Montreal as well. He did everything to lose a spot on the blueline.

I wouldn't call Clague horrendous defensively in LA but otherwise that's my recollection of him as well. Timid might be the better way to put it, he lacked the assertiveness needed to make the jump to the NHL and be successful.

cap space could stop alot of teams from acquiring though unless going through a third team to retain, which will drive the cost to a point it may not make sense.
I look at Calgary for him and it would be a tough fit as they have so many players that need new contracts, so his extra year could be a deterrence.

If Miller was a UFA to be I could see a trade between Vancouver and Calgary but with a year left I doubt it. Maybe a lesser player but not one of his magnitude.

 

[Herby]

Ya he released Buffalo's today. Solid reasoning for having them higher.

I agree, I think Power taking a huge step is the biggest reason they jumped us.

I kind of thought Power being the #1 pick last year was more based on his measurables combined with it being a weak draft. A lot of games last year he was tentative and was beaten to the outside by quicker players. But it's been a complete 180 this season, he is just dominating all three zones when he is on the ice, he got bigger and faster in addition to his natural adjustment to the speed of college hockey. I wasn't a believer in the future Hedman hype a year ago but now I really am. Right now he looks like what you'd expect a #1 overall pick to look like at that level.

 

[Fishhead]

The window is open to consolidate assets. I think it's better to do it now than later, when waivers start having an effect, but there is no reason to absolutely rush into a poor deal. There are teams looking to rebuild their systems and the Kings are a perfect fit for them.

 

[Kurrilino]

Guess what? The Los Angeles Kings, with 1 or 2 more impact players added by March 10, CAN be as good as: 2017 Nashville, 2018 Vegas, 2019 St Louis, 2020 Dallas or 2021 Montreal.
That is debatable. But those 5 teams that made it the last 5 years, were not so great and they made it. You do not have to be an amazing team to make it....you need some luck, a hot goalie
and a team that is playing at their optimum. If the Kings were able to get Chychrun and a player like JT Miller (or 2 like caliber players) they could do it.

I want a GM that is trying to get better each and every day....and not having the posture, wait and see....we're not quite there yet...Summer is best to look at making moves.
F THAT. I will trust in Rob, that got Lemieux for a 4th, believed in Lizotte and signed him, got Arvidsson for a 2nd and a 3rd and signed Philip Danault...arguably the King's MVP or right there.
Edler was a good signing too.

Go for it, Rob.

And what else have those bolded teams in common?
Right, they didn't win the cup

I simply have no interest in spending our riches to have a chance to become 2nd
This team how it is right now, has absolutely 0 chance to win the cup, hell even making the playoff would be a huge success.

No addition of a player will change that.
As long as we have our retirement core, we better keep collecting pieces for the puzzle after contracts run out.
If you 1st line center is not able to control games and your #1 defender looses every footrace, you know that you are done

The best thing we can do is real hockey trades like 1vs1 in the same age range.
There is a Rangers-Kings thread where Kupari vs Robertson has widely agreed upon.
Those are the kind of trades we need but they are not done at the trade deadline

Why is patience so difficult?

 

[Kurrilino]

Yes, agree....but the Kings have turned the corner and have a good under 30 group that is a good core: Danault, Arvidsson, Kempe, Moore, Iafallo. If you add 1 or 2 more in the 28 and
under age group, you're going to be a perennial playoff team. (or should be, especially as Byfield, Arty, ETC become impactful) That is a better team than the one year wonders.

If we want to win a cup, we have to beat teams like Colorado or Tampa, where everyone is 6"4, lightning fast and highly talented.
Danault, Arvidsson, Kempe, Moore, Iafallo is not a core that will succeed against those guys.
We don't even have a single winger that can pick corners and score

 

[Choralone]

For those who don't have an Athletic subscription, here is Wheeler's ranking:

RANK	PLAYER	POS.	AGE	TEAM
1	Quinton Byfield	C	19	Ontario/L.A.
2	Brandt Clarke	RHD	18	Barrie
3	Alex Turcotte	C	20	Ontario/L.A.
4	Gabe Vilardi	C	22	Ontario/L.A.
5	Helge Grans	RHD	19	Ontario
6	Samuel Fagemo	LW/RW	21	Ontario
7	Brock Faber	RHD	19	U. of Minnesota
8	Jordan Spence	RHD	20	Ontario
9	Martin Chromiak	RW	19	Kingston/Trencin
10	Tyler Madden	C/RW	22	Ontario
11	Francesco Pinelli	C	18	Kitchener
12	Kasper Simontaival	RW	20	KalPa/Lukko
13	Kirill Kirsanov	LHD	19	SKA St. Petersburg
14	Jaret Anderson-Dolan	C	22	Ontario/L.A.
15	Akil Thomas	C	22	Ontario
16	Alex Laferriere	RW	20	Harvard
17	Samuel Helenius	C	19	JYP
18	Kim Nousiainen	LHD	21	KalPa
19	Aatu Jamsen	LW	19	Pelicans/Peliitat
20	Aidan Dudas	C	21	Ontario
HM	Andre Lee	C/LW	21	UMass-Lowell
HM	Bulat Shafigullin	LW/RW	22	Nizhnekamsk
HM	Lukas Parik	G	20	Ontario/Rapid City
HM	Jacob Ingham	G	21	Ontario/Greenville

[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

He has them color-coded by tiers, too, which breaks out to:

Byfield
Clarke
Turcotte - Spence
Chromiak - Laferriere
Helenius - Ingham

 

[kings11]

If we want to win a cup, we have to beat teams like Colorado or Tampa, where everyone is 6"4, lightning fast and highly talented.
Danault, Arvidsson, Kempe, Moore, Iafallo is not a core that will succeed against those guys.
We don't even have a single winger that can pick corners and score

Actually, guys like Danault, Kempe, Moore and Iafallo are the type of guys that succeed in the playoffs and more to the point, they’re the type of players that help you win championships

 

[YP44]

For those who don't have an Athletic subscription, here is Wheeler's ranking:

RANK	PLAYER	POS.	AGE	TEAM
1	Quinton Byfield	C	19	Ontario/L.A.
2	Brandt Clarke	RHD	18	Barrie
3	Alex Turcotte	C	20	Ontario/L.A.
4	Gabe Vilardi	C	22	Ontario/L.A.
5	Helge Grans	RHD	19	Ontario
6	Samuel Fagemo	LW/RW	21	Ontario
7	Brock Faber	RHD	19	U. of Minnesota
8	Jordan Spence	RHD	20	Ontario
9	Martin Chromiak	RW	19	Kingston/Trencin
10	Tyler Madden	C/RW	22	Ontario
11	Francesco Pinelli	C	18	Kitchener
12	Kasper Simontaival	RW	20	KalPa/Lukko
13	Kirill Kirsanov	LHD	19	SKA St. Petersburg
14	Jaret Anderson-Dolan	C	22	Ontario/L.A.
15	Akil Thomas	C	22	Ontario
16	Alex Laferriere	RW	20	Harvard
17	Samuel Helenius	C	19	JYP
18	Kim Nousiainen	LHD	21	KalPa
19	Aatu Jamsen	LW	19	Pelicans/Peliitat
20	Aidan Dudas	C	21	Ontario
HM	Andre Lee	C/LW	21	UMass-Lowell
HM	Bulat Shafigullin	LW/RW	22	Nizhnekamsk
HM	Lukas Parik	G	20	Ontario/Rapid City
HM	Jacob Ingham	G	21	Ontario/Greenville

[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

He has them color-coded by tiers, too, which breaks out to:

Byfield
Clarke
Turcotte - Spence
Chromiak - Laferriere
Helenius - Ingham

I would flop Spence and Grans, and then maybe Spence and Turcotte.

 

[YP44]

Actually, guys like Danault, Kempe, Moore and Iafallo are the type of guys that succeed in the playoffs and more to the point, they’re the type of players that help you win championships

hopefully we get to see it happen