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

[FSL KINGS]

Said Blake has a month before the deadline to fix 22/55/23. After a bad AZ team with Wedgewood going down to the wire, Blake may not have that much time if he wants to stay in the hunt.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Two home games before a cross country roadie next week, then we are in the Pacific time zone until the end of the month. Trade deadline is march 21st. I imagine any lineup changes will happen before Sat, but big moves probably won't happen until we're back on the 8th or 9th.

TM cannot go into this road trip with the same 3rd line.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

Zacha would a pretty awesome add to the wing. Forsberg even more so, obviously.

 

[mysterman2]

I said about Matt Stafford being traded to the Rams he has to be the happiest guy on the plantet going from a horrible, dysfunctional Detroit to LA.

I think QB will feel the same way next season knowing he should have wingers who arent continual momentum killers.

 

[kingsfan]

Said Blake has a month before the deadline to fix 22/55/23. After a bad AZ team with Wedgewood going down to the wire, Blake may not have that much time if he wants to stay in the hunt.

We've always struggled against the Yotes this season and in recent years for that matter. We've won a number of times, but it's always close. They match up against us well or puck luck or some combo of the two.

The overall picture is much rosier. We're 26-12-6 since our season opening seven game bender, which is a .659 winning percentage, that would be 11th in the NHL and just one point behind St. Louis. We're doing very well and now just one point behind Vegas for second in the division with what I believe another poster said was the fifth easiest strength of schedule for what we have left. If we don't make the playoffs we've had a large fall off.

I expect Blake to do a deal, but I think it'll be small in nature, adding a few depth pieces to toss the guys a cookie for a good season. Someone else said it'd be similar to the Modin/Halpern type trades we did the deadlines before we went out and got Carter and I think that'd be accurate. I see us dealing for a guy like Tyler Ennis and/or a blueliner like De Haan. It'll also be interesting to see where Chara goes. I think this is his last season and he'll be willing/looking to go to a playoff team and he'll end up on the best playoff team that will take him. If Blake agrees we need more snarl on the backend he'd be a good fit in a sheltered role, I just worry if he has the foot speed anymore to be effective.

 

[No Name The Nameless]

Byfield has been creating his own errors too.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Byfield has been creating his own errors too.

Of course he has, he's a 19-year-old rookie. You expect them and encourage him to learn from them.

But if you're going to put him with a 37-year-old veteran and a 27-year-old journeyman offensive winger, those guys have to tighten up and help show him the ropes, not play loose and force Byfield to play F3 all night every night.

There's a reason Byfield SHOULD get more rope from his mistakes instead of people continually crying we're being unfair to Brown or AA. Brown's had 20 years to figure it out, and AA has had 10, and right now NEITHER is helping the rookie who isn't helping himself.

Getting pretty sick of people looking at me and going "yeah your'e just a byfield homer" and it's like no shit I'm protective of the LITERAL TEENAGER playing with a LITERAL 20 YEAR VET who should know better but instead people are going "poor Brownie," "poor AA" get a f***ing grip, I feel like I'm taking crazy pills criticizing vets for being sloppy and irresponsible and rubbing off on QB. It doesn't mean Quinton doesn't have his own game to worry about...but it SHOULD just be his OWN game he has to worry about, not carrying two broken pianos all night every night.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

With the buzz about Forsberg possibly becoming available....and rumors Tyler Bertuzzi as well, would rather go in for one of them, than Chychrun. Chychrun does not look great or would make the Kings better, unless his play really stepped up. Have not been impressed by his play, when I see him. Nice stick check last night on that one on one play last night....but he does not look like any difference maker. I'd rather go for a PPG impact forward like Forsberg or Bertuzzi. But would have to get Forsberg to sign extension. Bertuzzi has 1 yr left. There were rumors that the Kings poked the winged wheel about him last year.

excerpt from Pierre Lebrun interview with Blake today. (Athletic)

That doesn’t mean the Kings are going to lose their minds and spend major assets on a big rental player. That makes no sense. They’re not one player away from winning the Cup. But they can try to make a hockey deal, an acquisition that helps the team now and beyond this season.
“Anything we look at has to have both parts: has to improve the team now and later,” Blake said.
That doesn’t rule out inexpensive depth additions who may be rentals. But generally speaking, any bigger deal has to be for a player with term.
“We also have younger players in the AHL,” Blake said. “We have to balance whether those guys would be better suited for us rather than going to get something.
“We would like to improve the team if possible in the right areas. But we may also be able to do that internally.”

Hoping for a true impact player.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

Two home games before a cross country roadie next week, then we are in the Pacific time zone until the end of the month. Trade deadline is march 21st. I imagine any lineup changes will happen before Sat, but big moves probably won't happen until we're back on the 8th or 9th.

TM cannot go into this road trip with the same 3rd line.

Why's the deadline so late? Doesn't the season end in April?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Why's the deadline so late? Doesn't the season end in April?

It was set when the plan was for there to be an Olympic break in the schedule, with two weeks off in mid-February.

 

[JeanBlanc]

Of course he has, he's a 19-year-old rookie. You expect them and encourage him to learn from them.

[...]

Getting pretty sick of people looking at me and going "yeah your'e just a byfield homer" and it's like no shit I'm protective of the LITERAL TEENAGER playing with a LITERAL 20 YEAR VET who should know better but instead people are going "poor Brownie," "poor AA" get a f***ing grip, I feel like I'm taking crazy pills criticizing vets for being sloppy and irresponsible and rubbing off on QB.

Nah, I think that's probably the consensus opinion. But there are people who want a 2nd overall pick to be magic and are disappointed. I don't agree with that position, but I try to have empathy.

 

[YP44]

TSN names the Kings as having high interest in Chychrun.

LA and Chychrun have been linked forever. That's like me saying snow is linked to cold. I am guessing Blake is hoping the price goes down.

 

[Stimpythecat]

No on Bertuzzi. Playing in Canada is an issue. The Kings are going to have to play Calgary to get to the west Final.

 

[YP44]

I'd pass on getting him and getting a legit top 9 forward. Think Pavel Zacha would look good on LW and could be had for a reasonable deal. Could even make him 3C and send Byfield down. 6'3" 210 and could use his size. Just getting AA off the ice would be huge. Get Zacha on PP2 and in front of the net.
Line 1 has been flat for some time. Could do this: (maybe helps save line 3 too)

Zacha- Kopitar - Kempe
Moore - Danault - Arvidsson
Iafallo - Byfield - Brown
Lemieux - Lizotte - Kaliyev

or
Iafallo - Kopitar - Kempe
Moore - Danault - Arvidsson
Zacha - Byfield - Brown
Lemieux - Lizotte - Kaliyev

even better:
Iafallo - Kopitar - Kempe
Moore - Danault - Arvidsson
Zacha - Byfield - Vilardi
Lemieux - Lizotte - Kaliyev

Kempe-Kopitar-Vilardi
Moore-Danault-Arvidson
Iafallo-Byfield-Brown/Kaliyev
Lemieux-Lizotte-Kaliyev/Brown

Don't need to acquire anything up front IMO

 

[lexlavender]

I also wouldn't mind Forsberg, with the intention to extend him. He misses his buddy Arvidsson!

 

[bmr]

I also wouldn't mind Forsberg, with the intention to extend him. He misses his buddy Arvidsson!

At what number?

 

[Reclamation Project]

Of course he has, he's a 19-year-old rookie. You expect them and encourage him to learn from them.

But if you're going to put him with a 37-year-old veteran and a 27-year-old journeyman offensive winger, those guys have to tighten up and help show him the ropes, not play loose and force Byfield to play F3 all night every night.

There's a reason Byfield SHOULD get more rope from his mistakes instead of people continually crying we're being unfair to Brown or AA. Brown's had 20 years to figure it out, and AA has had 10, and right now NEITHER is helping the rookie who isn't helping himself.

Getting pretty sick of people looking at me and going "yeah your'e just a byfield homer" and it's like no shit I'm protective of the LITERAL TEENAGER playing with a LITERAL 20 YEAR VET who should know better but instead people are going "poor Brownie," "poor AA" get a f***ing grip, I feel like I'm taking crazy pills criticizing vets for being sloppy and irresponsible and rubbing off on QB. It doesn't mean Quinton doesn't have his own game to worry about...but it SHOULD just be his OWN game he has to worry about, not carrying two broken pianos all night every night.

I'm hesitant to bring up Vilardi, but when it happens I'd like to see him on Byfield's wing.

 

[bland]

I also wouldn't mind Forsberg, with the intention to extend him. He misses his buddy Arvidsson!

Forsberg is available?

Ya don't say. The super geniuses around here don't think its possible that a team in the playoff hunt could ever possibly trade their best player.

Its almost like the Preds acknowledge that they aren't contenders and want to maximize their assets instead of re-signing them to a fruitless deal or losing them for nothing.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Forsberg is available?

Ya don't say. The super geniuses around here don't think its possible that a team in the playoff hunt could ever possibly trade their best player.

Its almost like the Preds acknowledge that they aren't contenders and want to maximize their assets instead of re-signing them to a fruitless deal or losing them for nothing.

Maybe wait until he's actually dealt. Or, screw it, congrats on finding an exception to the rule. From a GM who has never won anything, but somehow keeps his job.

And don't worry that they have multiple 30-ish year olds on terrible long term contracts on a team that won't truly contend.

 

[Stimpythecat]

If he's truly available, their GM realizes they've peaked.

 

[King'sPawn]

Forsberg is available?

Ya don't say. The super geniuses around here don't think its possible that a team in the playoff hunt could ever possibly trade their best player.

Its almost like the Preds acknowledge that they aren't contenders and want to maximize their assets instead of re-signing them to a fruitless deal or losing them for nothing.

This is not the apples-to-apples comparison you hoped.

- Nashville hasn't actually traded him yet
- they don't have the same playoff success
- they don't have the same financial resources.

 

[Papa Mocha 15]

It wasn't killer instinct at all, the Kings did nothing in the regular season with Richards. It was his pal -- that big lazy Carter that was the difference maker. Without JC they don't even make the playoffs in 2012.

Is this turning into one of those things where like on twitter, if you mention lions, someone else jumps in and talks about tigers and then suddenly changes it to "your bias against giraffe's is glaring". Cause it's starting to look like that.

If that's the case, you haven't mentioned Dustin Penner yet either and I think his feelings are hurt. You should get him too, don't forget Jonathan Quick either or anyone else you forgot to mention.

 

[bland]

This is not the apples-to-apples comparison you hoped.

- Nashville hasn't actually traded him yet
- they don't have the same playoff success
- they don't have the same financial resources.

You are assuming this is Kopitar related. It isn't about them apples. Its about the same group of clowns as usual who scoffed at the idea that any team in the playoff race could possibly move their best player when I suggested that the Kings should move for Forsberg instead of Chychryn just a month ago. And I didn't say that he was going to be moved either - I said "available" which is the report.

But to counter your points on your terms, the Preds have had a hell of a lot more playoff success than the Kings over the past 8 years - including the duration of Kopitar's extension.

Can afford and should afford are two completely different things. Just because the Kings "could" have afforded that deal doesn't mean that they "should" have signed it. Maybe frugality makes better bedfellows here.

 

[All The Kings Men]

 

[Telos]

With the buzz about Forsberg possibly becoming available....and rumors Tyler Bertuzzi as well, would rather go in for one of them, than Chychrun. Chychrun does not look great or would make the Kings better, unless his play really stepped up. Have not been impressed by his play, when I see him. Nice stick check last night on that one on one play last night....but he does not look like any difference maker. I'd rather go for a PPG impact forward like Forsberg or Bertuzzi. But would have to get Forsberg to sign extension. Bertuzzi has 1 yr left. There were rumors that the Kings poked the winged wheel about him last year.

excerpt from Pierre Lebrun interview with Blake today. (Athletic)

That doesn’t mean the Kings are going to lose their minds and spend major assets on a big rental player. That makes no sense. They’re not one player away from winning the Cup. But they can try to make a hockey deal, an acquisition that helps the team now and beyond this season.
“Anything we look at has to have both parts: has to improve the team now and later,” Blake said.
That doesn’t rule out inexpensive depth additions who may be rentals. But generally speaking, any bigger deal has to be for a player with term.
“We also have younger players in the AHL,” Blake said. “We have to balance whether those guys would be better suited for us rather than going to get something.
“We would like to improve the team if possible in the right areas. But we may also be able to do that internally.”

Hoping for a true impact player.

I mean, if we could acquire Forsberg with a contract extension, I would consider paying a handsome price for that. It would raise the debate of when LA's targeted contention window actually is given that both are 27, both are either UFA this year or the next, and both are due HEFTY raises... Because of that, I don't see either as a possibility really.

But maybe, if Nashville was friendly and Arvidsson can help lure Forsberg here to sign, I could see a play for him, but man that would be pricey. Major cap space would have to be made available, and literally, any player/prospect is going to be asked for and rightly expected.