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

[DoktorJeep]

If Laine is available at the deadline I’d love to make a hockey trade for him. Put him with Danault plus RV and the Kings have their best first line since 2014. It’s a problematic trade for a problematic player.

But if you want to increase the odds that the team scores more, there aren’t more appealing options potentially available. And if he works out then you’ve cleared up the top six picture moving forward.

Maybe the cost is high and Vilardi and Spence go the other way. I’d like to think that price is competitive and his QO takes a first off the table. Similar to Boeser. But I like Laine better than Brock because he’s a guy who draws coverage late in games.

So the bet is he opens up space to operate for his line mates. Boeser disappears and waits for the pass, which I don’t think works with the Kings. And Laine is a threat on the rush with a big shot at top speed. We dream Kaliyev turns into him with a better attitude and less streaky goal scoring. But then he’d be worth $9M a year.

And the Kings have history integrating mercurial players not named Kovalchuk. Carter was a talented, productive malcontent with a heavy cap hit on a long term contract and he worked out great.

 

[Trash Panda]

Laine?

Barf.

 

[Reaper45]

Only if Laine agrees to shave his head into the Hulk Hogan skullet.

 

[funky]

Laine is interesting. Pure shooter. On a normal team I would hesitate. On a team like the Kings who mostly play that 200 foot game I think 1 or 2 guys that cheat for offence may be a good thing.

having Laine on line 1 and Kaliyev on line 2 could pose problems for other teams to shut down.

 

[Schmooley]

Laine is interesting. Pure shooter. On a normal team I would hesitate. On a team like the Kings who mostly play that 200 foot game I think 1 or 2 guys that cheat for offence may be a good thing.

having Laine on line 1 and Kaliyev on line 2 could pose problems for other teams to shut down.

You think Columbus is going to trade him? Would love him here.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Let's just go the whole Jeff Halpern/Freddy Modin 2010 deadline route.

So likeee... Zdeno Chara anddd Parise.

 

[johnjm22]

If Laine is available at the deadline I’d love to make a hockey trade for him. Put him with Danault plus RV and the Kings have their best first line since 2014. It’s a problematic trade for a problematic player.

But if you want to increase the odds that the team scores more, there aren’t more appealing options potentially available. And if he works out then you’ve cleared up the top six picture moving forward.

Maybe the cost is high and Vilardi and Spence go the other way. I’d like to think that price is competitive and his QO takes a first off the table. Similar to Boeser. But I like Laine better than Brock because he’s a guy who draws coverage late in games.

So the bet is he opens up space to operate for his line mates. Boeser disappears and waits for the pass, which I don’t think works with the Kings. And Laine is a threat on the rush with a big shot at top speed. We dream Kaliyev turns into him with a better attitude and less streaky goal scoring. But then he’d be worth $9M a year.

And the Kings have history integrating mercurial players not named Kovalchuk. Carter was a talented, productive malcontent with a heavy cap hit on a long term contract and he worked out great.

For so many years now the Kings have struggled scoring. Even in the cup years. It seems like we're always looking for a shooter/finisher to remedy that problem.

I'm going to take a contrarian view on this. I think what the Kings have really lacked is a high-end playmaker. Kopitar is often misunderstood; he's not really a playmaker in the traditional sense.

The Kings have been through different coaches, but the offense always looks predictable and lacks creatively. A finisher won't change that.

On the other hand, a good playmaker IS creative and keeps defenders guessing. I think that's what we need.

Honestly, Durzi is probably the best playmaker on the team. His game is so refreshing because it's been so long since we seen a King's player with offensive creativity like that.

I know people will point out how well Gaborik worked, but that was only for a short time period, and Kopitar was never really setting him up. It's was more just Gaborik complimenting Kopitar's game and scoring trash goals around the net.

 

[bland]

For so many years now the Kings have struggled scoring. Even in the cup years. It seems like we're always looking for a shooter/finisher to remedy that problem.

I'm going to take a contrarian view on this. I think what the Kings have really lacked is a high-end playmaker. Kopitar is often misunderstood; he's not really a playmaker in the traditional sense.

The Kings have been through different coaches, but the offense always looks predictable and lacks creatively. A finisher won't change that.

On the other hand, a good playmaker IS creative and keeps defenders guessing. I think that's what we need.

Honestly, Durzi is probably the best playmaker on the team. His game is so refreshing because it's been so long since we seen a King's player with offensive creativity like that.

I know people will point out how well Gaborik worked, but that was only for a short time period, and Kopitar was never really setting him up. It's was more just Gaborik complimenting Kopitar's game and scoring trash goals around the net.

Completely agree. Anze is an option quarterback who holds on and holds on and holds on to draw if defenders then dishes. That's not an insult, he has made a hall of fame career out of scoring by attrition. Its not a style that matches well with forwards who like the quick strikes and one timers, but it will always pull the offense out of supporting and grinding wingers.

Best case scenario would have been a lighter, all offense creative #2c to deepen the kinds of attacks, but that has never really happened behind him, aside from the 2014 run with Carter. And that was the best offensive team the Kings had since Gretzky just for that reason. Different kinds of attacks.

 

[KingsHockey24]

For so many years now the Kings have struggled scoring. Even in the cup years. It seems like we're always looking for a shooter/finisher to remedy that problem.

I'm going to take a contrarian view on this. I think what the Kings have really lacked is a high-end playmaker. Kopitar is often misunderstood; he's not really a playmaker in the traditional sense.

The Kings have been through different coaches, but the offense always looks predictable and lacks creatively. A finisher won't change that.

On the other hand, a good playmaker IS creative and keeps defenders guessing. I think that's what we need.

Honestly, Durzi is probably the best playmaker on the team. His game is so refreshing because it's been so long since we seen a King's player with offensive creativity like that.

I know people will point out how well Gaborik worked, but that was only for a short time period, and Kopitar was never really setting him up. It's was more just Gaborik complimenting Kopitar's game and scoring trash goals around the net.

We have that.

 

[kings11]

We have that.

Lmfao.. for a second I was like, wtf is wrong with Blake’s face

 

[DoktorJeep]

For so many years now the Kings have struggled scoring. Even in the cup years. It seems like we're always looking for a shooter/finisher to remedy that problem.

I'm going to take a contrarian view on this. I think what the Kings have really lacked is a high-end playmaker. Kopitar is often misunderstood; he's not really a playmaker in the traditional sense.

The Kings have been through different coaches, but the offense always looks predictable and lacks creatively. A finisher won't change that.

On the other hand, a good playmaker IS creative and keeps defenders guessing. I think that's what we need.

Honestly, Durzi is probably the best playmaker on the team. His game is so refreshing because it's been so long since we seen a King's player with offensive creativity like that.

I know people will point out how well Gaborik worked, but that was only for a short time period, and Kopitar was never really setting him up. It's was more just Gaborik complimenting Kopitar's game and scoring trash goals around the net.

Nice take, I can buy the need for a playmaker over a goal scorer. But I think it’s easier to get playmaking by committee than goals. I’d point to Danault as someone who makes plays consistently. Maybe not the way that stands out like Marner does. But in an effective way through keeping pucks alive and quickly taking advantage of turnovers. And he’s now proven that his finishing ability is a 20 goal potential which combined with the play making and defensive strength is pretty great, I’ve got to admit. I was expecting bronze, so he’s found gold in my opinion.

With the team playing an energetic style I think they’re better off in the short term by finding a component that can generate offense through his own play. And for either improvement, with the likely high acquisition cost and go forward contract commitment, you need to basically guarantee moving the needle forward. If the system generated offense by moving the puck at high speed in the offensive zone, then an expensive playmaker would be a net add. But I think with this team, the results could be poor because it would be a square peg in a round hole situation.

Because we’ve seen how even an elite playmaker like Marner can be shut down and how the team ends up losing because beyond Matthews, you can’t get goals. Even with additional playmakers like Nylander and Reilly, they lost too much goal scoring when Tavares went down and Matthews was tightly checked. You can throw older but accomplished players like Thornton and latter part of his career Spezza in there as playmakers who didn’t move the needle. And they lost in seven to Montreal by small margins. So I think the best next step for this season Kings is the goal scorer.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Let's just go the whole Jeff Halpern/Freddy Modin 2010 deadline route.

So likeee... Zdeno Chara anddd Parise.

Actually if we're going to add a depth forward; bring back Clifford. He'd be free and can add him when we need toughness.

Chara + Clifford at deadline please.

 

[kingsfan]

From what I recall, a lot of people barfed at adding Gaborik too.

Laine would be the first 40 goal threat we've had in years.

 

[KingsFan7824]

From what I recall, a lot of people barfed at adding Gaborik too.

Laine would be the first 40 goal threat we've had in years.

If they could get Laine for a 2nd, 3rd, and whoever would be the equivalent of Frattin, ok.

 

[Trash Panda]

From what I recall, a lot of people barfed at adding Gaborik too.

Laine would be the first 40 goal threat we've had in years.

If you think that Laine would play the same game that made 2014 gaborik dollars effective, I’d love to hear why.

Fact is, the guy plays like a high dollar Anthanasiou, and would cost a whole hell of a lot more than Matt Frattin & some picks.

 

[FrozenKing18]

From just what I read around the boards, Laine adjusted his game a bit. If that’s true, dont think Columbus lets him go, and if they do, dont think Laine chooses LA.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

Wrong thread

 

[No Name The Nameless]

Uh oh. Kempe is writing his own check.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Uh oh. Kempe is writing his own check.

He's finally showing the offense we all knew he was capable of producing. It also helps that they're no longer forcing him to play center. It only took the organization a couple of seasons to come to this realization.

 

[Stimpythecat]

From just what I read around the boards, Laine adjusted his game a bit. If that’s true, dont think Columbus lets him go, and if they do, dont think Laine chooses LA.

I read a few reports from last season that Laine's first choice was rumored to be LA. I'll see if I can find it. I'm not on my home computer now so it may be a little bit before I do.

 

[kingsfan]

If they could get Laine for a 2nd, 3rd, and whoever would be the equivalent of Frattin, ok.

Yep, totally apples to apples

If you think that Laine would play the same game that made 2014 gaborik dollars effective, I’d love to hear why.

Fact is, the guy plays like a high dollar Anthanasiou, and would cost a whole hell of a lot more than Matt Frattin & some picks.

As he should.

Really, who here thought Gaborik would play the way Gaborik did when we got him.

We have arguably the deepest prospect pool in the league, I'd roll the dice on seeing if a 23 year old on pace for 47 goals over a full season -and a .44 GPG career average- could round out his game.

 

[Reclamation Project]

From what I recall, a lot of people barfed at adding Gaborik too.

Laine would be the first 40 goal threat we've had in years.

"Am I a joke to you?!?"

 

[KingsFan7824]

Yep, totally apples to apples

I meant in relation to people potentially barfing at getting a broken down old Gaborik in 2014. Even if that had been what the Kings got, they gave up nothing to get him.

 

[kingsfan]

"Am I a joke to you?!?"

Joke? No. Proven 40 goal threat? Also no, not yet.

 

[Trash Panda]

Yep, totally apples to apples



As he should.

Really, who here thought Gaborik would play the way Gaborik did when we got him.

We have arguably the deepest prospect pool in the league, I'd roll the dice on seeing if a 23 year old on pace for 47 goals over a full season -and a .44 GPG career average- could round out his game.

Acquiring a high dollar question mark when the entire roster is struggling for identity is a fools errand.

This topic shouldn’t be bridged for another season or two at the soonest. Laine isn’t gonna do anything for this team besides give the marketing department an easy way to sell tickets, and casual fans something to falsely be excited about.

So much more is needed of this group than a sub .5ppg floater with a killer shot can provide. Laine is the sizzle, not the steak.