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

[kings11]

It will probably cost JAD and a second. Guys like Soucy can help every team in the league.

Seems about right but I’m a cheap bastard

 

[cyclones22]

Arthur Kaliyev
6-years old:

Today in practice at 20-years old:

Now if the Kings can actually get him on a line where he can skate into the circles for those shots instead of the dump and chase and peppering the goaltenders with bad angle shots. Arty certainly is performing the tasks asked of him, but this has to be the last season of grinder duty I would hope.

 

[Herby]

It will probably cost JAD and a second. Guys like Soucy can help every team in the league.

Do it. I like JAD but just like with Vilardi it's a numbers game and time is running out for them, and the reality is both have probably been passed up. If he doesn't make the team out of camp next year you are scrambling to get whatever you can for him instead of potentially losing him to waivers.

The Kings centers are basically set for the next two seasons after this one and it's time to cash in some of the excess.

The 2nd round pick stings a bit, especially with how well the Kings have picked from that area but the team needs a cost controlled veteran defenseman for two playoff runs more than it needs another second or third tier prospect.

Now if the Kings can actually get him on a line where he can skate into the circles for those shots instead of the dump and chase and peppering the goaltenders with bad angle shots. Arty certainly is performing the tasks asked of him, but this has to be the last season of grinder duty I would hope.

Blake has already said the plan is to have him on a scoring line next year.

My guess is he replaces Moore in the top 6 and Moore slides down and becomes a very very good 3rd line left wing for awhile.

If they want him on his off-wing.

Iafallo - Kopitar - Kaliyev
Kempe - Byfield - ??
Moore- Danault - Arviddson
?? - Lizotte - Fagemo

Anderson - Doughty
??? - Durzi
Bjornfot - Roy

Lots to work with and lots of flexibility. They could bring back Lemieux, although he hasn't been quite as noticeable recently and maybe loses his spot to someone like Turcotte, but they will probably elect to keep him for his. I still think a forward a bit better than VA is acquired sometime between now and next season. That lets you keep the Kings awesome 2nd line as more of a 3rd line and gives QB two quality linemates as he hopefully takes a big step next season and is ready to be the 1C by the start of 2023 camp. That is the kind of top 9 that the modern NHL employs. They could put Fagemo in the skilled player training wheels 4th line spot that Kaliyev occupied this season and I think that really works great for him as with Lizotte.

I don't expect Brown back and I think one of JAD or Vilardi is gone, with the other one in a holding pattern as a healthy scratch as they are waiver eligible. I think one of Kupari or Turcotte are also be on the move in a deal for the 2nd line forward or a defensive upgrade.

On defense, I wonder if Clarke gets a long look if the Kings don't bring anyone else in, maybe the 9 game tryout without the ELC burn. The Kings have not been hesitant to play teenagers under Blake and he might help the PP. I think one of Walker or Roy is traded for a draft pick if they keep Clarke. That also frees up some extra cap space.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

Do it. I like JAD but just like with Vilardi it's a numbers game and time is running out for them, and the reality is both have probably been passed up. If he doesn't make the team out of camp next year you are scrambling to get whatever you can for him instead of potentially losing him to waivers.

The Kings centers are basically set for the next two seasons after this one and it's time to cash in some of the excess.

The 2nd round pick stings a bit, especially with how well the Kings have picked from that area but the team needs a cost controlled veteran defenseman for two playoff runs more than it needs another second or third tier prospect.

Out of all the AHL prospects, I would be afraid to peddle off Vilardi and / or JAD at the deadline; Vilardi - last year showed flashes (that game in OT, where Walker had to pull up at the attacking blueline and Gabe blew by him and then made that perfectly timed pass, through defenseman's legs to whoever then buried OT winner) and was not consistent, BUT played with AA and Carter mostly - who were both lackluster and the 3 had no chemistry. Then this year, the Kings were 1-5 in the first 6 and most of them sucked....Gabe looked great in camp though with Lias and then he got hurt. Gabe may have not had a good start, but many didn't. He's the one that gets sent down. He then seems to be finding his game and playing mostly wing. Has 27 points in 25 games. So, if he gets dealt at the deadline, you're selling him low. Opposing GM says that he's not shown he can play NHL hockey. However, let's see where he is, at the NHL level first. Call him up and give him 12 minutes of ice and PP2. I want to see how he is now at the NHL level, before dealing him.

JAD? He had about a great 10 game stint last year on the Kings and then faded some....didn't he have some injury? So, he does not make the team out of camp, as Lizotte, Lemieux, Andersson, Grundstrom etc, beat him out. Fair enough....but he's about a point a game in the AHL and now scoring goals - by the bushels - unlike any King (draftee, I won't count Frk) in the AHL since Toffoli was there, lighting it up, his last year there. So, what of it? Can he do it at the NHL level? I want to see him up again and see what he can do, before trading him away. JAD may be the next Trevor Moore, with a better shot. He's got a great shot.

I don't want to see Vilardi or Anderson-Dolan peddled off too early and they blossom at 24 yrs old, like Troy Terry. I agree with what you say about the numbers game and time running out...that's true. There are about 10 very good prospects and some will get dealt.
But look what Sean Durzi did? He's like 6th to 8th on the RHD depth chart after: Doughty, Roy, Walker, Clarke, Grans, Strand and maybe Spence! He overcame and went out and took a spot. I don't think anyone's going to take it, either. I bet there are 1 or 2 others in the system that will do the
same and they may not be one we would expect....even look at Trevor Moore, for that matter.

May the organization make the right choices.

 

[Trash Panda]

It’s been 5 years of development, and the fruit is just now starting to come to bear.

Gabe isn’t the center prospect we should be shopping, especially after seeing how well he has transitioned to wing. Throw him with a few burners with skill like Q or Juice, and you could very well have yourself one of the elusive playmaking wingers who also can wire the puck when an opening presents itself.

Kupari is the easy choice for one of the odd men out, imo. Nothing measurably exceptional about his game, at all.

 

[kings11]

It’s been 5 years of development, and the fruit is just now starting to come to bear.

Gabe isn’t the center prospect we should be shopping, especially after seeing how well he has transitioned to wing. Throw him with a few burners with skill like Q or Juice, and you could very well have yourself one of the elusive playmaking wingers who also can wire the puck when an opening presents itself.

Kupari is the easy choice for one of the odd men out, imo. Nothing measurably exceptional about his game, at all.

I have my trade bait as follows;
Rasmus Kupari
Jaret Anderson-Dolan
Tyler Madden
What can we get for one, two or all three is up for debate but in my eyes they’re all on the table!

 

[cyclones22]

FYI, Faber looks pretty good against Canada tonight. #14 in white...gotta love white numbers on a white jersey. Ugh.

 

[Islcey]

I think Brock Faber may be our best defenseman..

 

[cyclones22]

Team USA playing the PP like the Kings. Shorty against. Faber was not part of that embarrassment.

 

[Fishhead]

It’s been 5 years of development, and the fruit is just now starting to come to bear.

Gabe isn’t the center prospect we should be shopping, especially after seeing how well he has transitioned to wing. Throw him with a few burners with skill like Q or Juice, and you could very well have yourself one of the elusive playmaking wingers who also can wire the puck when an opening presents itself.

Kupari is the easy choice for one of the odd men out, imo. Nothing measurably exceptional about his game, at all.

I see this too. Gabe doesn't have a whole lot in common with Patrick Kane, but what he does seem to have is the same ability to stickhandle in tight spots and dish to an open guy. Kane's playmaking is extremely underrated because he's so good at scoring, but his vision is exceptional. Put him with a shooter who can get open and there is potential for a lesser version of Hull and Oates when they were with St. Louis. Oates wasn't fast and was an OK shooter, but he excelled at getting the puck to Hull which is all that needed to happen.

 

[kingsfan]

For 1.5 seasons, it isn’t bad and you could likely recoup that if you trade him at next years TDL..
I wonder if they’d do AA+4th in ‘23

I'd assume the ask is MUCH higher than that but if that was on the table I'd do it instantaneously.

I have my trade bait as follows;
Rasmus Kupari
Jaret Anderson-Dolan
Tyler Madden
What can we get for one, two or all three is up for debate but in my eyes they’re all on the table!

Right now, I don't think they'd fetch a lot. Nothing against them, I like all three but Kupari hasn't done much to sell himself as a top sixer, JAD is a nice piece but a third liner at best and Madden I say it's less than 50/50 he becomes a regular NHLer honestly. None are bluechip pieces at this moment if we're trying to get players back for them.

 

[deaderhead28]

I'm not opposed to that. I wonder what the cost would be though. I assume a 2nd+ which to me I'd rather not do unless we were to resign him, which I'm not sure we do. We have Clarke coming in as early as next season, so who is he bumping out of the line up?

Blake did say they'll be in the buying business to improve the team, from the interview I heard.

 

[deaderhead28]

Alex Gallant 5min + game misconduct for slew-footing Frk

 

[kingsfan]

Seems like he's ok but if the hockey world wanted to actually get serious about discipline, they'd hand down a good suspension for that BS. Needless and imagine if Frk got hurt.

 

[Omni Owl]

This break in games is ridiculous. Everyone is gonna jump us and we lost our winning momentum. Look what happened to the Ducks last night after their gap.

 

[funky]

Alex Gallant 5min + game misconduct for slew-footing Frk

Absolutely chicken shit move. Could have seriously hurt him. Better get suspended.

 

[Martyros]

5 mins and game means nothing in the last minute of play when the game is already lost. it should have absolutely no impact on whatever discipline is to come.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Out of all the AHL prospects, I would be afraid to peddle off Vilardi and / or JAD at the deadline; Vilardi - last year showed flashes (that game in OT, where Walker had to pull up at the attacking blueline and Gabe blew by him and then made that perfectly timed pass, through defenseman's legs to whoever then buried OT winner) and was not consistent, BUT played with AA and Carter mostly - who were both lackluster and the 3 had no chemistry. Then this year, the Kings were 1-5 in the first 6 and most of them sucked....Gabe looked great in camp though with Lias and then he got hurt. Gabe may have not had a good start, but many didn't. He's the one that gets sent down. He then seems to be finding his game and playing mostly wing. Has 27 points in 25 games. So, if he gets dealt at the deadline, you're selling him low. Opposing GM says that he's not shown he can play NHL hockey. However, let's see where he is, at the NHL level first. Call him up and give him 12 minutes of ice and PP2. I want to see how he is now at the NHL level, before dealing him.

JAD? He had about a great 10 game stint last year on the Kings and then faded some....didn't he have some injury? So, he does not make the team out of camp, as Lizotte, Lemieux, Andersson, Grundstrom etc, beat him out. Fair enough....but he's about a point a game in the AHL and now scoring goals - by the bushels - unlike any King (draftee, I won't count Frk) in the AHL since Toffoli was there, lighting it up, his last year there. So, what of it? Can he do it at the NHL level? I want to see him up again and see what he can do, before trading him away. JAD may be the next Trevor Moore, with a better shot. He's got a great shot.

I don't want to see Vilardi or Anderson-Dolan peddled off too early and they blossom at 24 yrs old, like Troy Terry. I agree with what you say about the numbers game and time running out...that's true. There are about 10 very good prospects and some will get dealt.
But look what Sean Durzi did? He's like 6th to 8th on the RHD depth chart after: Doughty, Roy, Walker, Clarke, Grans, Strand and maybe Spence! He overcame and went out and took a spot. I don't think anyone's going to take it, either. I bet there are 1 or 2 others in the system that will do the
same and they may not be one we would expect....even look at Trevor Moore, for that matter.

May the organization make the right choices.

This is analysis paralysis. If you wait until a guy shows he doesn't have it, his value is going to be decreased. The potential is what has value.

The problem is the players. As Doughty expressed, they want to compete today. How long do you wait for 2 years from now when the guy who's currently 13th on a depth chart shows that he's actually the best option? Well, just trade the old guys. Well the old guys have no value. Trade the prospects that have shown they're not what we hoped for. Those guys don't have value either. The only pieces that have value are the 25 year old or younger established star, or the hyped up teenager. Anything else is just a guy that happens to play hockey, and all you'll likely get in return is another guy who happens to play hockey.

It’s been 5 years of development, and the fruit is just now starting to come to bear.

Gabe isn’t the center prospect we should be shopping, especially after seeing how well he has transitioned to wing. Throw him with a few burners with skill like Q or Juice, and you could very well have yourself one of the elusive playmaking wingers who also can wire the puck when an opening presents itself.

Kupari is the easy choice for one of the odd men out, imo. Nothing measurably exceptional about his game, at all.

Which is why Kupari would have no value.

This break in games is ridiculous. Everyone is gonna jump us and we lost our winning momentum. Look what happened to the Ducks last night after their gap.

Everyone plays 82 games, so the jumping thing means nothing. That is what it is. Winning momentum, it's a thing, but if the Kings have any substance to them this year, it really shouldn't matter all that much.

 

[LAKings88]

This break in games is ridiculous. Everyone is gonna jump us and we lost our winning momentum. Look what happened to the Ducks last night after their gap.

Teams had games in hand. Gonna be a tight race. No room for prolonged losing streaks.

 

[johnjm22]

This break in games is ridiculous. Everyone is gonna jump us and we lost our winning momentum. Look what happened to the Ducks last night after their gap.

I think it's great for us.

We have a team that's mostly reliant on older players. This time off helps.

Teams with higher win percentages than us were going to jump us anyways. It makes no difference.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

I think it's great for us.

We have a team that's mostly reliant on older players. This time off helps.

Teams with higher win percentages than us were going to jump us anyways. It makes no difference.

Not to mention Roy and Anderson were both out when we paused before the All Star game.

 

[Kaners Bald Spot]

So, I've been doing research on the Kings but am finding that I won't really know much about what's going on until I start watching more games. Only 3 more days before they play again.

 

[Stimpythecat]

The time off could be good for the older and injured players. Also time to work on the special teams.

At least this is what I tell myself.

 

[redcard]

The time off could be good for the older and injured players. Also time to work on the special teams.

At least this is what I tell myself.

Brown has always been productive his first few games back these last couple years. 5 points in 5 games to start the season, 5 points in 4 games to start January after that extended break, only 10 points in the other 35 games. 17 points in his first 18 games last year then only 14 points in the final 31 games. In 2020 he started the season with 6 points in 5 games, then went scoreless in 8.

Really makes me think we should just dress him for 5 games or so, then give him some time off before playing him another 5.

 

[DoktorJeep]

With Bergevin on the payroll all signs point to a trade with Montreal. Toffoli and Chiarot were both MB signings and rumored to be available. Montreal is rebuilding so they’ll want futures, which the Kings have. Toffoli is a fan favorite and Chiarot is an Edler replacement who also adds snarl to a D corp with none.

Both guys would play top 6/4 minutes respectively and fit in age / experience wise with the guys close to 30 yo. They’ve got recent playoff experience where they played heavy minutes on a team that relied on defense and shot suppression plus goaltending. So they should fit into the system. And they would upgrade the special teams units on the PP and PK, which are the areas that are the weakest.

It would bump down Moore and Anderson/Bjornfot, which would deepen the roster and slot the younger guys more conservatively. That could lead to better matchups and more effective usage of ice time. Barring injuries it would bump Grundstrom and Maata out of the lineup which isn’t a big loss IMO. The only guy that gets buried is Lias, but he’s turned out to be a complete non factor.

Chiarot is a UFA, so if the Kings get bounced in the first round and he walks in the summer, no one will immediately criticize the move. Toffoli is signed for 3 more years at $4.25M, and no trade protection, so he’s more palatable than being forced to pay Brown or AA to provide goals next year.

The Kings have the cap space at the deadline to fit in both players, so salary doesn’t have to go the other way. And I don’t think their first next year has significantly more value than a player within the org. Montreal needs center icemen, so I think a package of Vilardi, Kupari and a second could win the day.